Posted on 08/06/2017 7:55:12 AM PDT by ThankYouFreeRepublic
It wasn’t that long ago when one of the reasons people from the US were afraid to move to places like Mexico and Panama was because of the fear of substandard healthcare. Now, one of the reasons people from the US do move to places like Mexico and Panama is because of access to what is generally acknowledged to be comparable quality healthcare at a discount of from 50% to 75%+.
In our study, Expat Report: How is Healthcare Abroad? we asked expats who had moved to Panama, Nicaragua and Belize their opinions on the cost of healthcare they received in their new country. 38.2% said their healthcare costs abroad were from half to a quarter of what it cost in their home country and 36.5% said it was less than a quarter of the cost.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
The article didn’t mention how these people that pay out of pocket deal with high ticket medical care such as cancer and heart attacks and other major operations or long term medical care. I’d be curious to know. Do they have catastrophic insurance?
I think “wound centers” are for people with wounds that aren’t healing, not for people who are bleeding out.
Hi, Sam. The most important thing is the health of your wife. I hope all is going well.
In addition, I completely agree with your analogy and how we should all purchase healthcare.
The best of luck with your planned move. I know several people who have done it very successfully and had a radical lifestyle upgrade.
Hi, Sooth2222. The writer wasn’t talking about the overall Mexican healthcare system for the average Mexican or the average Panamanian healthcare system for the average Panamanian— that would be stupid and of course, the system in the US overall is better. He was talking about the system experienced by the expats.
Awesome example that shows just how much we have destroyed our healthcare system.
Health care insurance should be focused on the catastrophic and not for the routine. The routine should be paid out of pocket. Just like we pay for out of pocket for oil changes, tires and tune-ups on our cars.
This mindset would make health care affordable for all.
Insurance companies ruined healthcare, because it removed the incentives for keeping down costs.
This is basic. Since I have a health share and not insurance, I pay cash at doctors (but will get reimbursed 100% if over the deductible). When my little one was sick yesterday, I didn’t call a pediatrician tomschedule her for two weeks from now. Walked into the local urgent care and she was seen in 10 minutes.
Because I pay a fair price for a doctor’s appt (around $100, what it should cost when you need a doc right now, seems fair for their equipment and expertise and immediate attention). The middleman crap with insurances, copay, and tons of office staff necessary, raises the actual cost. It’s a total joke. People actually think the doctor costs that $30 copay?
Lemme guess! Because Mexico is a turd world country with turd world care so all their sick folk come to the US and don’t pay their bills.
Of course the fact that the average doctor in Mexico makes about third of what a U.S. doctor makes has nothing to do with it, right?
“But I doubt doubt you can get the same treatment results in Mexico that McCain is getting for his glioblastoma at the Mayo Clinic.”
Oh, I think you’d get the exact same treatment results for glioblastoma at the Mayo Clinic and any Clinic in Mexico. The treatment may be different, but the result will be the same.
You nailed it. I’d like to see Medical savings more available. But we went Health Share and it’s similar. We pay the actual doctor’s worth for the visit, and we can doctor shop. We can lab shop! Amazing how a Beverly Hills office (rent) can increase the cost of a blood test!
Everyone with their HMOs just accepts ANY prices and pays their little copay, keeping prices insane. No one would do that with cars, accept a $100 car wash or $200 oil change. That happens every day with medical procedures.
There is one drawback to medical tourism. There is a surgeon in Mexico who had four deaths from an elective surgery in one month in 2016. Today he is advertising his wares online with a new lower price. THERE IS NO CONSEQUENCE to malpractice there except for bribe payments from the doc.
As a side note: Be careful what you wish for. You might get it! :)
A substantial number of Mexicans cross the border and show up in California emergency rooms each year with major medical issues. The hospitals generally wind up eating the costs. This, instead of the broad claims of this author, tells you what you need to know about the Mexican health care system.
BTW, nice screen name. My sentiments exactly! :)
I know that in Panama expats can buy insurance rather cheaply. Read an article on their healthcare and insurance years ago.
Friends in Costa Rica say the medical system is high quality and low cost.
The system for expats in Mexico is different than the system for Mexicans in Mexico.
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