122 replies to this topic

[elehne1]

My husband went to pay our three month premium today at the Jocotepec office of Seguro Popular and was advised orders came down to not renew or enroll foreigners unless they were in the process of becoming a Mexican citizen. Anyone else heard about this change? When we enrolled three months ago, we were required to pay $500 pesos every three months for coverage.

[Intercasa]

Had a client taken last week and signed up no problem in Chapala, ask what new law they are citing as they aren´t allowed to discriminate.

[elehne1]

Thank you Spencer. we will go back over and ask him. Do you know if we can go to any SP office to pay or do we have to go to Joco as we live in Joco?

[johnny b gone]

My husband went to pay our three month premium today at the Jocotepec office of Seguro Popular and was advised orders came down to not renew or enroll foreigners unless they were in the process of becoming a Mexican citizen. Anyone else heard about this change? When we enrolled three months ago, we were required to pay $500 pesos every three months for coverage.

How strange! So far, it has cost me nothing.

[shortshrink]

I also signed up over a year ago and did not have to pay anything. You pay when you use it.

[barbara habacht]

This is our second year...never a charge for meds...no question as to any payment. The doctors speak pretty good english and are very helpfull

[sundown]

Sounds like they are "trying to milk the cow" for more money !

[AlanMexicali]

Sounds like they are "trying to milk the cow" for more money !

My husband went to pay our three month premium today at the Jocotepec office of Seguro Popular and was advised orders came down to not renew or enroll foreigners unless they were in the process of becoming a Mexican citizen. Anyone else heard about this change? When we enrolled three months ago, we were required to pay $500 pesos every three months for coverage.

$500 pesos every 3 months each? It might be you are talking about the IMSS not the Centro de Salud also called Seguro Popular all part of the Secretaria de Salud en Jocotepec.


Imss Clinica N0 58

[Griffin]

I think the man who signed them up, signed them up individually not as a family. The husband is retired and over 60. She is younger. The payment has to be for her membership because she is not 60. If they were signed up as a family, then it would be based on his age and as a pensioner, there wouldn't be a charge, so obviously they were signed up individually.

The man in Joco can be a jerk and he doesn't want foreigners. At one time he insisted that foreigners bring a letter from IMSS stating that they were not members of IMSS in order to join SP. I think he also told foreigners that there was a limit on how many could join and the limit had been reached. Eventually SP told him he wasn't following the rules and to knock it off. It looks like he has a new game to play.

[elbelgicano]

I think the man who signed them up, signed them up individually not as a family. The husband is retired and over 60. She is younger. The payment has to be for her membership because she is not 60. If they were signed up as a family, then it would be based on his age and as a pensioner, there wouldn't be a charge, so obviously they were signed up individually.

The man in Joco can be a jerk and he doesn't want foreigners. At one time he insisted that foreigners bring a letter from IMSS stating that they were not members of IMSS in order to join SP. I think he also told foreigners that there was a limit on how many could join and the limit had been reached. Eventually SP told him he wasn't following the rules and to knock it off. It looks like he has a new game to play.

Not so (I know this for a fact).... age has nothing to do with the payment.

[elehne1]

We went back and spoke to the guy at Seguro Popular and he advised we needed to call the main office as the orders to no longer enroll or renew foreigners came from them. When we enrolled three months ago we were to,d by the Joco rep and the 800 number folks that the "computer" calculates the rate based on our response to questions. Unfortunately, we can't see how he input the data to know what he actually entered. We don't own a home, have one vehicle and only one retirement income for two people. Makes no sense!!

[elehne1]

$500 pesos every 3 months each? It might be you are talking about the IMSS not the Centro de Salud also called Seguro Popular all part of the Secretaria de Salud en Jocotepec.


Imss Clinica N0 58

It is not IMSS. We have met the Drs in Joco and they are very helpful at Seguro Popular. we think it is the guy

[elehne1]

I think the man who signed them up, signed them up individually not as a family. The husband is retired and over 60. She is younger. The payment has to be for her membership because she is not 60. If they were signed up as a family, then it would be based on his age and as a pensioner, there wouldn't be a charge, so obviously they were signed up individually.

