Recent medical experience

If/when private insurance gets too expensive we would probably consider moving back to Canada. Hopefully that won't be for another 15 years or so. And who knows maybe the socialized system here will have improved by then.

I have private insurance but as I get older I worry about the time when I can't afford it since they up the rates as you age. I wish Seguro Popular had a tier system for rates so you could pay a chunk each year and get a bit more care like we spoiled gringos are used to like a semi-private or private room, etc. That said, I am grateful that they allow us to sign up for it.

Cheers to a speedy recovery!

haven't had the stones, but have heard they hurt !

Best wishes, Tday

Tday wrote:haven't had the stones, but have heard they hurt !

Best wishes, Tday

I've heard from sufferers that the word "excruciating" applies there.

Glad you are doing better. My husband had a similar experience, not with kidney stones but with heart arrhythmia. Total cost of 2 nights in Guad hospital, doctors, and medicines was $700 USD.

barbicheesecake wrote:Glad you are doing better. My husband had a similar experience, not with kidney stones but with heart arrhythmia. Total cost of 2 nights in Guad hospital, doctors, and medicines was $700 USD.

$700 USD is a LOT less than the $7515 that CanuckBob paid. Barbicheesecake - was that payment covered by insurance or simply paid on a one time basis. What procedure did your husband actually have performed?

John-in-Vallarta wrote:

barbicheesecake wrote:Glad you are doing better. My husband had a similar experience, not with kidney stones but with heart arrhythmia. Total cost of 2 nights in Guad hospital, doctors, and medicines was $700 USD.

$700 USD is a LOT less than the $7515 that CanuckBob paid. Barbicheesecake - was that payment covered by insurance or simply paid on a one time basis.  What procedure did your husband actually have performed?

We paid in pesos even though we signed up for IMSS but were not sure how to use it. This incident happened a few years ago. At the time I was house/pet sitting in another town with no vehicle. I am not clear as to what procedure(s) he had. However he was very well taken care of by the Cruz Roja here in Chapala as well as the medical staff in the hospital in Guadalajara. He now has meds which he takes every day and has had no incidents since the one that occured 3 years ago.

Thanks for you inquiry and I hope it helps.

With respect that is one of the vaguest replies I have seen in a long time and is meaningless..sorry

You want specific, first hand information?  Okay.  It's NYOB or anyone else's, but curious minds are pitiable, so I'll share.

I've had a bad medical year and have no private health insurance, so it's SP (gulp; fear factor) or out of pocket.  I chose out of pocket.

At the end of January, I had three bad disks repaired at a Guad. hospital. Short stay; done by neurosurgeon with new technique.  Cost for everything including doctor, tests, drugs and hospital: roughly under $7,000 U.S.

Two weeks ago, I needed artery repairs for heart symptoms. Stent inserted in heart; arteries unclogged. Cost of hospital, all elaborate tests, cardiologist, transportation to and from hospital in Guadalajara:  Just under $10,000 U.S.

My body is recovering; my pocket is in pain, but in less than if it had happened in the U.S.A.

Best wishes for speedy & complete recovery. I recall, after similar procedures, a sense of well-being which was definitely the result of having been so well treated throughout the diagnosis, intervention and recovery. It was just one of the many advantages of living in Mexico.

[quote=l year and have no private health insurance, so it's SP (gulp; fear factor) or out of pocket.  I chose out of pocket. [/quote]

I too have a had a bad medical year, but I really feel as though I have turned the corner, and unless I am crushed by a piano falling from the heavens (pretty rare around here - I checked the statistics), I am good to go for many years, after checking though my medical checklist. I relied on SP insurance for hospital procedures, and then private paid specialists. I had congestive heart failure six months ago, they have never found a cause, but suspect a bacteria persistent E.Coli infection with no symptoms. The heart probe was expensive, $4,000 U.S., as is anything requiring the cath lab. But no blockages, no collapsed arteries (stenosis), just fluid buildup and an enlarged heart, that is getting stronger everyday (but will not replace damaged tissue) 10 days in hospital on drip, getting rid of edema, then, later 10 days on drip to get rid of U.T.I. They discovered on ultrasound what could be stones, had a CT scan done $2,500 U.S., including ambulance and english speaking intern. Sure enough, one stone that they recommend lasering (cost of equipment and technician, about $700 U.S.. But the surgical team was very cautious. A couple weeks ago, is saw two aneasthotologists, and five urologists (including head of department) all within the space of a few hours. Cardiologist gave pre approval, aneasthotists gave approval, gastroentroenterologist gave approval (for liver and kidney), but I got a UTI back again - should know this afternoon what it is - I don't think E. Coli. So they want me back into hospital, and as soon as the infection clears, blast the stone. They think/guess that the bacteria might be hiding in the stone. The last check on my list is umbilical hernia, which is completely covered by SP unless you elect for mesh. So I got off pretty lucky, money wise, met some fine, fine people on the wards. Met many great young doctors, learnt more Spanish, lost 70 to 80 lbs, getting stronger everyday (no sciatica), eating healthy, no drinking whatsoever, FEEL GREAT! Best investment I ever made. Results may vary, especially for women on mixed wards, with no Spanish.

Glad everybody is taking good care of themselves! Speedy recoveries to all!

