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Fred Habacht

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Posts posted by Fred Habacht

  1. There is a calle in Chapala, actually a narrow alley, it is called "Pompous Fonetica". The small musical instrument shop at #29 would be a perfect stop for Northtek.....they sell Mexican "Toot your own horn too much."  The owner Carlos Santana will also tell you what a border promotion is.......Don't miss this.

    • Haha 3
  2. We have been having problems with receiving Informa medical reports and now getting a simple factura after a visit to a specialist. Without this "annoying" paperwork our insurance company will not reimburse for the claim. Our issues is with doctors that visit the system and not the primary doctor. Requests for help have been slow to zero results.

    I appreciate the convenience of a local source for professional medical help but is there an alternative locally?

    • Like 2
  3. I will share my experience....

    1st I needed a Cita (appointment) and I chose to go to the discount mall on the way to Guadalajara. The appointment was offered for 1 week later and at an early hour and I was offered an english speaking agent.

    2nd I was told to pay for my renewal three days before my appointment and I chose to pay in Jocotepec at the government office  on Matamoros Sud. They also inspected my paperwork and gave me a form stating all was in order and paid for. I am entitled to ½ off based on age and I received that reduced rate at that tijme and with zero comment.

    I arrived 15 minutes early for my appointment and brought with me....a copy of the following, (some of it was not looked at or taken from me)

    My Cfe bill...within 90 days...was not taken but was viewed.

    My RFC...although it is already on my old license...was taken.

    My Curp...same as above.

    Blood type....already on my old license and copied to the new one, no paperwork provided nor asked for.

    The first page of my US passport....not looked at

    Copy of my "old Person card"...was taken (front and back).

    Copy of my citizenship voter's card...was taken.

    No eye test was offered or given and no notice of the need for glasses appears on my renewal

    They took the photo.

    Everyone polite, friendly and quick.

    15 minutes later I left with my renewal

  4. My wife is on 75' surgical grade oxygen lines to allow as much mobility as I can provide her.....I used to pay 350 mxp to Lake Med for the packaged plastic lines, depending on the length and 70 mxp for a small bottle of surgical grade aqua....I pay considerably less from Amazon and I am not a fan of Amazon but the quality is better than local sources and the items last much longer as well......I would be suspect buying a line via Walmart for less than $2.00 usd after conversion. Even long length aquarium airpump lines cost more than 40 mxp, but I appreciate your response.

    For those not aware of the chance of infection in the lungs, great care should be taken as to the purity of the aqua added to the concentrators and the lines that provide air to the user even the filters on the concentrator must be carefully cleaned frequently.

    Since my wife's condition is not unusual, especially at high altitudes....I would add that she was given three to four years to live.....ten years ago. Quality Care doctors have been very helpful....there are also very new drugs, very expensive ones, that have slowed down the damage from her condition and helped with her quality of life.

     

    • Like 2
  5. My wife is on oxygen concentrators 24/7 and we were very unhappy with some of the oxygen lines that we bought from Lake Med. In addition the owner refused to stand behind several defective lines ( no exchange and certainly no refunds)..some came with a kink which could not be removed and one came with the nose piece put on backwards. The losses to us by having to replace the defective products were not pleasant....our doctor suggested buying from Amazon....the products are guaranteed with no exceptions and they will be replaced for up to 6 months for any reason....they do not kink and the difference in quality is easy to discern. Downside: We cannot get a Factura so we do not get reimbursed by our health insurance but the quality difference is worth the extra expense.

    This is only our opinion and yours may be different.

  6. I had been told that the office for driver's license renewal was easier and faster at the outlet mall. I called for an appointment and one was available just 5 days later. My appointment was for 9:10 and I was sent instructions as to payment. I chose to pay, (from the list of offices), at the Jocotepec office on Matamoros Sud in Jocotepec...they inspected my paperwork and gave me a receipt for that and a separate receipt showing my paperwork was as required. My appointment was on time and my information was taken by an english speaking officer and 15 minutes later I had my renewal. There are benches and chairs while you wait and a copy machine if you fail to bring any copies that are required.

    Negatives: Minor to non-existent

    They neglected to say that I needed to wear glasses although it was stated on my expired license and there was NO eye test offered or requested.

    The outlet mall is virtually deserted and there were no signs directing you to the license office.

    There is a huge, empty, parking lot but it is Not free of charge.

    Masks were required.

     

    • Like 1
  7. Every time my wife or I have a "new medical event" according to our health insurance plan...we must hit a new deductible. In our case, it is a fairly high amount. If I am willing to pay out of pocket and forego the required "factura" I found a Mexican couple who pick up my required drugs at a savings of up to 60-70% off my discounted prices at the Farmacia. I only pay on delivery and the products have been fresh and sealed.

    I can give you their cell number if you pm or e-mail me. The are fluent in english.

    • Thanks 1
  8. I am reluctant to share much information but the question caught my attention and I know dozens of ex-pats with Mexican medical policies.

    We are a married couple...male in his 80's; female in her late 70's. All insurance in Mexico is charged with age as a strong factor. After 70 yrs old it becomes much harder to get but not impossible and your choices drop way down.....pre-existing conditions can leave you very, very few options. Agents are found from rank amateurs to very good and knowledgeable.  Our policies started out when I was seventy and my wife in her sixties. It was several thousand USD dollars a year with a 6000 mx pesos deductible ....then, like or not, our deductible and annual cost rose. We now pay 11,000 usd with a 50,000 mxp deductible. My wife is very ill and her medical costs exceed 25,000 usd a year.....we are fully reimbursed for most of that minus a 10% copay as we have long since covered the deductible which is necessary only one time per medical incident. We can go to most hospitals, see any doctors and buy drugs at any source we wish as long as we present a "factura." So my costs, unless something new happens which I am sure will, are $11000 usd for the policy and 2500 usd for the deductible (which varies and can rise or fall).. 

    I would love to not have to pay for a medical insurance plan and considered staying with the Mexican "free" plans but free is a lie and without insurance my wife's recent hospital stay of 728,000 mxp plus everything else would have destroyed us.

    So here are my terms......I will not recommend any agents nor any insurance companies unless I am reached privately but I will try to answer any questions you might have that are within our experiences.

    • Thanks 2
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