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Forums  > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

Rogelio L.

Apr 24, 2004, 9:54 AM

Post #1 of 19 (2238 views)

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Health Insurance

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I am a 58 year old, single, healthy truck driver,(teamster) I would really like to retire, BUT, health insurance in the U.S.A. is so expensive that it is holding back my retirement. Can anyone give me a ball park figure of what adequate insurance would cost me in Mexico. I understand health care is good there in the Lakeside area. Thanks
Growing old is manditory, growing up is optional!!

Bubba

Apr 24, 2004, 10:41 AM

Post #2 of 19 (2213 views)

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Re: [shadow34] Health Insurance

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ING Comercial America provides my wife and me with unlimited health insurance coverage for under the equivalent of $200 USD per month. We use Jesus Tejeda out of Guadalajara. That is with a $20,000 Peso (about $1,850 USD)annual deduction. One does not normally use health insurance for small doctor's charges here so this gives you the important protection from catastrophic illness that you need. Hospitals covered are among the very best all over Mexico.

Don


Apr 24, 2004, 11:00 AM

Post #3 of 19 (2206 views)

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Re: [shadow34] Health Insurance

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When buying insurance in Mexico be sure to check the conditions under which the company can cancel out your insurance. We have some friends here that told us about one of their relatives that had insurance, for many years, from a reputable company here in Mexico. The wife contacted cancer and she entered treatment. No problem with the insurance company. They paid everything outlined in the policy. After the cancer went into remission and treatments stopped, the insurance company cancelled her policy. She was unable to get new insurance due to her previous condition. Years later the cancer returned and she had no coverage. If the above, that we were told is accurate, it is important to check how, who and when a health insurance policy can be cancelled, before you buy any insurance.

Bubba

Apr 24, 2004, 2:32 PM

Post #4 of 19 (2168 views)

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Re: [Don] Health Insurance

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Don:

The problem is that you cannot know this until it happens to you. Forget trying to read the policy. This is unfortunate but true.

Rogelio L.

Apr 25, 2004, 9:53 AM

Post #5 of 19 (2099 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Health Insurance

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Thanks, folks, you have helped a great deal, it gives me something to look foreward to. Sounds like healthcare is affordable there. I may be able to retire after all.
Growing old is manditory, growing up is optional!!

Bubba

Apr 25, 2004, 10:29 AM

Post #6 of 19 (2096 views)

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Re: [shadow34] Health Insurance

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To contact Jesus Tejeda Mejorada at ING Comercial America, call 3563-1300 in Guadalajara. His e-mail is jtejada17@hotmail.com. His cell phone # is 044333 667-0499.

I am passing on this information because of a private inquiry. My endorsement of ING and Sr. Tejeda is based upon their excellent personal service in underwriting us when we were screwed to the wall by New York Life/Seguros Monterrey and the lake Chapala Society Group Insurance Plan. We have had no claims with ING and, thus, cannot vouch for the quality of their response to claims for major medical. If you sign up with ING, I cannot tell you what will happen when you have a claim. If you sign up with New York Life/Seguros Monterrey at the Lake Chapala Society then I repeat a mantra from Marine Corps Training Camp at Parris Island, SC circa 1960:

Consign your soul to God because your ass belongs to me.

Don


Apr 25, 2004, 6:46 PM

Post #7 of 19 (2025 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Health Insurance

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"The problem is that you cannot know this until it happens to you. Forget trying to read the policy. This is unfortunate but true.""

Bubba:

One doesn't have to wait until something like this happens to you. Up front, before you purchase the health insurance, ask the agent underwhat conditions either party can cancel the policy. Then have him show you the clause.


