Clinic/Physician/Hospital recommendation

Axixic wrote:

little italy wrote:My Husband and I had a plan with Dr. Garcia when we first arrived. I can honestly say I really liked him especially when my Husband became ill. I now use the Ajijic Clinic as it is closer to where I live. Forgot the price using Maskeras, however, was worth every penny at one time.

Does Ajijic Clinic offer a plan?

I don't believe they do.

The plan worked for us as my Husband was in the clinic at least once a week with problems.

Axixic wrote:

little italy wrote:My Husband and I had a plan with Dr. Garcia when we first arrived. I can honestly say I really liked him especially when my Husband became ill. I now use the Ajijic Clinic as it is closer to where I live. Forgot the price using Maskeras, however, was worth every penny at one time.

Does Ajijic Clinic offer a plan?

No, they do not. Cheap enough for Dr's visit at 200 pesos. Get lab tests at ISI beside the Casino. You can pay for your normal X Rays anywhere for less than $ 50 US.

To show some health costs, we have a guy in my neighborhood who was in Ajijic Clinic for 7 days, Doctor costs, around the clock nurses, medication and choice of meals from 3 area restaurants. How does 10,000. pesos sound for all that?

joec wrote:

Axixic wrote:

little italy wrote:My Husband and I had a plan with Dr. Garcia when we first arrived. I can honestly say I really liked him especially when my Husband became ill. I now use the Ajijic Clinic as it is closer to where I live. Forgot the price using Maskeras, however, was worth every penny at one time.

Does Ajijic Clinic offer a plan?

No, they do not. Cheap enough for Dr's visit at 200 pesos. Get lab tests at ISI beside the Casino. You can pay for your normal X Rays anywhere for less than $ 50 US.

To show some health costs, we have a guy in my neighborhood who was in Ajijic Clinic for 7 days, Doctor costs, around the clock nurses, medication and choice of meals from 3 area restaurants. How does 10,000. pesos sound for all that?

ohh, I paid 350 pesos the last time I was in Ajijic Clinic, which was about 6 months ago. Good to know they came down in price. Still 350 is cheap for seeing a good Doctor.

If one does want to sign up for IMSS for emergency backup who is/are the best local facilitators to use?

Seems to me that I saw a post by the new doc in town, Santiago R. Hernandez M.D. that he has some sort of health maintenance plan? Haven't seen any comments either way about this doc.
www.chapalamed.com

coffeeguy wrote:If one does want to sign up for IMSS for emergency backup who is/are the best local facilitators to use?

Damn good question have no idea. I remember calling an Ambulance (have no idea what ambulance) when my husband needed one' (won't go into detail irrelevant) we were taken to San Javier Hospital. To be honest, I don't remember if they asked what Hospital.

Axixic, this whole notion you're floating about a "clinic plan" is new to me. (Disclaimer: I have lived here almost five years, but am from the US and am absolutely not an expert on these issues. And am learning from this thread, so thanks.) To me it sounds a bit like you're exporting that "clinic plan" expectation from Canada. Apparently they exist though. I had no idea.

A question for those who are fluent in IMSS. Currently we have private insurance through AXA. As we get older the premiums are undoubtedly going to increase dramatically. It sounds like some here have enrolled in IMSS as backup coverage to supplement a private insurance plan. The idea of signing up for IMSS is appealing, but I thought you could only enroll in IMSS if you DID NOT HAVE private health insurance. Is that true or not?

No, Rosa, IMSS doesn't care if you have other insurance, they'd probably prefer you did. It's SP that you can only sign up for if you don't have IMSS or other insurance.

The trick is, sign up for IMSS BEFORE you get some medical issue that will keep you from being accepted. It's only $250/year.

Far as I know, Azu Bateman and Spencer don't do IMSS but Susana Rodriguez will facilitate your IMSS. Their number in Ajijic is 766 4240.

Trailrunner:

Perhaps you can speak to this? There are any number of people on this and other forums who speak to having IMSS for catasrophic medical incidents that may not be covered by whatever insurance they have but one doesn't have to be a genus to figure out that there are any number of foreigners trying to live life on the cheap who attempt to use IMSS for every little medical issue!

My observation on that is different from yours, CG.

I think most foreigners who maintain IMSS never use it. I do have a few foreigner friends who do use it for all of their health care needs. All of them are on tight budgets, SPEAK SPANISH, are respectful, and have taken the time to learn the system and how to use it. Sometimes they go to other doctors outside of IMSS for second opinions or if they don't want to wait for an appt etc. They are happy with their health care - but they know what they're doing.

I've used it for a brief physical requested by the nurse, a tetanus booster, a flu shot, an urgencias visit for palpitations with follow up, and that is all in 9 years. I am able to do it in Spanish and I understand medicine and how medical systems work. That helps.

It's like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it.

Thanks, Trailrunner.

¡Salud!

My husband and I have both started seeing Dr. Hernandez and are VERY pleased with the care we are getting. My husband had been treated by other local doctors who should have known he had some pretty serious health issues. Rather than trying to find out what was actually wrong with him they just kept giving him more pills. Dr. Hernandez spends at least 1 1/2 hours with you at the first visit and from that visit he determined that some diagnostic testing needed to be done quickly. Hubbie had several pretty serious issues going on but thanks to Dr. Hernandez these are all being dealt with.

