International Living Postcards– your daily escape
Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006
Everything in Mexico–from food to property to health care–costs less than in the U.S. and Canada. But that doesn’t mean you get less.
Medical care costs 30% to 50% less than it does at home…and the health care here is extraordinary. Imagine your doctor at home…not a technician…sitting down to take your medical history or driving you himself to an appointment in a larger city nearby.
We personally know of two situations where friends of ours received excellent medical care and personal attention from a local doctor. He took the medical history, and he made the phone calls to get immediate appointments with specialists. He spent hours with our friends, and they both said they received far superior care than they would have received at home. And the cost? Would you believe $230 for a three-hour visit, X-rays, and complete lab work?
In general, health care in Mexico is very good…and in many places it is excellent. Most doctors and dentists in Mexico received at least part of their training in the U.S. (And many U.S. doctors have trained in Mexico, notably in Guadalajara.) Many of them continue to go to the U.S. or Europe for ongoing training.
Every mid-size to large city in Mexico has at least one first-rate hospital. And a big plus is that the cost of health care in Mexico is generally one-half or less what you might expect to pay in the U.S. The same goes for prescription drugs. Prescription drugs manufactured in Mexico cost, on average, about 50% less than the same drugs in the U.S.
Of course, the costs of medical care will vary by physician, hospital, and the gravity of your condition. Don’t hold us to this, but on average, an office with a doctor–specialists included–will cost 300 to 400 pesos (about $30-$40). A house call…yes, doctors in Mexico still make house calls…will cost about the same. Lab tests will cost about a third of what they cost in the U.S. A CAT scan often costs about 25% of what it does in the U.S. A visit to a dentist for cleaning costs about 250 pesos ($25).
Three years ago, a friend of mine from Philadelphia, Patty, sent me an e-mail about medical care she had received in Mexic
“For $29 each, Dr. Dolores Russell gave us a good ultrasonic cleaning with the latest technique. First she numbed the gums slightly with an anaesthetic. She is expert at teeth implants and crowns and did a good job of inspecting the gums. She is very personable and speaks good English. She said her business really picks up in late October with the arrival of the snow birds from Canada and Europe. She is delightful and calls you ‘my dear.’
“Also, George ordered eyeglasses through the optician who visits the Lake Chapala Society weekly. She is Luz Maria Zepeda Urias of Claravision. He did have to go to Guadalajara to see more frames than she brought with her. He got trifocals with progressive lenses similar to varilux and high-quality Italian frames with no lower frame. Total cost was $290. We thought the price was all right but not really cheap.
“But…now we are home, many people have complimented him on his glasses. I needed an eye exam and new glasses. I asked for something similar and was quoted the price of $450 not including doctor visit, which may be covered by insurance. If not, the total will be $515.”
Like I said, George and Patty had this experience back in 2003, but if you went through this today, you probably wouldn’t pay much more.
Suzan Haskins
Latin America Insider, International Living
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P.S. In the major cities of Mexico, you can get good-quality medical care for serious medical conditions…including dialysis, major surgery…even live-in, 24-hour care…for a fraction of what you might pay in the U.S. But please, think twice about moving to Mexico if you have a serious medical condition that requires special equipment. The stress of being seriously ill in a foreign country can be more difficult than you think.
Keep in mind that Medicare and Medicaid do not travel with you outside the United States. But you will find that some providers in Mexico accept Blue Cross and other American insurance providers.
