Category Archives: Health Care in Baja

Med to Go International – Paving the Way for Mexico’s Successful Medical Tourism Industry. Compilied By: Miguel Sedano.

October 25, 2011
Mexican Medicine

Baja Doctors

According to recent statistics, over 59 million Americans do not have health insurance.  That said, there is obviously a tremendous need for affordable alternatives for those requiring either minor or major surgery.  Despite Mexico’s ongoing struggles, there are a few areas where the country is feeling a positive impact. Foreign investments are booming and now “Medical Tourism” is taking hold and bringing in a new type of visitor and potentially millions of dollars to the economy. With the ease and affordability of traveling south of the border, along with state-of-the-art facilities, current technology, US trained (English speaking) doctors and surgeons, and virtually no wait times, Mexico is quickly becoming a leader in this fast-growing industry.

A forecast by Deloitte Consulting projected that medical tourism originating in the US could jump by a factor of ten over the next decade. The growth in medical tourism has the potential to cost US health care providers billions of dollars in lost revenue and bring those huge dollars into a host of other countries including Mexico.

Leading the way is a revolutionary company called MedToGo International. I first met the founders ten years ago in Acapulco. Dr. Robert H. Page, Dr. Curtis Page and Robert Page Jr. are an impressive family of over achievers who were, at the time, publishing a book called Mexico: Health and Safety Travel Guide

They spent two years in 50 Mexican cities researching doctors and hospitals suitable for tourists. The end result: the ultimate guide for any tourist (or ex-pat) looking for an English-speaking doctor with excellent credentials (or an accredited hospital) almost anywhere in the country. This book on its own is an extraordinary product.

Over the years, the connections they made and the contacts they had began to take another turn. And, like most successful entrepreneurs, the Page family simply connected the dots. Today they are the only medical tourism company owned and operated by U.S. physicians. They have elevated MedToGo International© (MTGI) into the most trusted and credible healthcare referral service in North America, and offer patients surgical savings of up to 80% of what they would pay in the states. (A knee replacement for a registered MTGI© patient, including six days of physical therapy, costs about one-fourth of what it would be in the United States.)

They have conducted personal interviews and certification background checks on more than 700 physicians and have inspected over 80 private hospitals abroad. Only the top 10%, or those meeting the strictest health standards, parallel to that found in the U.S. are selected. As a result, MTGI© clients can feel assured that they will be working with the finest physicians and institutions outside the United States. In Mexico, their surgical partners are located in Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Leon, Hermosillo, Merida, and Tijuana.

The major areas of elective and specialized surgical offerings include:

* Orthopedic Surgery: Total knee or hip replacement; ACL, tendon or meniscal repair; spinal surgery; shoulder surgery
* Kidney Transplant: Live kidney donor already identified and pre-qualified
* Cardiovascular Surgery
* Weight Loss/Obesity Surgery: Lap Band, Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, Metabolic Gastric Bypass
* General Surgery: Hernia Repair, Gallbladder, Nissen Fundoplication
* Gynecological Surgery: Laparoscopic or Vaginal Hysterectomy
* Dental Surgery: Full mouth Restoration
* Plastic Surgery: Breast Reduction, Liposuction, Post-bariatric Plastic Surgery
Their website (www.medtogo.com) is filled with all the information you need to explore the possibilities.  I asked if I could go through the process as if I was a patient, and they sent me the entire step-by-step. I am a stickler for detail, and I can tell you honestly, they don’t miss a thing. From the moment you submit your information for a quote, there is no stone unturned. From an “education sequence” of emails, to complete travel arrangements and assignment of your own English -speaking “Medical Liaison” who will be with you every step of the way in Mexico, they do this right. This is as professional and thorough as it gets.

Per their website:

“Once a patient is registered with MTGI© for a surgery, rigorous medical procedures are followed. Beginning in the patient’s hometown, pre-and post-surgery protocols are established with the patient’s physician/specialist to ensure the patient’s surgical readiness and long-term success. Depending on the type of surgery performed, accommodations are made regarding length of stay and follow-up medical care required back home, once the patient is released.

MTGI© also provides a team of U.S. physicians and coordinators who oversee a patient’s care and serve as their advocate while they are abroad. Safety and peace of mind are a top priority. MTGI© is the patient’s medical and travel referral source before they leave, while they are abroad and once they have returned home. Each patient is provided an English-speaking Medical Liaison to attend to them throughout their stay abroad. The designated Medical Liaison is available to facilitate communication, coordinate day-to-day schedule, and provide information.”