Bubba

Apr 26, 2004, 8:58 AM

Post #8 of 19 (1952 views)

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Re: [Don] Health Insurance

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Don:

I was quite specific in my questions to the New York Life/Seguros Monterrey health insurance agent who was given credence by the fact that he had an office on the grounds of the Lake Chapala Society. In 2001, I bought into the New York Life group health insurance plan touted by the Lake Chapala Society based upon that agent's word that the policy could not and would not ever be cancelled. I was new in this town and thought that products and services offered in affiliation with the LCS were accorded their bond. Two years later, the insurance company, abruptly and without adequate warning, cancelled that policy and offered a much inferior policy in its stead. The board of the LCS was appalled at this breach of faith but did nothing about it. Today, New York Life/Seguros Monterrey still has an agent on the grounds of the LCS supposedly endorsed by that organization.

In Mexico, just about any insurance agent will tell you what you want to hear. The proof is in the claim settlement when all hell breaks loose. It troubles me deeply that the LCS lends its good name to this sort of deception. What I don't understand is the fact that I seem to be the only person around here who is highly pissed off about this.

HHERRINGTON


Apr 26, 2004, 10:13 AM

Post #9 of 19 (1925 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Health Insurance

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Quote
Bubba you have been doing such a good job that no one else feels compelled to join in. We do occassionally worry about your blood pressure when you are really on your game.
----------------------------------------------------

Life is too complicated to be expressed in one liners.

Bubba

Apr 26, 2004, 10:24 AM

Post #10 of 19 (1922 views)

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Re: [HHERRINGTON] Health Insurance

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Thank you, Howard. The blood pressure thing was a pre-condition, cured by my moving here from the Northern Hell Hole. If I explode from excessive blood pressure resulting from my dwelling on the incompetence of the LCS board, my wife will simply have to scrape me off the walls without compensation.

Don


Apr 26, 2004, 12:36 PM

Post #11 of 19 (1892 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Health Insurance

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Bubba:

I am not talking about an insurance company that cancels a policy or changes a policy for all their clients. I am talking about an insurance company that can selectively cancel out some clients, when premium payment is not an issue, while other clients can maintain the same policy. That's why I say one should ask their agent what cancellation rights each party has and then ASK TO SEE THE POLICY CLAUSE before signing up.

It appears in your case, there was no clause in your policy backing up what your agent claimed.

Bubba

Apr 26, 2004, 1:54 PM

Post #12 of 19 (1875 views)

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Re: [Don] Health Insurance

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I understand, Don. The chairman of the board of the LCS told me that what New York Life did was illegal according to the terms of the policy/contract. I can only cite what he said as I have thrown away the old policies. In my experience, insurance company's can do anything that pleases them regardless of stated contractual obligations. This seems to be especially true in Mexico where your chances of prevailing in a lawsuit against a powerful company such as New York Life, which owns Seguros Monterrey, are less than zero.

SkipinAjijic

Apr 28, 2004, 11:06 AM

Post #13 of 19 (1760 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Health Insurance

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Hey Bubba, Does this mean that you will be running for the board at LCS next election? Then you will be able to fix all the problems with Insurance. I'll help get out the vote. Skip

Bubba

Apr 28, 2004, 11:28 AM

Post #14 of 19 (1753 views)

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Re: [SkipinAjijic] Health Insurance

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Skip:

You are a card.

Let's say I have two alternatives to finish out my life:

(a) Run for office at the Lake Chapala Society.

(b) Be covered with honey and placed among Brazilian man-eating ants.

Need I tell you my choice?

I won't even drive down the street upon which they are located. I detour to the beach. I'm scared to death some Viejo Pedito is going to pull out absent mindedly and destroy my car.

I used to belong to that association. In addition to the group health plan (HA!), there was the video club and the elderly ladies with the reference books. There is now a service called Netflix.com that will ship DVDs to your Laredo address if you are a customer of Mailboxes, Etc. in San Antonio. As for the elderly ladies, the last time I asked one of them a question, I thought she was going to have a heart attack frantically leafing through the association's information binder. As for that binder, I think that it was last updated when Neal James was still holding court.

kirkswig


May 20, 2004, 5:49 PM

Post #15 of 19 (1615 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Health Insurance

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How does that work using Netflix through MBE? I'd expect that getting the DVD's wouldn't be too difficult... they just come with the rest of your mail, but that returning them would be a bother, no?

