My mother had to go to Hospiten last year via A and E and they were no good at detecting the problem either, they said she had a ear infection, and for less than 35 minutes she was charged $400 dollars and the staff just see Gringa or health insurance and the bill seems to double (this is my opinion). When she returned home the doctor was able to determine the real cause of her pain and it had nothing to do with her ear. This was not the first bad experience we have had with this hospital. I know there are better places at half the price.
My husband and I have had good results with the care that we received at Hospiten. Their diagnosis of my condition last year (which required a 9 day/8 night stay with 4 of those in ICU for a grand total of $11K USD, reimbursed by my Insurance at home per the regular policy deductibles) was right on the money and confirmed by my Docs once I got home. Heck, I had a 10 minute echo-cardiogram at home that was $1500!! Anyway, I recently asked about this question, *"does anyone know what insurance companies Hospiten will do a direct billing. I am talking about insurance companies that are not Mexican."* while at Hospiten getting my monthly allergy shots. Hospiten will direct bill to Blue Cross & Blue Shield for anything requiring more than a 24 hour stay. When direct billing BC/BS they will initially require an upfront $2000 USD via a Credit Card which will be credited back to the Card once BC/BS reimburses them.
I am happy you received great treatment, the only reason my mum went through A & E was this is the only way the insurance company can work with Hospitals here in Mexico . I know living here that I could see an A & E doc for 500 pesos then an ENT doctor for another 400 pesos, and the treatment would of been the same, at a 1/4 of the cost this was my point about hospiten.
CancunMole, This is sort of off-topic, but which allergist do you use? I am looking for one and have only come across a couple of names. I don't know anything about them though. Any info you can provide will be greatly appreciated! Susan
Speaking of Hospiten, JessicaBB wrote: JessicaBB, the specialist consultation fees are set at Hospiten at 550 pesos for residents of Mexico, FM2/3 holders. This includes multiple followup visits, if required. I had three followups, in one case, and each time was told there would be no additional charge when I asked. Included in the price were the treatments I received, each time. Hospiten is more expensive than the least expensive private clinics, here, but not by much, and the costs of all their services are available- ahead of time and afterward- set prices across the board for each item of physician and hospital services. Cancunmole wrote, about the costs of her inpatient treatment at Hospiten: [This contrasts with my last hospitalization in the U.S., where the total hospital bill for one night in the hospital, and no ICU, was $25,000, for surgery (surgeon's fee not included).] Not everyone will receive the service they wish they had, at a price they wish to pay, every time they seek medical care, no matter where they go for it, and I understand hearing someone say something as bland as that, JessicaBB, will not make you feel any less upset about what happened. Unfortunately, for something of such importance, it's always a mixed bag, whether here, or back home. I'm sorry your mom had a bad experience. ___________________ My own experience with doctors and hospitals, back in the states, was variable: some doctors impressed me with their competence, others didn't, and on one hospitalization at a top ranked hospital there, I was glad to get out in one piece, so poor was the post op care. There are few guarantees in this area of life: when you find a good physician, or hospital, you stick with 'em, just like a good mechanic. I've been seen in three different hospitals, here, in Cancun, in part to try out the different ones: my best experience, so far, was at Galenia, but I know I couldn't count on a good experience there every time, either. At IMSS, likewise, a lot would depend on the physicians who were caring for you: some would approach the quality of those anywhere- others, well, maybe not. Yet, just as reported, above, about the older gentleman who had been covered under IMSS, where colon cancer was detected, and treated, having that coverage could come in very handy, especially if a person could imagine, at any time in the future, needing care that was no longer affordable to them: it's the least costly option for comprehensive care that I'm aware of, in Mexico. ____________________ Mole, if I may ask, was your being hospitalized here, rather than back in the states, by choice or dictated by the situation? If by choice, could you tell us some of the considerations that went into your decision, and how you went about making the decision, in case others are trying to make a similar decision? ____________________
I can laugh about it now but believe me it was a matter of necessity at the time. I couldn't breathe and it came on so very suddenly it brought a new meaning to the phrase 'scared s***less'. We did choose to go to Hospiten though because my husband had been treated there previously and we were both impressed with the level of care and the expertise of the Docs. Although it wouldn't have mattered, we also knew that there would be no problem with our Insurance as far as reimbursement. As I've mentioned, I have had allergies and also asthma since infancy but had not had any problems with asthma for many years so that episode was out of the ordinary. As it turned out, I had fluid in my lungs (pneumonia) and the cardiologists felt that it was an indication of CHF. They wanted to do cardiac catheterization so my husband, who is involved with hospital supply, toured their cath lab and found it to be state of the art. But, my other three docs felt that I should get over the pneumonia first and wait to have the cath once I got back to the States which I did and the Hospiten cardiologists were right on in their diagnosis of CHF.
Mole, that was extremely kind of you to respond with that great wealth of detail. Getting that kind of look inside the system is always helpful. Hope your CHF is responding well to treatment.
My husband went to the IMSS office today in PLaya and got his application. Several things we are concerned about 1)I already have private health care and not interersted in the IMSS-would anyone know if it would create a problem if he said he wasnt married? 2)we had my insurance agent go with him to help translate-she said once he is accepted-he couldnt see the services except for minor things for a whole year. Does anyone know anything about that? His main objective in getting IMSS would be for emergencies only. Thanks for your time
IMSS coverage Just to save you some time, I'll tell you that coverage by IMSS does not extend to any pre-existing conditions, ever; and, in the first year is for primary care, only. This is very limited coverage. It wouldn't cover anything serious, at all. In the second year, you get coverage including accidental injury, among other thiings. IMSS is a family plan: I can never recommend lying as it can complicate things for you, down the road. As with much insurance practice, there are penalties attached to certain misrepresentations in the application process including, at times, possible denial of coverage. I wouldn't risk it, if you're serious about it. Getting yourself and your husband insured with IMSS is a long-term investment, meaning if you accept it with the limitations I've pointed out, it's because you can see that you might want to have it in the future. It could be a big money saver, down the road, should you develop a serious condition that was non-pre-existing and have found yourself, for any reason, in a position where you felt you must rely on IMSS.