Medical tourism is quickly becoming a safe, affordable option for thousands of patients, and Mexico is stepping onto the world stage as a contender. With MedToGo leading the charge, Mexico might just come out the winner.
Below are the bios of the owners:

Robert H. Page M.D.
Dr. Robert Page is an Arizona native who was raised in Douglas, near the Mexican border. He earned his medical degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in 1971. While studying in Guadalajara, Dr. Page co-founded the Tlaquepaque Free Medical Clinic. He completed his Family Practice residency at the University of Arizona in 1978. He served as Chief of Staff at Tempe St. Luke’s Hospital from 1991 to 1993 and was an Arizona delegate to the American Medical Association from 1993 to 2001. He is a member of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM), and is owner of a bilingual medical practice in Tempe, AZ, with a staff of five physicians and 22 assistants.

Curtis P. Page M.D.
Dr. Curtis Page graduated from Harvard Medical School in Boston Massachusetts from 1996. He later completed 2 years of a General Surgery residency at Emory University in Atlanta from 1996-1998 and later a Family Practice residency in Brooklyn, NY at the Lutheran Medical Center from 1998-2000. While in medical school, he did volunteer work in the Dominican Republic and with elderly Spanish-speaking patients at Alianza Espana in Boston. Dr. Page is also a member of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) and a private family practitioner in Tempe, Arizona. Dr. Page has completed many years of scientific research and is published in several leading scientific journals.

Robert R. Page
Robert earned his BA in Developmental Economics at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in 1996. He has conducted economic research in Argentina, Mexico and the US and completed further studies in Brazil and Germany. Fluent in Spanish and English, he also speaks German and Portuguese. Robert has been the project’s field researcher, spending more than three years pre-screening physicians and medical facilities throughout Mexico. Robert currently divides his time between the United States and Mexico, where he works with Mexican physicians and hospital administration on patient-care protocol.

If you are thinking in moving to Mexico, don’t think more act today.  We Can Help.  Call today 858-433-0561 or email Miguel Sedano  info@rentinginmexico.com the perfect home is waiting for you.

Also posted in americans living in mexico, Assisted Living, baja communities, baja real estate agents, baja rentals, Health Care in Mexico, Living In Mexico, Mexico Tourism, Rosarito – Comments Off

San Ysidro “Stacked Booths” will speed up border crossing. By: Miguel Sedano

August 20, 2011

San Ysidro Border 2011

Even though demolition at the San Ysidro Port of Entry will be closing as many as five re-entry lanes at a time in the next few months, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said Thursday that traffic may actually flow faster through the busiest border crossing in the Western Hemisphere.
Traffic will be “channeled” into fewer lanes, the pace shouldn’t slacken because Customs will be opening additional inspection booths at each gateway to process two vehicles at a time. The so-called “stacked booths” are being used at other border crossings according to officials and have proven efficient.
San Ysidro is undergoing a massive, three-phase, $577-million reconstruction which requires the contractors to tear down existing structures that sit directly over the top of the 24 lanes of wall-to-wall, bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Since June, the Colorado-based Hansel Phelps Construction Co. has been “surgically” dismantling the sprawling administration complex above the traffic. Central to the process is a towering yellow crane that dominates the border landscape.
Starting at the end of August through Thanksgiving, the project enters a particularly tricky phase as remaining shell of the building must come down. To accomplish this, processing booth areas will be closed off as each section is torn down, affecting up to five lanes.
When it comes to figuring out which lanes are functional, Customs and Border Protection will try to remove the guess work for border travelers. A traffic engineer in Tijuana has been contracted to design a strategy for channeling vehicles to the “stacked booth” gateways.
By the end of August, Customs will have operating 10 gateways with “stacked booths” to process two vehicles simultaneously.
When completed, the reconfiguration and expansion of San Ysidro will have 62 northbound inspection booths, expanded processing facilities, a dedicated bus lane and express lanes for the “trusted traveler” programs – SENTRI and Ready Lane vehicles.
This first phase is fully funded and is on track to be completed by the summer of 2014, officials say.
The second phase, which includes the construction of the new administration building and pedestrian route and Phase 3, the realignment and expansion of I-5 south with expanded capacity and a transit center on the Mexican side of the border are as yet unfunded.

If you are thinking in moving to Mexico, don’t think more act today.  We Can Help.  Call today 858-433-0561 or email Miguel Sedano  info@rentinginmexico.com the perfect home is waiting for you.