The man in Joco can be a jerk and he doesn't want foreigners. At one time he insisted that foreigners bring a letter from IMSS stating that they were not members of IMSS in order to join SP. I think he also told foreigners that there was a limit on how many could join and the limit had been reached. Eventually SP told him he wasn't following the rules and to knock it off. It looks like he has a new game to play.

We are on one policy. Today we were going to review what answers he put for us at enrollment to see where he put the wrong info. But he said could not renew.

[Chapala Man]

Had a client taken last week and signed up no problem in Chapala, ask what new law they are citing as they aren´t allowed to discriminate.

I didn't think they could discriminate either, but apparently they are doing so. What do you think, Spencer?

[Intercasa]

It is a violation of the constitution and someone needs to talk to them if they persist, either they have no basis for treating foreigners differently or are doing so due to a rule or law and if that is the case the rule or law needs to be investigated. The Mexican Constitution guarantees all the right to healthcare as well as all are entitled to human rights (new name for indivudual guarantees) and benefits of international treaties, Constitution is supreme law of the land and it is above and rules over any seemingly contradictory laws or regulations, especially those in international treaties which the constitution specifically mentions.

[Ajijic]

I also signed up over a year ago and did not have to pay anything. You pay when you use it.

a myth .. no you don't. Anyone having an issue go to their web site and call the 800#. They are very helpful.

Anyone who is a resident with the documents as per their web site is to be accepted. And, if you do not have your birth certificate they are to accept your CURP card as it shows your birth date. Every week my wife facilitates expats to join SP. She has never had one declined although she had to know the rules inside and out as they often tried to decline expats. She has made several calls to the 800# and once even filed a formal complaint. The local Seguro Popular office as a follow up to the complaint came out to our house to meet and discuss the issue.

[manny]

how does this SP (not imss) work? has anyone actually used it? & for what exactly? doesnt matter what the constitution says, they can do what they want. & do it to foreigners or whoever. the govt is cheesy, what can you expect? so far i have never met an expat who has used any govt insurance.

[Griffin]

We went back and spoke to the guy at Seguro Popular and he advised we needed to call the main office as the orders to no longer enroll or renew foreigners came from them. When we enrolled three months ago we were to,d by the Joco rep and the 800 number folks that the "computer" calculates the rate based on our response to questions. Unfortunately, we can't see how he input the data to know what he actually entered. We don't own a home, have one vehicle and only one retirement income for two people. Makes no sense!!

Ajijic has answered this for you several times. Membership is not based upon what you own or where you live. Those questions are asked as part of a census and not for membership in SP.

Ajijic has also said that a pensioner is not charged and his family members are not charged if they are signed up as a family. That's why only the pensioner needs to apply for the family and family members are not asked any questions. I think that means that you had to be signed up as individuals if you both presented information when you signed up and that is why you are being charged. Why not have Ajijic's wife intervene, as he has offered several times, since she understands SP?

The Mexican Constitution guarantees all the right to healthcare as well as all are entitled to human rights (new name for indivudual guarantees) and benefits of international treaties, Constitution is supreme law of the land and it is above and rules over any seemingly contradictory laws or regulations,

True, and exactly why SP could not have changed its laws and rules to exclude foreigners. SP allows illegal aliens from Central America to join SP so how can it not allow foreigners from the U.S. and Canada who are legal residents to join SP?

[Griffin]

how does this SP (not imss) work? has anyone actually used it? & for what exactly? doesnt matter what the constitution says, they can do what they want. & do it to foreigners or whoever. the govt is cheesy, what can you expect? so far i have never met an expat who has used any govt insurance.

IMSS is government insurance. Surely you have met people who have used IMSS. There are people here who have used SP and who have been very pleased with it. SP uses doctors who are in private practice like IMSS does. I've asked Mexicans who have used both which is better and the Mexicans all said SP is better.

IMSS is in trouble due to corruption. Eventually IMSS will be rolled into SP because IMSS is not sustainable the way it is. As I understand it the problem is doctors claiming pensions which they are not entitled but records were not kept correctly and IMSS is out too much money in pensions. The problem with IMSS is not due to people asking for medical services but too many services does raise a red flag.

[bournemouth]

No matter what the Constitution may say, if some little bureaucrat decides not to allow foreigners in, for the moment, until he can be controlled, that's exactly the way it is going to be. People have already been through this with IMSS at the Chapala office.

Manny - you aren't getting out and about enough if you don't know expats who have used/are using government insurance.