One of the common questions we get is "what are you going to do about medical care, eh?"
Well..........
First of all let me tell you what my family doctor in the states told me. He is ready to hang it up because the medical practice is loosing about 25 patients every month to a large national hospital chain and that the payments he is getting from the insurance companies were not sufficient to recruit any new doctors in the area. He also said that the whole medical industry is a big mess.
So, tell me something I didn't' know, Doc!
Well here in Mexico, there are doctors and there are doctors.
They still seem to have a value and old the profession in high regards down here. Just like in the states there are good ones and there are bad ones.
The difference is that both the good and the bad are affordable to the average person.
The better ones are affordable to the Americans that live here.
The bad news is that Medicare doesn't pay for any of it.
So what?
I would rather give money to a doctor that I felt had my interest at heart instead of the insurance companies.
We have had absolutely horrible experiences from some of our family members that were part of the "Big Hospital Group"
My experiences here have been minimal, but what I have had have been positive. Office visits run about 20 dollars, and they seem to treat you for what you need and not for a whole bunch of BS tests that are done to cover their asses, like in the litigious US.
I do not hear anywhere near the complaines from local residents here like I do from US residents.
I think that if you are in the bottom of the government insurance program, you will get bottom of the barrel stockyard treatment comparable to the "Big Hospital Group" in the US.
If you can afford $20 dollars then you will get the treatment you use to get in the US , 50 years ago. Treatment from a caring doctor who will actually come over to your house if you are really sick.
That's unheard of in the US.
You decide.
5 comments:
Ken,
I have been going to the IMSS for most of my medical needs. Just last week I went and had a flu shot and a tetanus shot. Both were free. A few weeks ago my wife had some pain on the left side of her chest. She has had a mastectomy so we were concerned. It was a Sunday. We went to IMSS and she talked to a doctor after waiting only 15 minutes. He directed her to another office in the same building to get an electrocardiogram which took another 15 minutes. Then we went back to the first doctor and he looked at the data and asked her some questions and told her that the problem was stress (which I believe) and he gave her a prescription which we took to the in-house pharmacy to get filled. The whole process start to finish took and hour and it was all free. I also get my blood pressure medicine there free. I am completely satisfied. I work for a Mexican firm so that is why it is free but any foreigner with an FM2 or FM3 can get the same thing by paying a low yearly fee. The only other thing that you will need is a little bit of patience with the initial paperwork to get started but it isn't that difficult and the people are very nice. I urge everyone to check it out. I have also had major surgery in a big hospital here and it turned out very well at about one third of the U.S. cost but for small things and preventive medicine the IMSS is just fine. At the very least it would be a good idea to get signed up.
Thanks for your input Bob, We use to pay the insurance for one of our workers here and the responses were down the middle on the quality. I will check it out, I appreciate
your sharing the information, all input just helps to keep us up to date on what is available.
Anything has to be better than what the US is becoming......what a mess up there!
thanks!
IMSS is a crap shoot. Some people get very good care there. Others get quite the opposite. The problem in many facilities is supplies.
IMSS has had some problems in the past but it is improving all the time. I find that the results are directly proportional to one's attitude. A patient with a bit of patience, courtesy, and a positive attitude will generally experience positive results.
My experiences with IMSS since '95 (in Querétaro) are entirely positive. The comment about courtesy, patience, and attitude makes the difference! The front line secretaries are the door to a good experience, so treat them with the respect they deserve, and they in turn do everything in their power to help. Instead of merely waiting and fuming, take the time to tell them how great the service is in Mexico as opposed to the US, for example-- ANYTHING that humanizes them, and they will extend their gratitude. I have had nothing but positive experiences within the IMSS program.
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