Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

fug

Feb 6, 2012, 3:54 PM

Post #1 of 15 (1440 views)

Shortcut

Just curious.

| Private Reply

Brought a friend home from a hospital in GDL yesterday, after major surgery. No insurance and he was short a few thousand pesos which the doctor demanded. I brought a few thousand extra pesos to get his bill paid in full. My friend offered the doctor a three month payment plan at 10,000 pesos per month, which would have fully paid off all of my friend's costs. Doctor said no. NOW. Between the two of us we were able to scrape up the money. My question is

What in the heck happens to folks with no insurance and cannot pay their total bill before being released? I am thinking the only alternative is a lawsuit from the hospital or doctor to the individual, but do not have a clue. First time involved in this situation. Pretty uncomfortable Anyone have first hand experience to share? fug

NEOhio1

Feb 6, 2012, 6:31 PM

Post #2 of 15 (1391 views)

Shortcut

Re: [fug] Just curious.

| Private Reply

$30,000 pesos shouldn't be that hard to pull together, if you are here without a better and biger cushion than that you had better have some terrific friends or be willing to die.

johninajijic

Feb 6, 2012, 9:13 PM

Post #3 of 15 (1367 views)

Shortcut

Re: [fug] Just curious.

| Private Reply

They'll usually take a Credit Card and $ 30 K pesos is peanuts on a credit card.

Axixic

Feb 7, 2012, 3:29 AM

Post #4 of 15 (1344 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johninajijic] Just curious.

| Private Reply

I don't have any personal experience in this area but I was told about one person who was hospitalized in Guadalajara, didn't pay the bill and came back home to Ajijic. A few days later the police arrived to arrest him. He then managed to pay the hospital bill. I guess it's like a vehicle accident, civil and criminal. Pay or be arrested.

If someone doesn't have the money saved up and hundreds of people here don't, and he is not an IMSS member or have any other insurance, it's probably a good time to join SP.

$30,000 pesos is not peanuts to many foreigners living here.

arbon

Feb 7, 2012, 8:39 AM

Post #5 of 15 (1296 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Axixic] Just curious.

Patient with heart dropped by Mexican medics leaves hospital.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/...INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

La Isla

Feb 7, 2012, 8:51 AM

Post #6 of 15 (1288 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Axixic] Just curious.

| Private Reply

In Reply To

$30,000 pesos is not peanuts to many foreigners living here.

It certainly isn´t peanuts to me!

fug

Feb 7, 2012, 1:41 PM

Post #7 of 15 (1241 views)

Shortcut

Re: [NEOhio1] Just curious.

| Private Reply

You misunderstood. The doctor wanted it immediately, before the patient left, so we had to pool what the patient and I had in our pockets to get out. fug

fug

Feb 7, 2012, 1:44 PM

Post #8 of 15 (1238 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johninajijic] Just curious.

| Private Reply

His Mexican credit card has a limit of 5000 pesos and it was used to pay Cruz Roja for the trip from Chapala to the first hospital and then transfer again to the clinic where he had surgery. fug

fug

Feb 7, 2012, 1:48 PM

Post #9 of 15 (1235 views)

Shortcut

Re: [arbon] Just curious.

| Private Reply

Pay or be arrested? Glad we came up with the money and got a receipt marked pagado and signed by the doctor. I was just lucky to think to bring a few thousand pesos with me, just in case he did not have e nough on hand to cover him. Wow. fug

Axixic

Feb 7, 2012, 2:33 PM

Post #10 of 15 (1216 views)

Shortcut

Re: [fug] Just curious.

| Private Reply

Get him registered with Seguro Popular now and please try to find some friends who aren't clueless. Your friends have to be a drag on you.

fug

Feb 7, 2012, 3:11 PM

Post #11 of 15 (1198 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Axixic] Just curious.

| Private Reply

Five of us are signing up for SP next week. My fairly bi-lingual gardener is thrilled to be our translator, as we are each giving him 100 pesos for his help. 500 pesos is big bucks for a Mexican for a couple of hours of help. Come to think of it 500 pesos for two hours work would be a big bucks fo me, too. My plan is for me to go through the process, and then share it and explain it to others, including my cleaning lady, married with four kids, has no health insurance and has never heard of Seguro Popular. fug

(This post was edited by fug on Feb 7, 2012, 3:15 PM)

johninajijic

Feb 7, 2012, 4:04 PM

Post #12 of 15 (1179 views)

Shortcut

Re: [fug] Just curious.

| Private Reply

AXIXIC and LaIsla - If you don't think $ 30 K is peanuts, what are you going to fo in an Emergency when you have to pay a Hospital Bill? Go to jail?

You have a problem if you don't have a Credit Card with $ 10,000 USD.

(This post was edited by johninajijic on Feb 7, 2012, 4:06 PM)

fug

Feb 7, 2012, 4:28 PM

Post #13 of 15 (1172 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johninajijic] Just curious.

| Private Reply

John, I do not think 30,000 pesos is peanuts, either. I live on 1220 USD per month from SS. Not all of us are as blessed as you are to live in a half million dollar home. If Mitt Romney drops out of the race, I hope you will toss your hat in, as you both seem to have the same sense of unreality about what is going on with normal folks in the US. Best wishes, fug

La Isla

Feb 7, 2012, 4:38 PM

Post #14 of 15 (1166 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johninajijic] Just curious.

| Private Reply

In Reply To

John, I think you have a problem with understanding that not all expats in Mexico have credit cards, especially not one with a $10,000 US credit limit. It would also be nice if you could learn to phrase your comments in a more respectful manner.

It's really none of your business, but since you've asked, I pay for private health insurance here, just in case I get hit by a speeding microbus the next time I venture out of the hovel where I live :)!

Axixic

Feb 8, 2012, 3:59 AM

Post #15 of 15 (1113 views)

Shortcut

Re: [fug] Just curious.

| Private Reply

Since the Mexicans speak Spanish, signing up shouldn't be complicated at all. From what foreigners have posted who are not fluent in Spanish, it wasn't difficult to join. Take them all in and get them all signed up when you go.

Also, a pat on your back and good for you. For the person on this board who thinks class and superiority means having money in the bank, class is caring about the welfare of others even if you don't have money.