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Our Health Care Premiums went from $17K per year in USA to $3.4K for excellent coverage here in Baja. Dennis and Sandi Flannigan’s
experience shows how the American health system fails people.
The availability
of Mexican private insurance influenced their decision to move to Mexico. He
says, “In 2003, my wife Sandi and I were covered by Blue Cross with a number
(of) pre-existing conditions that made it nearly impossible to have any type of
protection should some emergency arise. Our family doctor evaluated us and took
every piece of information to the insurance companies. If you took glucosamine
and chondroitin supplement as a preventative for joint problems, it was listed
as ‘severe arthritis.’ Preventive aspirin programs were taken to mean high blood
pressure. Sandi had had one migraine headache treated at the hospital. I had a
visit that also put me in the 'High Risk' category. All vitamins and measures
taken for preventive maintenance merely raise your rates.”
 He
adds, “When our physician turned this information in, we had so many
pre-existing (conditions) that we had to be state subsidized. By the time 4
years had elapsed in the States with no claims, our monthly premium was $1389.00
and going up every month. The care, affordability and quality of coverage was a
main factor in our move here. My friends in the States basically cannot afford
coverage. When a situation arises, it can make or break a family’s living
style.”
Flannigan applied for private
Mexican insurance from Grupo Nacional Provincial, a company with more than 100
years in the insurance business. He was evaluated by San Felipe physician Dr.
Abasolo. “When we arrived, Dr. Abasolo gave me physical which came out very
positive with no preexisting conditions,” says Flannigan. “A rate for me at that
time (was) about $143 a month with a company called GNP. Our business was
welcome. We were treated with respect. Suddenly our lives had changed with the
peace of mind now afforded us.”
But for many like Flannigan,
this is the best possible option. He says, “Now, if something happens to me, I
at least have coverage. It’s good coverage. I have good doctors. The hospitals
are clean. I’m not so sure that I haven’t had better care (in Mexico). They are
not running in and out like you are just a number, like (in) the United States.
So I have been really pleased.”
He describes a recent
hospitalization for surgery. He says, “I had a herniated navel. I was diagnosed
by Dr. Abasolo on Friday. I went to the hospital on Saturday and was back by
actually Monday because I chose to stay an extra day.”
There
are some surgeries that can be done in San Felipe, but this procedure needed to
be done quickly. They went to a hospital in Mexicali. While Flannigan says the
hospital was not “cushy,” it was clean and he got very good care.
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USA Registered nurse says "I was impressed with the entire processing of me from the pre-op
room through the surgery." Consider the example
of Catherine Jones, a registered nurse and breast cancer survivor. While living
in San Felipe, Mexico, she enrolled in the IMSS program. She considers herself
very fortunate. “I had (IMSS) from 2002-2006,” says Jones. “The process of
getting the insurance in Mexicali was easy. Thank God that I had that insurance
when I was diagnosed. I had no other insurance at that time. It literally helped
to save my life. The doctor at the San Felipe clinic for IMSS referred me to
Mexicali to have a physical and a mammogram. The mammogram showed probable
cancer of the left breast. They referred me to an oncology surgeon. They
promptly scheduled me for surgery.” Jones continues, “I am
a registered nurse with many years of working in the o perating room and
emergency room. I was impressed with the entire processing of me from the preop
room through the surgery. As it turned out I had metastatic cancer. It had
already gotten into 4 of my left axillary nodes. The surgeon did a beautiful job
with the surgery. I had NO complications and they were fast at getting me set up
for chemo, and after the chemo, radiation.”
Jones added, “I can't say enough for
the treatment I received from IMSS.”
reprinted from Mexico Living Magazine Also check out Baja Good Life News |
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