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palmtreehugger

Oct 4, 2003, 9:02 PM

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eyeglasses and hospitalization costs

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I would very much like to hear from anyone who has first-hand knowledge of average costs of prescription eyeglasses (bi-focals) and/or the per day cost of a stay in a medium level hospital. I am a Canadian senior who loves to spend as much of the winter as possible in wonderful Mexico.

Carol Schmidt

Oct 4, 2003, 10:11 PM

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Re: [palmtreehugger] eyeglasses and hospitalization costs

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I saw a price on bifocals in the Guanajuato Costco of $1690 pesos (around $150 US). There were some chain optical shops in a nearby mall that claimed to be even cheaper, but I know from US mall experience that you can rarely get the advertised price. I tried to get a "two pair for $99" price at a Phoenix mall and went nuts with the loopholes. You can get the top of the line frames and probably spend $500 US even at Costco. A little neighborhood optical shop in SMA had a price in the window for bifocals of $2000 pesos (around $180 US). It pays to shop around. And do you want to support your local Mexican community or try to find the lowest price at an international chain that won't put as much back into the community and in fact hurts local businesses?

As far as hospital costs, I recently spent three days in a small, private San Miguel hospital, De La Fe, for $840 US, which included about $400 in IV antibiotics, a private room for $72 a night, seven visits by a surgeon, and the ER room and ER doctor charge. The general hospital, which offers the government medical care, is supposed to be much cheaper, and just as good for routine hospital care. For something really specialized, I'd go to Mexico City or Guadalajara, or, since U.S. Medicare doesn't pay out of the country, I'd go back to the States for a serious medical emergency, which I recently did. I have a friend who goes to Mexico City for his heart care, and gripes all the time about the high costs, but it's nowhere what he'd be paying in the US!

Hope this info helps.

Carol Schmidt

Marlene

Oct 4, 2003, 10:37 PM

Post #3 of 6 (362 views)

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Re: [palmtreehugger] eyeglasses and hospitalization costs

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I feel your pain about the Canadian dollar issue. It goes a lot further here now than it did last year, though. The really great thing about Mexico is that, as Carol says, there is some room for comparison shopping and interesting price differences. It really does pay to shop around when you have the time. It could save you loads of money.

Just today, my husband ordered some tinted prescription sunglasses. He had a good thorough eye check up, and they are going to put the new lenses into some "cool" frames he bought elsewhere. (Where else can you bring your own frames - BYOF? LOL) They are charging him $290.00 pesos which is under $30.00 USD. There was a display for all kinds of glasses in this particular store. The bifocals, including the frames, were listed at $499.00 pesos, and there was a good selection. The store is called Devlyn Optical, if my memory serves me (and it may not!) where the staff seems well trained and efficient. They take credit cards too. The second I can admit I need glasses, I will be getting them there, no question. Should be any day now.

jennifer rose

Oct 5, 2003, 8:01 AM

Post #4 of 6 (341 views)

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Re: [Mazatleca] eyeglasses and hospitalization costs

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Devlyn Optical, whose founder's father came from Illinois, is the largest retail optical chain in Latin America, not unlike LensCrafters. And its offerings range from buy-one-get-one-free deals on cheap frames to designer styles. I don't know what the status is now, but for a time Devlyn operated the optical department at some Costco stores.

At Morelia's Costco, progressive lenses were around $100 USD, excluding the frames.

Independently operated opticians' prices are competitive. Designer frames used to be a lot more expensive here in Mexico than abroad, but the pricing now is the same. And if you develop a good working relationship with a local optician, there are often some deals to be had on last year's frames. I paid $2,000 M.N. last month for a pair of Mont Blanc frames, including the progressive lenses. Never have I had any questions asked about bringing in my own frames.

ekammin

Oct 5, 2003, 10:47 AM

Post #5 of 6 (311 views)

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Re: [palmtreehugger] eyeglasses and hospitalization costs

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To fill your eyeglass prescription, do you have to have your eye examination in Mexico, or will a foreign (i. e. Canadian) prescirption be filled?

johanson

Oct 5, 2003, 2:13 PM

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Re: [ekammin] eyeglasses and hospitalization costs

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Either way. I've done it both ways