24 replies to this topic

[elbelgicano]

Almost 14 years ago, when I lived in Guadalajara, I learnt one important lesson about Mexico and I wish to share this with other people.
One night, a Mexican friend got beaten up and I took him to a private hospital in Guadalajara. Before leaving, early morning they presented him the bill. He was very angry about the high amount of money and a loud discussion followed. They ended up charging him : nothing or zero.
This is not the only example I experienced.

When I talk about his with other Mexicans (nurses, friends, ...), they can not believe that most of us, expats, never discuss the price, when undergoing surgery. I know, it is not done upnorth, nor is it in Europe, where I come from. It usally is one same fixed price for everybody. Here you would think that you only bargain on material goods that you buy.
Not so, .... for any kind of surgery, be it Hospital Civil or Private, you don´t have to accept the price that is being put on the table. Most of the time, you can save thousands of dollars, by just asking.

Every time when a friend of mine here undergoes surgery, I ask them if they discussed the price with the doctor and every time the answer is no.... and usually we are talking soooo much money !
Again, I know, it might be hard to believe, but another culture, ....
And hopefully, by sharing this, I was able to help some of you, save a little money in the future.

Best greetings to you all,
Rony

[Intercasa]

NEVER sign any hospital papers unless you understand them and you have a good translator. Many trick you into signing blank promissory notes with an interest rate of almost 100% per year where if you do not pay they can show up at your home with the court officials and lien and seize our property!!!!

[tobyjug]

I guess the better way is not to get into a situation that you get beat up!!!, much better solution

[Griffin]

There are those of us who need medical care or surgery and can't afford the price quoted by the hospital so knowing we can negotiate is good information.

Tobybug, not everyone has a choice whether to be beaten or not. I doubt many make a decision or choose a situation to be beaten so badly it requires hospitalization. I doubt many make a decision to be in an accident either.

[elbelgicano]

There are those of us who need medical care or surgery and can't afford the price quoted by the hospital so knowing we can negotiate is good information.

Tobybug, not everyone has a choice whether to be beaten or not. I doubt many make a decision or choose a situation to be beaten so badly it requires hospitalization. I doubt many make a decision to be in an accident either.

If you tell the doctor/surgeon that you can´t afford his initial price.... many times he will contact all the other people involved in the surgery (anesthesiologist, and other) and together they will probably come up with a different figure (from good Mexican source). That is usually the way it goes.

[osuespirit]

I have had four surgeries while in Mexico and I have always asked and known the price before I had the surgery. I have remarked that it would be much more convenient if they did that up North but of course can't until Medicare weighs in. I can''t imagine going into surgery and not knowing how much it will cost. You can't get out of the hospital until the bill is paid.

[tobyjug]

At a recent informative seminar pressented by Century 21 , a rep from Puerto Hierro shown a shedule of charges for various prcedures..then mentioned that the hospitail can/will work with you (well what can you pay)...likewise if you know what proceedure you need, your surgeon ..having a stroke or heart attack complicates things!!!but having IMSS and or PS helps

[Flowers]

I am new to this so if I post wrongly just advise me - my husband and I are moving to the area next March - bought a home there in August 2010 - my question is - is IMSS sufficient? We are from British Columbia so we do not require private insurance - are the IMSS hospitals decent?

[elbelgicano]

Most IMSS hospitals are decent. It is getting in there, making the apppointments, the waiting in line, sometimes rude staff that will send you from here to there, the hassle..... (not always !), that I don´t want to deal with anymore. As far as surgeries, I hear that they are pretty good.
Still, having checked out IMSS and Seguro Popular, ... I think that they are more or less on the same level, but Seguro Popular is almost for free (you will find a lot of information in other posts about his, on this webboard).

[koko]

Thank you Elbegicano for sharing that information. I should have known last week. I did not ask the cost and the doctor mentioned it ahead of time, asking if i could afford it. I thought it was steep but I said that I had not choice so I said okay. The visit and the intervention were double than what it should have been.

[elbelgicano]

You are welcome, Koko. Thanks also for your post. It is the perfect example. As we are not used to this, and also out of respect for the surgeon, it doesn´t even come into our minds to discuss the price, but here you can (before the surgery or being hospitalized). And I am especially thinking of expats who are not rich and have a hard time coughing up big amounts of money.
If this way, you can keep hospital bills low, you might not have to worry about finding the right (expensive) insurance company (difficult enough as it is, depending on your health and age).

[purplepatty]

The insurance companies will certainly negotiate a better price, so why not do it yourself if you are self-insured.

[Krogl309]

I guess the better way is not to get into a situation that you get beat up!!!, much better solution

Such a foolish comment shouldn't even receive a reply but you caught me on a bad moment. Hospital bills are nothing to laugh at. Give your head a shake and perhaps obtain a better hobby than posting diatribe here.

[Krogl309]

I am new to this so if I post wrongly just advise me - my husband and I are moving to the area next March - bought a home there in August 2010 - my question is - is IMSS sufficient? We are from British Columbia so we do not require private insurance - are the IMSS hospitals decent?

Are you suggesting BC is going to cover you without returning for x number of months per year? I had BC blue cross and currently have Sask blue cross. Neither, to my knowledge, will cover long term.

[Flowers]

Are you suggesting BC is going to cover you without returning for x number of months per year? I had BC blue cross and currently have Sask blue cross. Neither, to my knowledge, will cover long term.

No of course not - I meant that I was told that IMSS was a similar insurance to ours in Canada and I was wondering if it was sufficient and if the care in the hospitals was also similar to ours.

[Flowers]

Most IMSS hospitals are decent. It is getting in there, making the apppointments, the waiting in line, sometimes rude staff that will send you from here to there, the hassle..... (not always !), that I don´t want to deal with anymore. As far as surgeries, I hear that they are pretty good.
Still, having checked out IMSS and Seguro Popular, ... I think that they are more or less on the same level, but Seguro Popular is almost for free (you will find a lot of information in other posts about his, on this webboard).

Thank you for that information - I will check out Seguro Popular.

[Griffin]

I talked to Mexican woman today who is married to a British citizen. She's at the least economically middle class. She said Seguro Popular is better than IMSS. I haven't been to either hospital but this is the second middle class English speaking Mexican who has told me that Seguro Popular is preferable to IMSS. I guess I'll find out eventually and not worrying about being kicked out of SP for a chronic or preexisting condition, whether true or not, is reassuring.

[Flowers]

I talked to Mexican woman today who is married to a British citizen. She's at the least economically middle class. She said Seguro Popular is better than IMSS. I haven't been to either hospital but this is the second middle class English speaking Mexican who has told me that Seguro Popular is preferable to IMSS. I guess I'll find out eventually and not worrying about being kicked out of SP for a chronic or preexisting condition, whether true or not, is reassuring.

That is very good news - so much to learn when we get down there - sometimes I feel overwhelmed. Right now I am on so very many supplements and a totally organic diet as I am recuperating from invasive breast cancer - I am worried about the expense of ordering these supplements to Mexico - I have been informed by the companies it will be very costly to ship - any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[osuespirit]

You might want to check out IMSS as well. The hospital we go to from here is brand new and from what I understand is quite nice. No more Hospital 89 in Guad.