That was mighty extensive medical procedures, Chillin.  Glad it went so well with SP.  I wasn't quite clear on how much was done at SP hospitals and with their doctors.  Was the $4000 US cost under SP or privately?

Thanks for the well wishes, Ferret.

I don't think there is public funded Cath lab, although S P will pay it you are under 60 years old, and they get a special price of you are older. Still, $10,000 US per stent sounds about right. Just rental of the lab time alone is $1,700 US.

CHILLIN wrote:I don't think there is public funded Cath lab, although S P will pay it you are under 60 years old, and they get a special price of you are older. Still, $10,000 US per stent sounds about right. Just rental of the lab time alone is $1,700 US.

I highly recommend that no one allow themselves to get over 60 years old. It gets expensive, and I hear that SP has its own peculiar population control system by refusing to treat certain conditions for those who are over a certain age.

lol

Yes, 10,000US is right.

So, with SP, if you pay the 1700 for the cath lab and it is determined a stent is necessary will they cover the stent or do you have to pay for the whole procedure and that will be 10,000 and they cover nada?

No - the cardio interventionist will quote you $4,000 U.S. for an endoscope scan of your heart If you need additional work, that is an additional cost, but sometimes they have pre-warning of a blockage, and will tell you this, and the estimated cost while repairing at the same time as the exploratory procedure. The $4,000 is to find out what went wrong and how bad the damage is. I didn't ask Seguro Popular about this. But generally their prices are "wholesale" versus "retail" for outside services.

I think this notion that you get less care as you get older is misleading. My doctors are encouraging me to have these procedures while I am still young and strong enough. They seem to be very conservative, because it is all about successful outcomes. They get paid no matter what. I would be more suspicious, and have had actual experience, that private sector doctors just see dollar signs, and their 2019 Mercedes. No operation, no pay. If the patient passes because they pushed too hard - too bad, so sad. Your estate still has to pay. A sympathy card and a supoena.

"I think this notion that you get less care as you get older is misleading. My doctors are encouraging me to have these procedures while I am still young and strong enough." (Chillin)

Maybe they were telling you to get the procedures while you are young enough since it isn't covered later, but I wish someone who actually has the solid information on this (preferably a quote from their rules) would post.

Me too, Gringal.

I'm still confused, Chillin'. Why would a pt pay 4000 for an endo scan when the cath lab use is only 1700 and is definitive vs the endo scan? Plus, when a pt is in the cath lab they are right there to receive the stent but if a blockage is discovered during the endo scan the pt will still have to go to the cath lab, and pay for it AND the endo scan, in order to have the stent placed. My understanding of the endo scan is it is better to determine aneurysms than blockages.

Pvt practice goes like this: pt reports cardiac symptoms, EGG, ECHO, and stress tests are performed looking for indication of blockage. If indicated, pt goes to cath lab for visualization of coronary arteries and % of blockage or narrowing. Over 70% gets a stent. So, if pt is over 60, how much of that whole scenario will SP cover?

Some corrections. The CT scan was 2,500 pesos, performed at the American Hospital. The endo scan was 40,000 pesos, Efib for arrythmia, another 10,000 pesos. The 1,700 US came up because my newest, bestest hospital buddy said he was paying $400 - $500 U.S., when I mentioned this to Dr. Hector Briseno, he said that was impossible, that I had misheard (entirely possible - he spoke no English), the lab alone was $1,700 U.S. The endo scan must be performed in the cath lab, at least that is his method. All the other stuff I don't know, because it doesn't apply to me. In my case, SP paid for hospital stay and drugs to clear edema. All the other tests (other than standard blood and urine) you refer to were done and paid for privately to Dr. Briseno in Chapala. Anything involving the cath lab(s) will likely be private medicine. I am not even sure if the SP has any cardiologists who are also interventionalists. Pretty specialized.

It is not that the procedures later in life are "not covered", it is nothing about money, it comes down to a mathmetical formula, and a board, who decides whether the possible outcome is worth the possible risk.

"It is not that the procedures later in life are "not covered", it is nothing about money, it comes down to a mathmetical formula, and a board, who decides whether the possible outcome is worth the possible risk."

...which is the way I heard it. People over a certain age are considered not worth the risk. I would like to see their policy about it in their rules, though.

Thanks for the clarification on the other costs.

Yes, thanks for the explanation.

My neighbor got chest pain at work in Ajijic and they took him to the SP in Chante. They stabilized him and sent him to Civil where he had a stent placed. Probably the stent and cath lab was outsorced. The whole thing was free for him. He is 55.

Maybe someone over 60 who has been down this road will post.

It is not that a certain magical age prevents treatment, it is all about your general health. The downside of public and universal healthcare, in my opinion , is the constant nagging and pressure to become (generally) more healthy. It is easier when they are paying the bills and making the rules. To be able to offer a pile of cash, and signing waivers and financiaI guarantees is easier again. I went along with their philosophy, it takes time and discipline,, but the goals are most definitely worth the sacrifice.Definitely.

I also go along with the philosophy that the primary responsibility for health is on the person living in the body, not on the doctor.  When I see people who are hugely overweight and then hear they need knee and hip replacements and all the other results of bad eating habits, I wonder where their heads are at.  It's my own fault that I was a heavy smoker many years ago with the resulting COPD and enlarged heart that had to work too hard to keep me breathing.  Naturally, I wish I could turn back the clock and inject some sense into my younger head.