Also posted in americans living in mexico, Baja Real Estate, baja rentals, Health Care in Mexico, Living In Mexico, Mexico Tourism, Northern Baja California Listings, Rosarito, Tijuana, Wine Events – Comments Off

Paradise, La mission, Baja, Mexico. By Tony Brogdon and Marcia Gershenbaum. Compiled By: Miguel Sedano

June 10, 2011

 

Is it safe to live in Baja, Mexico? Is it practical? What standard of living can I expect?

These are questions that many American baby-boomers ask themselves when planning to retire or visit in Mexico. They have been convinced by the negative media reports about the reported “violence” here and believe that it is simply not safe to cross the border. Most of these people have only been to the border towns like Tijuana or Juarez and believe that is Mexico. They are unaware that just a few miles further souths there are literally a paradise on earth. Those of us “gringos” who have discovered it and decided to move down here can’t believe what we have found. We have decided to make Mexico our home and would never want to live anywhere else! We are apart of over 1 million Americans living in Mexico.

We live in a small community about 40 miles south of the U S border called La Mission. La Mission is on the coast just about halfway between Rosarito and Ensenada. It is nestled between two huge canyons that support a beautiful river and lagoon. The lagoon runs into the Pacific Ocean under a scenic highway bridge next to a public beach. Nearly all the homes and condos here have spectacular views of both the ocean and mountains. It reminds us of how the Del Mar area of San Diego probably looked about 50 years ago. The biggest difference, besides a lack of freeway traffic, is how affordable it is to live here! Rents and mortgages are about one-third of the cost in the US!

We started this day by going to one of the local restaurants and having our favorite heuvos rancheros, rice, and beans; a delicious breakfast for only $5.00 including coffee. Next we went to the local produce market and purchased 2 dozen fresh eggs, a bag of fresh oranges, fresh tomatoes, and fresh bananas. The total cost was $6.00. Next we filled up the car and, since the government here controls gas prices, we usually spend at least a dollar less per gallon than our friends and family in the US. Not only do we pay less, but we still receive the service gas stations used to provide when we were young, they clean our windows and check the oil! Housing costs and utilities are also much less expensive, about 1/3 of the cost for similar housing in California. The weather is almost always a beautiful 60-70 degrees and being nestled between the ocean and the mountains we will spend the rest of our day enjoying the sound of the surf and beauty of the canyon and river. Later on today there is a folk-dancing festival and rodeo in our little town; Tony will enjoy taking pictures of the activities and the people here!

Tony have been traveling to Mexico from the US for 30 years and made the decision to move here full time nearly one year ago. If I had known what a wonderful place to live in the true since of the word it is, I would have made the move long ago. Both the 30 years traveling here and the experience of living here has been amazing positive. The people are amazing, very hospitable and kind, and there are also 30,000 Americans living in the Rosarito area. These are like-minded people who are here for the same reasons we are, because of the beauty, the freedoms, and the more reasonable cost of living.

In all the time we have spent in Mexico, we have never witnessed a crime of any sort. Instead I have experienced a warm welcome from both my fellow American residents here as well as the Mexican people whose families have lived here for centuries. Tony has found that this is not only a great place to retire, but to open a new business as well. Tony has started a new business called Ground Floor Technology with his partner William Yu. They consult with foreign investors interested in opening new businesses here in Baja. There are many excellent business opportunities here but one of most promising is servicing the growing senior population in regard to health care both in the US and here in Mexico. Many people are unaware that Baja, Mexico is currently the largest center for Alternative medicine and research in the world! When people come from other countries to be treated here it is called Medical Tourism. This industry is booming worldwide due to breakthroughs in technologies such as Stem Cell and other forms of treatment and medical services, Baja is uniquely capable and strategically located to accommodate these growing industries.

Having not only adequate medical care and affordable health care is an important component of living in Baja. Both office visits and prescriptions are much less expensive here than in the US. In addition, our social life has never been so active. In addition to all the wonderful people we have met here, many community activities exist. There is such a local artist community, a local Theatre Guild presenting fantastic theatre due to the actors who have retired in the area, music concerts, golf resorts, and a constant variety of festivals and rodeos. For the sportsman Baja has some of the best fishing in the world, bicycle and off road racing, and we even have our own sand dunes for those who enjoy riding quads and motocross bikes. There are many wonderful restaurants on the ocean serving world-class food, live entertainment, and at very reasonable prices. If you miss living in the US, both north and south less than 30 minutes away are familiar places you may be surprised to see in Mexico such as Super Wall Mart, Costco, Home Depot, first run movies at local movie theatres, Applebee’s, TJ Fridays, Mc Donald’s, Burger King, KFC, Subway, 99 cent stores, and modern shopping malls..

