If you lack health insurance, consider medical tourism

[johnthomasmacdonald]

Today's NY Times cover story shows a guy's hip replacement in the US that would have been around $60,000, with some paying as much as $120,000 while he went to Belgium where the cost of the hospital and surgeon for a Foreigner was around $6000

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/healt ... -math.html

[chunkyfrog]

I wonder if the costs could be reimbursed from a medical savings account.
Mine includes transportation and lodging, or so it says.
Edit: I wouldn't be surprised if travel agencies have medical packages.

[nanwilson]

Today's NY Times cover story shows a guy's hip replacement in the US that would have been around $60,000, with some paying as much as $120,000 while he went to Belgium where the cost of the hospital and surgeon for a Foreigner was around $6000

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/healt ... -math.html

Does that not tell you something is wrong with your health providers.... Who gets that extra piece of the $$$$ pie????????

[chunkyfrog]

Many hands reach into the doctor's pocket, malpractice insurance, college loans, payments on the
boat and mansion, blackmail to the guy who kept him from flunking out of med school . . .

[Goofproof]

Today's NY Times cover story shows a guy's hip replacement in the US that would have been around $60,000, with some paying as much as $120,000 while he went to Belgium where the cost of the hospital and surgeon for a Foreigner was around $6000

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/healt ... -math.html

Isn't that Mexico's healthcare plan, "Come for the Free Medical Care, Stay for the Welfare!" ObamaCare, Mexico answer to Economic Stimulation. Jim

[FattyMagoo]

Does Mexico have a $99 sleep study option?

Today's NY Times cover story shows a guy's hip replacement in the US that would have been around $60,000, with some paying as much as $120,000 while he went to Belgium where the cost of the hospital and surgeon for a Foreigner was around $6000

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/healt ... -math.html

[Stormynights]

I just got the bill for my MRI. The total charges were $2,363.00 My copay was $200. My insurance paid $109.58. So this means the hospital got paid $309.58 for this service. If I was paying myself with no insurance I would have paid the total amount or I couldn't have had it done. I paid out of pocket for many years with no insurance now I realize how bad I was being ripped off.

[123.Shawn T.W.]

Four years ago I had no med ins ... I needed a finger amputated ... Was told if I went to Tucson, it would $30,000 plus a week or two ... I had just "de-gloved" my finger! If I chose the helicopter for another $15,000 they would up the priority to that night!

I went to Mexico (half hour closer drive) no wait, and was back home that evening, less than $1,400 total!

I had a EEG sleep study done ... $300 total down in Mexico.

It has gotten more dangerous to travel to Mexico ... I don't go anymore!

[chunkyfrog]

Seriously, though, ranting about the sorry state of healthcare in the states will accomplish nothing,
The smart thing to do is to take our money out of the country whenever possible. (money does talk)
Then the local clip joints will be left with nothing but smoky-room insurance deals and charity cases.
If they can't function profitably that way, well boo-hoo!

[squid13]

Many hands reach into the doctor's pocket, malpractice insurance, college loans, payments on the
boat and mansion, blackmail to the guy who kept him from flunking out of med school . . .

Malpractice insurance is the big one for the Doctor that drives up cost.

[49er]

Four years ago I had no med ins ... I needed a finger amputated ... Was told if I went to Tucson, it would $30,000 plus a week or two ... I had just "de-gloved" my finger! If I chose the helicopter for another $15,000 they would up the priority to that night!

I went to Mexico (half hour closer drive) no wait, and was back home that evening, less than $1,400 total!

I had a EEG sleep study done ... $300 total down in Mexico.

It has gotten more dangerous to travel to Mexico ... I don't go anymore!

Shawn,

I hope this doesn't sound rude or insulting but I would think that as someone who lacked insurance not too recently who would have been in big trouble without being able to go to Mexico, that you would understand more than anyone why a healthcare plan like Obamacare is needed.

Personally, I have many concerns about it and would have preferred something that gets the insurance companies out of business. But we all know that isn't happening.

Anyway, again, I mean no offense with this post and hope you understand where I am coming from. I am glad you were able to go to Mexico but keep in mind that most people don't have that option and even if they did currently, you are 100% right about it probably being too dangerous.

49er

[123.Shawn T.W.]