His prices seem very fair - $500 pesos for first visit - $300 pesos after that (for a 1 hour visit). He uses a medical records system where all tests are scanned into the system, and if at any time you are away from here and need medical care Dr. Hernandez can provide a code to the dr. treating you that will allow that doctor to access all information needed. He does a detailed summary of each visit to him and that is either provided to you at the end of the visit or e-mailed to you by the next day at the latest. This summary includes information about any additions/deletions/changes to medications. If required, he is available to go with you when you need tests done in Guad.

He also has provided us with his cell phone number so we are able to contact him at any time. After all procedures my husband has had done Dr. Hernandez has followed up by telephone to ensure everthing is ok.

We both feel we are getting the most complete care we have ever had from any doctor anywhere.

That's impressive. What is Dr. Hernandez' location and number?

This is a good report regarding Dr. Santiago, thanks for posting. Too many clinics and doctors here never do a physical exam and interview and don't work their patients up but just give prescriptions for drugs. Dr. Juan Pablo being the exception.

Axixic wrote:That's impressive. What is Dr. Hernandez' location and number?

good question. can you provide Dr. Hernandez' full name and associated clinic please. Is he Alfredo Hernandez with Clinica Ajijic?

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Ahhh, Chapala. Okay - it sounds great but I think I should stay local - in Ajijic.

Axixic wrote:Ahhh, Chapala. Okay - it sounds great but I think I should stay local - in Ajijic.

Why?

Trailrunner wrote:

Axixic wrote:Ahhh, Chapala. Okay - it sounds great but I think I should stay local - in Ajijic.

Why?

Yep, I'm with Trailrunner, and if you've read her previous posts on medical issues it should be pretty clear how deeply knowledgeable she is about medical care in Mexico generally, and at Lakeside specifically.

Dr. Hernandez sounds good, and Dr. Juan Pablo in Chapala is as Trailrunner mentioned a very sharp and thorough doctor. My wife and I have also had good (though admittedly limited) experience with Dra. Lupita at Integrity Clinic (same shopping center as Lake Taco and Pemex on the Libriemento). These are all doctors who will take a few history, input it all into their laptops, and who know who the good hospitals and specialists are in Guad. and will make sure you really do follow through with their instructions.

If you just want a 15 minute visit and some meds you can see a 30 peso doctor at many farmacias (or pay 200-300 pesos for the English speaking version at various clinics and offices in Ajijic ). One of the things I've learned from personal experience, listening to horror stories from friends and savvy folks like Trailrunner is that while the upside of no malpractice insurance and easy access to doctors is considerable, this is also very much a "buyer beware" situation. There are clinics here with x-ray and lab equipment that is decades out-of-date, lots of docs who get kick-backs from the labs they send you, and incompetent doctors who might very well inadvertently kill you. Caveat emptor!

If the doctor or doctors I wanted to see were in Chapala and I lived in Ajijic I sure as hell wouldn't let the 10 minute bus ride stand in my way.

It's complicated - or maybe I am just making it so. Hard to say.

I only recently moved to 'downtown' Ajijic but I like it. I like it a lot. A lot more than I liked living in Upper Floresta where I felt like I was living in Oakville or some other suburb. The noise, the street, the people, the life. In the five months I lived 'over there' I felt like a prisoner; now I feel like a free man. I walk to wherever I need to go: grocery store, restaurant, wherever. I like that feeling; that sense of being part of the community. I found a great dentist in San Antonio but I am looking to replace her with one I can walk to. She's great, but I want someone in 'walking distance'.

This is so hard to articulate. Before, I felt like a visitor. Now, I feel like a part of the community. And to me, rightly or wrongly, that is somehow tied to proximity. I guess I can't really explain it but it is very real to me.

Living life "on foot" is indeed one of the great joys of being here, and it's great for your health (until you crash and burn walking on the cobblestones, of course ). Best of luck in finding a doctor and dentist walking distance from you.

FWIW another insurance option since you are relatively young, and healthy, would be to apply for the Blue Angels/Boomer's plan (valerie.friesen@blueangelinsurance.com, 766-0547 - she's in Plaza Interlago aka the new mall, on the Libriemento). $5000 deductible and $900 per person annual premium gets you access to the best private hospitals in Guad. for the truly catastrophic stuff [only]: cancer, heart attack, major accidents and the like. There's a blood test if you're 64 or older, otherwise all you need is an FM2/3 and CFE bill to prove your address. Friends have joined and are happy thus far...will of course know more once we see how claims are handled and (usually the deal breaker down here) how much the annual premium increases turn out to be.

Routine stuff is still out of pocket but that's pretty painless down here.

She doesn't reply to emails. At least that's my experience. It took her 3 weeks to reply to the first one. Said, "she'd been busy." OK. In the email she had not addressed the questions I raised in my original msg. to her. I stated them again. That was several weeks ago. Adios, off my list.