I have written several times about Mexican health care. From the minor inconvenience of de-worming to major surgery on my fractured right ankle.
Health care easily tops the list on my choice of Mexico as a retirement spot.
For about a week now, I have been restrained by a minor medical issue. On Tuesday, I was sitting on my couch in the living room. I started to stand up and felt a pain in my lower left back. Now, I know "as if stuck by an ice pick" sounds like a terrible cliché. At the time, if felt like a terrible reality.
I caught my breath and eventually stood up. The pain was very localized on my lower left side between the hip and the rib cage.
Several friends have described the exact symptoms to me. So, I immediately concluded I had a kidney stone. Either that or I was giving birth to an alien.
By the next morning the pain had generally subsided. But I decided to see a doctor. After talking with me and examining my back, she concluded it was not a kidney stone. But she wanted to be certain.
She asked me to drive to the lab about twenty minutes away. And said she would have the results on her computer by the time I returned.
A quick drive and an even quicker urine sample had me ready to leave. But not before I paid my bill. And I pause here for you folks north of the border to savor this number. The full charge for the lab test was $6.70 (US). Total.
When I returned to the doctor's office, she had the results. No blood. No kidney stone. Because my blood pressure was well within range, she diagnosed a sprain.
Mexican doctors are really big on vitamin B injections. And she was more than happy to give me one right in the left hip.
To fight the sprain, she sold me a ten-day supply of prescription anti-inflammatories, and I picked up a packet of Advil (having discovered the bottle I brought south with me had expired in 2005). All of that, plus the office visit and a bottle of water that helped me pass my urine test with flying colors, set me back only $80 (US). Most of that was for the drugs.
I am not really concerned about why medical expenses have become so expensive in The States. The situation is complex. But most of it comes down to various factors that have interfered with free market mechanisms between the doctor and patient.
Those forces are in full effect here in Mexico. And, as a result, not only are the services very effective, they are also affordable.
And that is a primary reason I am sitting on a patio in Melaque writing this instead of sitting in a hot tub in Salem.
Health care easily tops the list on my choice of Mexico as a retirement spot.
For about a week now, I have been restrained by a minor medical issue. On Tuesday, I was sitting on my couch in the living room. I started to stand up and felt a pain in my lower left back. Now, I know "as if stuck by an ice pick" sounds like a terrible cliché. At the time, if felt like a terrible reality.
I caught my breath and eventually stood up. The pain was very localized on my lower left side between the hip and the rib cage.
Several friends have described the exact symptoms to me. So, I immediately concluded I had a kidney stone. Either that or I was giving birth to an alien.
By the next morning the pain had generally subsided. But I decided to see a doctor. After talking with me and examining my back, she concluded it was not a kidney stone. But she wanted to be certain.
She asked me to drive to the lab about twenty minutes away. And said she would have the results on her computer by the time I returned.
A quick drive and an even quicker urine sample had me ready to leave. But not before I paid my bill. And I pause here for you folks north of the border to savor this number. The full charge for the lab test was $6.70 (US). Total.
When I returned to the doctor's office, she had the results. No blood. No kidney stone. Because my blood pressure was well within range, she diagnosed a sprain.
Mexican doctors are really big on vitamin B injections. And she was more than happy to give me one right in the left hip.
To fight the sprain, she sold me a ten-day supply of prescription anti-inflammatories, and I picked up a packet of Advil (having discovered the bottle I brought south with me had expired in 2005). All of that, plus the office visit and a bottle of water that helped me pass my urine test with flying colors, set me back only $80 (US). Most of that was for the drugs.
I am not really concerned about why medical expenses have become so expensive in The States. The situation is complex. But most of it comes down to various factors that have interfered with free market mechanisms between the doctor and patient.
Those forces are in full effect here in Mexico. And, as a result, not only are the services very effective, they are also affordable.
And that is a primary reason I am sitting on a patio in Melaque writing this instead of sitting in a hot tub in Salem.
Some days it is no fun getting old - then when you consider the alternative....
ReplyDelete. . . various factors that have interfered with free market mechanisms between the doctor and patient.
ReplyDeleteBoy, you got that right. You look at all the hubbub over the massive, money-sucking, government intervention called ObamaCare, and you have to burst out laughing at the utter stupidity of the entire thing. Completely unnecessary.
If the U.S. wants to really reform health care, all they need to do is look south to Mexico. What we have works like a charm.
The mechanics of the free market system here are much easier. The system works well when your health issues are common, and thus service are in demand, prices stay competitive, the middle class can afford it, etc. Usually it's a wonderful system.
ReplyDeleteThe downside though, is, when a health issue is uncommon. Accessibility, affordability and effectiveness are no longer at play because the majority does not demand the medical care. Service is scarce and expensive. Akin to any luxury item in the free market.
We were told by our OBGYN to go back to the US for our pregnancy, which was high-risk in nature and could have potentially lost the baby and/or bankrupted us had we stayed here, due to lack of accessibility and potential costs for specialized care.
So, while there are some definite advantages to how health care functions in Mexico, we were thankful for the US health system and our health insurance. It assured us we wouldn't go broke, and it gave us our sweet son. :)
That is one reason I am not an advocate of extending Medicare outside of The States.
ReplyDeleteBut that alternative will catch up with us soon enough.
ReplyDeleteYour past profession might just have a little responsibility tot he woes of the healthcare problems NOB.