I went to Mexico, because I believe in paying my own way, and not being in debt.

If I went to Tucson, I would have either had to go on a payment plan for a really long time, or mooch off the hospital ... both things that I don't do.

I was actually very STRONGLY encouraged to go and get professional help ... I was just going to go home and take care of it myself ... the bone was exposed, and I would have needed to separate the first joint ... my wife is a very sensitive person, and just talking about it, she passed out, she would not have been any help in even bandaging it up ... I deal with pain pretty good, I took no pain killers after the surgery ... happened on a Sat, was back at work on Mon ...

[49er]

I went to Mexico, because I believe in paying my own way, and not being in debt.

If I went to Tucson, I would have either had to go on a payment plan for a really long time, or mooch off the hospital ... both things that I don't do.

I was actually very STRONGLY encouraged to go and get professional help ... I was just going to go home and take care of it myself ... the bone was exposed, and I would have needed to separate the first joint ... my wife is a very sensitive person, and just talking about it, she passed out, she would not have been any help in even bandaging it up ... I deal with pain pretty good, I took no pain killers after the surgery ... happened on a Sat, was back at work on Mon ...

Shawn,

Thank you for responding.

I definitely understand the need to not want to be in debt and pay your own way. But my point is what if you weren't in a position to take care of it yourself or go to Mexico? Then what would you have done?

49er

[123.Shawn T.W.]

I went to Mexico, because I believe in paying my own way, and not being in debt.

If I went to Tucson, I would have either had to go on a payment plan for a really long time, or mooch off the hospital ... both things that I don't do.

I was actually very STRONGLY encouraged to go and get professional help ... I was just going to go home and take care of it myself ... the bone was exposed, and I would have needed to separate the first joint ... my wife is a very sensitive person, and just talking about it, she passed out, she would not have been any help in even bandaging it up ... I deal with pain pretty good, I took no pain killers after the surgery ... happened on a Sat, was back at work on Mon ...

Shawn,

Thank you for responding.

I definitely understand the need to not want to be in debt and pay your own way. But my point is what if you weren't in a position to take care of it yourself or go to Mexico? Then what would you have done?

49er

I probably would have died from gangrene ... eventually ...

Or I might have chosen to re-mortgage my house (it is also 100% paid for) or sell something, but I refuse to take a governmentnhandout. My wife was one of the ones wanting me not to do it myself, the other was a retired RN ... My mother also was a RN who worked the OR, and I know quite abit of first aid ... I could have done it myself, just would have been a little messy, and then still would have had to go to Mexico to get antibiotics, as the pharmacies up here don't just hand out stuff!

We have become a nation of "letting other do it" whether it is walking the dog, cutting the grass, pulling weeds, washing our vehicles, fixing the backup toilet, cutting our dogs toenails ... I am very independent, and just use to doing things myself ... I'm gonna actually go now and cast some lead boolits (bullets) so I can reload my own ammo!

Part of the problem with the US health care is now that people have ins, or have free medical care, is that they run to the Dr. or worse yet ... the ER for every little runny nose, or scratch ... most people seem to think that it takes a Dr to put on a bandaid! I fit into part of this problem ... as If I did not have medical insurance I would not have gone for another sleep study here in the US, I would just deal with it, Like I have been for the last 19 years! But ... I have ins, and I want to get my moneys worth out of it, it is a contract between BCBS and myself (through my employer) Ins is a risk, do I get as much out of it, as I put in? Will the ins have to pay out more than it takes in? Will they make a profit?

I do not feel that I am entitled to even basic health care ... even if there is a sign at the hospital that says if I can't pay, not to worry ... when I was younger, a friend of my parents was being treated for cancer at Mary Hitchcock Hospital (now called Dartmouth) in Lebanon, NH, as cancer treatments goes ... the bill just kept getting bigger ... they tried to pay what they could, the hospital made quite a fuss about them being late on their payments, or only making partial payments (even though they had a sign that they did not have to pay!) They struggled for a long time, skimping on food, there car fell in bad repair, but the hospital just wanted their money ... I decided that I would not ever be put in that place, I'd rather die on my own, then be put in that predicament. (My family did help with some meals, and giving them rides for treatments)

If I want to buy my dog a bone, I will if I can pay for it, if not, she goes without ... If I can't buy fuel for my car, I will ride my bike, two winters when I lived in VT we had our house thermostat set at 52, in the summer we turned off our boiler, (which provided both hot water, and baseboard heat) so no hot water ... that is all we could afford! Cold showers are better than none, and we paid our water bill! Even though I worked for a propane company, and would go to homes nicer than mine, and fill there tank paid for by "heating assistance" - we went without!