I'd be afraid that the Mexican post office system (which hasn't received rave reviews here) would start losing lots ofthe DVD's, and then Netflix would say, "Adios!"

To boldly go where no wig has gone before.

RIONSDAD

May 21, 2004, 2:15 AM

Post #16 of 19 (1592 views)

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Re: [shadow34] Health Insurance

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You also can buy into the Mexico National Health plan, (IMSS), or something like that to protect you against large claims..Small ones are best paid for out of pocket,, But the National plan is $180/year under 60, and $280/year over 60..Lots of info on the Lake Chapala Society web site..But with office AND HOME visits costing $25, you can pay most out of petty cash..Yes, I did say HOME visits..The Doctors even answer their own phones, Unique concept, HUH? Charlie /Naples,FL

Rogelio L.

May 21, 2004, 6:16 AM

Post #17 of 19 (1571 views)

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Re: [chas0127] Health Insurance

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Chas0127, thanks for your reply, My question is , would it be best to sign up for Mexican national insurance as well as purchasing private insurance in Mexico, it seems so cheap compared to what I would have to pay in the States. I am comparing $850.00 Per month here, and It sounds like I could get by with something like $250.00 per month there including the Mex. Nat. ins.

Health insurance is what is holding my retirement back, I must say that I am looking foreward to my trip to Lakeside in Oct.

Thanks
Roy
Growing old is manditory, growing up is optional!!

RIONSDAD

May 21, 2004, 9:56 AM

Post #18 of 19 (1532 views)

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Re: [shadow34] Health Insurance

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A lot would depend upon your health..The national program has a 3 year phase in,,The first year you are only covered for accidents, then the next year is more, and finally, the thrid year you are eligible for full benefits..But, you maybe required to have an exam at application time, also asked health questions to determine any pre-existing conditions, which like regular US plans, maybe excluded. Most people, as I'm told, because I'm not relocated there yet( But, August is close), do not use the plan in the first 3 years except as catastrophic coverage, to insure full coverage after the 3 years..But with vists being so reasonable, and even hospital R&B being only $40/day, you can afford some out of pocket pays...But I have read some stories, just like the US, of denials, slow claims payments, and no communication..Again, The Lake Chapala Society, brings in reps from the private plans, to discuss coverage and costs..There is a major clinic in Ajijic, ambulances, doctors of all specialties, and large groups of providers..I'm satisfied, that with most of them having been US trained, the care is there and Guadalajara is only 30 miles away..As you know, most prescription drugs are "over the counter" in Mexico, with only narcotics requiring a prescription..The prices are 25% of what they are in US..But, not all are available, if they are new, or quite exotic..But, most Pharmacies, and there is one big one.open 24 hours/day 7 days a week in Ajijic, will quote you a price..Dentists also have new equipment, and techniques, and are US trained..I even saw some periodontic solution that was a prescription here for nearly $20 ,there for $6. But you've got to look, understand, the spanish, and ask help..They are great to help.. Mexicans APPRECIATE our business...You will be thanked to death,,, Gracias..Gracias, Gracias....Hope this helps, But, try your google search, for mexican health insurance and see what comes up....Chas

Jean

May 21, 2004, 10:29 AM

Post #19 of 19 (1527 views)

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Re: [chas0127] Health Insurance

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I would strongly urge both of you to really look hard at IMSS before you go this route.

I think your expectations are a little high. I currently have a friend going in for cancer surgery and the hospital was filthy and some of his drugs are out of stock. To say he is worried is an understatement. Cancer surgery is a big deal and he is now wishing he had not relied on this system.

Carry private insurance for the first year and then really look into IMSS. There is no IMSS clinic in Ajijic. Chapala is the closest one and it leaves a lot to be desired. There are no specialists at the IMSS in Chapala. You MUST go into Guadalajara...a 45 minute drive. Just getting appointments can be a nightmare in itself.

My personal experience with the doctor at IMSS in Chapala was a dreadful one.

Investigate this option extensively before deciding.
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