ReplyDeleteDown here we can still walk down the street having the choice to step into the hole in the sidewalk or not. NOB it would be cordoned off with barricades and yellow tape in fear that a barrister would plunge down from the sky, should the non attentive person lack any self responsibility for their stupidity..
Just having the FREEDOM to go to a local lab for a urine or blood test and shelling out the 5 bucks is reason enough for me to be here.NOB the govmint knows better how to run your life and is getting more invasive each and every day. The 16oz ban on soda bottle fiasco in NYC is proof enough.
Your diagnosis of kidney stones is pretty spot on, having had those little jewels for the last 50 years I can tell you , you are lucky that you don't manufacture those!
Probably early sciatica or pinched nerve.....a tad better than kidney stones......
Steve, I enjoyed your comments so much. My husband and I are looking forward to moving to Mexico hopefully sooner than later. We have heard only great things about the health care there. Glad you are feeling better!
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that trial lawyers have had a negative impact on the cost of American health care. Along with insurance that is owned by employers and not individuals.
ReplyDeleteBut you hit the nail on the head with your responsibility comments. I enjoy the opportunity to look out for my own needs here in Mexico.
I hoe you enjoy the move. How soon are you planning on moving down?
ReplyDeleteBetween the pulling reeds lagoon side, and raking beaches clean, a sprain would not surprise me. And they can be very painful. Recuperating and cooperating usually go hand in hand...
ReplyDeleteB shot-- maybe for metabolism stimulation-- one reason I have heard.
Hope you are on the road to wellness.
One of the unique things about the Mexican medical system is that doctors are still diagnosticians. They are not tied to machines and tests.......out of fear of lawsuits, primarily I'm told by my niece who is a Doctor.
ReplyDeleteI WOULD like to have Medicare available in Mexico to pay if there are catastrophic illnesses to cover. I doubt I'll live long enough to see that happen......
I'm always astonished that one can get an appointment the day one calls or the very next day. While in Houston I tried to get appointments with three different physicians for check-ups. None could see me for at least 6 weeks.........WHAT is that all about? Ridiculous.
Hope you don't have a kidney stone. Son John did and he did describe it as giving birth to an alien...........he's had more since and has learned to drink excessive amounts of water to stave them off. Good luck!
I tried to restrain myself. Now, for some unsolicited medical advise. Get rid of the inflammatory scripts, they're hard on your liver or is it kidneys, I'm not sure. What I do know from years of sport related ailments, is a simple heating pad for muscle strains. Never use heat on joints, ice works best for those pains. I stand by this, for what it's worth.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Francisco
Steve, what doctor did you go to? And did you go to Cihua lab or Beni in San Patricio?
ReplyDeleteSteve, do your old friend a favor and double check your blood pressure halfway thru the course of anti-inflammatories. They have a nasty side effect of increasing BP ( I'm talking anastolic 160-180mm)... So where would your mexican neighbors get $80(US) for this minor medical adventure?
ReplyDeleteAll roads lead to The Ultimate Wellness.
ReplyDeleteDra. Linda. Dra. Rosa is out of town. I went to the lab in Cihuatlan.
ReplyDeleteI agree about appointments. We actually don't have appointments here. I just stop by the office and the doctor will see me in turn. On my last trip north it took me two weeks to see a general practitioner just to get a prescription renewed. Here, I would just go to the pharmacy with no prescription required. The only down side is that my particular medication costs about three times as much in Mexico as it does in The States.
ReplyDeleteI think it is the liver. But it is a short prescription -- with a nice drowsy effect to go along.
ReplyDeleteMost of my neighbors would never go to the doctor for a muscle sprain. Nor would I -- if I had nor conjured up my episode of romancing the stone. I appear to have lost my little blood pressure tester, I should get another.
ReplyDeleteSteve this post made me think of one when you broke your ankle and were in the hospital...I believe you spoke then of a book in Spanish and English that has very helpful phrases if one is in need of medical attention. Am I correct that I read of it here? If so, might you give the title again? I should have purchased it when I first read about it. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better soon!
Barbara
It is Emergency Medical Spanish -- For Travelers and Expats. You can find it for sale on the right side bar at: http://mexicantrailrunner.blogspot.mx/
ReplyDeleteGood memory on your part. I wrote about the book in 2010 at: http://steveinmexico.blogspot.mx/2010/08/emergency-spanish.html
Wonderful! Thank you so much!
ReplyDelete(I've read since long before you left Salem, and recall much about your journeys.)
Barbara
We had several medical encounters in Mexico with 2 young boys. It felt so nice to just go to the doctor (no appointment required), be able to pay with nominal cash amounts and then get what was needed easily from Pharmacia.
ReplyDeleteStitches, skin fungus and high fevers all taken care of easily. No fancy settings required.
(Managed care in the US has ruined healthcare - my opinion)
There are times I get downright nostalgic about Mexico. In many ways, t reminds me of growing up in southern Oregon during the 1950s. And medicine is right there at the top of the list.
ReplyDeleteFunny - as I was writing my comment I was thinking of the same thing. Even as a kid in the late sixties and early seventies - I remember a simpler time for medical care.
ReplyDeleteMust have come into a bunch of money to be able to move to Mexico!!!
ReplyDeleteI actually save money here over the cost of living in Oregon.
ReplyDelete