I don't feel I should pay for somebodies bad misfortune ... whether they think they are entitled to it or not!

[FattyMagoo]

>>I don't feel I should pay for somebodies bad misfortune

Sure you do. I bet if a neighbor, someone in your church, etc, needed help with something there are times when you would help out with your own cash if necessary.

When 9/11 happened I bet you would have even given your own blood if it was asked for to help those bad misfortunate group of Americans.

Also when you went to public school that I paid for with my property taxes, that could be considered a government handout.

I went to Mexico, because I believe in paying my own way, and not being in debt.

If I went to Tucson, I would have either had to go on a payment plan for a really long time, or mooch off the hospital ... both things that I don't do.

I was actually very STRONGLY encouraged to go and get professional help ... I was just going to go home and take care of it myself ... the bone was exposed, and I would have needed to separate the first joint ... my wife is a very sensitive person, and just talking about it, she passed out, she would not have been any help in even bandaging it up ... I deal with pain pretty good, I took no pain killers after the surgery ... happened on a Sat, was back at work on Mon ...

Shawn,

Thank you for responding.

I definitely understand the need to not want to be in debt and pay your own way. But my point is what if you weren't in a position to take care of it yourself or go to Mexico? Then what would you have done?

49er

I probably would have died from gangrene ... eventually ...

Or I might have chosen to re-mortgage my house (it is also 100% paid for) or sell something, but I refuse to take a governmentnhandout. My wife was one of the ones wanting me not to do it myself, the other was a retired RN ... My mother also was a RN who worked the OR, and I know quite abit of first aid ... I could have done it myself, just would have been a little messy, and then still would have had to go to Mexico to get antibiotics, as the pharmacies up here don't just hand out stuff!

We have become a nation of "letting other do it" whether it is walking the dog, cutting the grass, pulling weeds, washing our vehicles, fixing the backup toilet, cutting our dogs toenails ... I am very independent, and just use to doing things myself ... I'm gonna actually go now and cast some lead boolits (bullets) so I can reload my own ammo!

Part of the problem with the US health care is now that people have ins, or have free medical care, is that they run to the Dr. or worse yet ... the ER for every little runny nose, or scratch ... most people seem to think that it takes a Dr to put on a bandaid! I fit into part of this problem ... as If I did not have medical insurance I would not have gone for another sleep study here in the US, I would just deal with it, Like I have been for the last 19 years! But ... I have ins, and I want to get my moneys worth out of it, it is a contract between BCBS and myself (through my employer) Ins is a risk, do I get as much out of it, as I put in? Will the ins have to pay out more than it takes in? Will they make a profit?

I do not feel that I am entitled to even basic health care ... even if there is a sign at the hospital that says if I can't pay, not to worry ... when I was younger, a friend of my parents was being treated for cancer at Mary Hitchcock Hospital (now called Dartmouth) in Lebanon, NH, as cancer treatments goes ... the bill just kept getting bigger ... they tried to pay what they could, the hospital made quite a fuss about them being late on their payments, or only making partial payments (even though they had a sign that they did not have to pay!) They struggled for a long time, skimping on food, there car fell in bad repair, but the hospital just wanted their money ... I decided that I would not ever be put in that place, I'd rather die on my own, then be put in that predicament. (My family did help with some meals, and giving them rides for treatments)

If I want to buy my dog a bone, I will if I can pay for it, if not, she goes without ... If I can't buy fuel for my car, I will ride my bike, two winters when I lived in VT we had our house thermostat set at 52, in the summer we turned off our boiler, (which provided both hot water, and baseboard heat) so no hot water ... that is all we could afford! Cold showers are better than none, and we paid our water bill! Even though I worked for a propane company, and would go to homes nicer than mine, and fill there tank paid for by "heating assistance" - we went without!

I don't feel I should pay for somebodies bad misfortune ... whether they think they are entitled to it or not!