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Medical Extortion


CHILLIN

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Just a warning that those going into private medical care need to know their rights, and have Spencers number on speed dial. We got extorted by a few hundred dollars, for what we were told, was for unforseen costs, over the estimate. A good friend just went through five days at a specialist clinic, the bill was over $40,000 U.S., they were $7,000 short. They would not let him discharge until it was paid, they said to h with you, we are phoning a cab right now, the doctors have discharged me. The Financial Director/ Rottweiler told them if he tried to leave the hospital, they would have him arrested and she doubted he would make much of recovery inside a jail cell. They had to stay another night, at $300 per night, so they could shuffle around accounts online. Jaybear is right - if you want to go the private medical route, with first class care, you will need $500,000 in a medical account.

We have printed out what Spencer has to say about this, and his phone number, to friends and neighbours.

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In the US the patients insurance would cut that $40k bill by 2/3...These private hospitals see they have a gringo on their fishing line and try to charge the full sticker price. Unless you have the up front time to negotiate, (not an emergency), you might as well get ready to PAY,PAY and PAY..

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Did Spenser post once that a hospital cannot make you stay because you cannot pay the bill?  I thought he said it was equivalent to kidnappjng.  Insist they get a lawyer to draw up a contract that you will pay.  But they cannot hold you hostage as I understand it.  I know the feeling because the guard on the floor at Del Carmen would nof let me leave the floor to go down to the cashier to pay my bill.  Why wouldn't he let me go?  Because I hadn't paid my bill.  Catch-22 ?.

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Maybe not everyone can do this but if you can, get medical insurance here before you get sick.  It is your get out of the hospital no hassle card.

I have been hospitalized many times and when I show my Met Life card, no problem getting in or out.  It has been a life saver for me.  I got the insurance before I started having

multiple problems.  All covered after my deductible.  No questions asked.  Once you meet your deductible per diagnosis, that diagnosis is covered for life.  No more deductible for that illness.

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Your doctor should have helped you. I had surgery a few years back and got reimbursed by my US insurance. But I had to pay via credit card for the hospital. The bill was padded and my doctor went over the bill before I left. He argued it down but said they did not meet the price they gave him and turned in his credentials at that hospital. This was Hospital San Jose. I've heard of the same thing happening at Puerto Hierro.

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I had a friend helping another friend with medical stuff at Puerto Hierro and they had an armed guard and told them they could not leave until paying. And they said they could not produce a factura as the person or doctor was not available. This person was also covered under medical insurance and would recover the cost but not without a factura. They waited the whole day while this woman was very ill until they could produce a factura. They got home late that night. And I am referring to the one in Zapopan next to the Andares Mall.

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I wanted to clarify that in both cases this was a referral from a clinic. Just keep in mind that it is very possible that referring doctors are paid a referral fee, probably a percentage of the total grab. I will not name the clinic other to say we are very happy with Quality Care specialists for diagnosis and minor stuff, but it looks like Seguro Popular for the major, if that ever happens. You will probably see the same specialists in a Seguro Popular hospital anyways, they are paid by SP and I believe there is some sort of pension, that relates as to how many hours they have contributed. That may have changed now.

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On 8/13/2016 at 3:10 PM, CHILLIN said:

Just a warning that those going into private medical care need to know their rights, and have Spencers number on speed dial. We got extorted by a few hundred dollars, for what we were told, was for unforseen costs, over the estimate. A good friend just went through five days at a specialist clinic, the bill was over $40,000 U.S., they were $7,000 short. They would not let him discharge until it was paid, they said to h with you, we are phoning a cab right now, the doctors have discharged me. The Financial Director/ Rottweiler told them if he tried to leave the hospital, they would have him arrested and she doubted he would make much of recovery inside a jail cell. They had to stay another night, at $300 per night, so they could shuffle around accounts online. Jaybear is right - if you want to go the private medical route, with first class care, you will need $500,000 in a medical account.

We have printed out what Spencer has to say about this, and his phone number, to friends and neighbours.

 

I'm a little curious as to why Spencer hasn't commented on this, and if you supposedly have his comments printed out, I'm sure that everyone would like to see them...(unless he actually hasn't said anything??)

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On 8/13/2016 at 5:20 PM, sm1mex said:

Maybe not everyone can do this but if you can, get medical insurance here before you get sick.  It is your get out of the hospital no hassle card.

I have been hospitalized many times and when I show my Met Life card, no problem getting in or out.  It has been a life saver for me.  I got the insurance before I started having

multiple problems.  All covered after my deductible.  No questions asked.  Once you meet your deductible per diagnosis, that diagnosis is covered for life.  No more deductible for that illness.

That's great if you're young enough to get insurance here.  Otherwise you either have to pay cash or take your chances with SP.

There's a good reason why the main reason people leave here is related to medical cost issues.  

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Hospitals cant kidnap you, they try and lie.

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The problem as someone else posted is when a gringo appears with insurance, hospitals only see dollar signs regardless of the possibility of a huge deductible. When asked if we had insurance one year, we said yes and the bill was way out compared to what it could have been without insurance - almost 75% less than the deductible itself.

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Puerto Hierro said that they would take my insurance and then held me until I paid in cash - at such a point you are thinking home not lawyer. I'll just never again recommend that institution.

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1 hour ago, lcscats said:

Thats called kidnapping. Let them know.  You have to call them on this.  If they won't let you go it Lawyer time!

I know someone who went with a lawyer who, after meeting with hospital representatives, were told to get a criminal lawyer.  They then went with two criminal lawyers who came out of the meeting ashen faced and told the clients to pay.  Yes, this was the one near Andreas Mall.

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6 hours ago, nothernewbie said:

I know someone who went with a lawyer who, after meeting with hospital representatives, were told to get a criminal lawyer.  They then went with two criminal lawyers who came out of the meeting ashen faced and told the clients to pay.  Yes, this was the one near Andreas Mall.

They should have ignored the advice of the hospital, sent in a litigator/negotiator, He, or she, would say "Have a good look at this face, because this is the one you are going to see in court, if you pursue this ridiculous claim". Sumtin like that, anyways.

HA ha - Spencer has developed his legendary right hook muscles from carrying Baby McMullin around!

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