Are you wondering about security? In the past Mexico was known for corrupt and non-professional law enforcement. Today from Tijuana south, the local police officers are highly trained, highly courteous, and very professional. Their equipment is state of the art and does not resemble the police force of even a few years ago. However, the police in Mexico are interested in catching criminals who are actually harming people in some way and are not really interested in policing people just here to enjoy themselves. Because of this if you use firecrackers, camp on the public beaches, let your dog or horse run free without leases or halters, or choose not to wear your seatbelt it is not likely that you will be ticketed. However, if you bring a gun or drugs into the country you are likely to go to jail. Even if you are speeding or have an accident where someone is injured without car insurance, you will suffer the consequences.

In many ways life in Baja is like living in the United States about 50 years ago. However, the populated areas here still provide the things we have become accustomed to such a high-speed internet, Digital TV, and state of the art cell phone technology. Marcia and I and a number of other Americans here operate their home businesses here by use of Internet phone lines. What we appreciate about living here is most of the basic freedoms are still available to people. Dogs and horses are still allowed on public beaches and it isn’t a requirement that everyone live just like everyone else. If you want to paint your home with bright colors that might not be what is pleasing to your neighbor, you are allowed to do so and the neighbor just has to get over it. That type of living is not for everyone but those of us who live here appreciate the principal of it.

Is it safe to live in Baja, Mexico? Yes in many ways safer than many cities outside Mexico. Is it practical? Yes. The quality of life here is amazing at a very affordable price. What can I expect in Mexico? To live longer and happier than anywhere else in the world. Mexico is considered the # 1 retirement Country for Americans in the world.

If you are thinking in moving to Mexico, don’t think more act today.  We Can Help.  Call today 858-433-0561 or email Miguel Sedano  info@rentinginmexico.com the perfect home is waiting for you.

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What retirees wish they knew when they were younger? By Miguel Sedano

April 16, 2011

Their answers were both simple and wise so I’ll summarize here.
1. Be happy now.  Not next week, not next month, not next year. Now. The great Western disease we are spreading around the world is “I’ll be happy when.” When I get that BMW, when I get that Ocean front house, when I get that status. Americans are among the luckiest people in the history of the world. Don’t get so wrapped up looking at what you don’t have that you miss that, what you do have.
2. Appreciate your friends and family. When you’re 95 years old and you’re on your death bed, do you think you’ll be surrounded by your clients? It’s your friends and family who matter most.
3. If you have a dream, go for it.  Want to write a book? Visit Mexico? Learn to speak Spanish? Your dream doesn’t have to big–it could be one that people think is silly, or just plain nuts. It’s your dream, and you should go for it now because when you’re 75, you may not be able to do it.
If you are thinking in moving to Mexico, don’t think more act today.  We Can Help.  Call today 858-433-0561 or email Miguel Sedano  info@rentinginmexico.com the perfect home is waiting for you.

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Benefits of Playing Tennis. By: Miguel Sedano

September 6, 2010

Playing tennis on a regular basis can help maintain or improve balance, mobility, agility, strength and fitness. It also helps burn calories. According to the Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute  exercise physiologist and avid tennis player Gordon Blackburn, Ph.D., research shows that three hours of moderate aerobic exercise every week can cut the risk of developing heart disease by 50 percent. “Playing tennis at a moderate to vigorous intensity on a regular basis,” says Dr. Blackburn, “is a good way to get your aerobic exercise. You’ll exercise your muscles and burn calories. Tennis can even help lower your blood pressure. All of that helps reduce your risk of developing heart disease or of having a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke.”

A 135-pound woman playing an hour of tennis can burn 330 calories during doubles and 420 calories during singles, says Dr. Blackburn. An average-sized man playing an hour of tennis can burn about 425 calories during doubles and 600 calories during singles. In fact, says Dr. Blackburn, you’ll burn more calories playing three hours of tennis per week than you will doing three hours of light weightlifting, bowling or golfing.

“If you complement the tennis with other aerobic activities such as brisk walking or cycling, so that you are getting some sort of aerobic exercise most days of the week,” says Dr. Blackburn, “you can make an even bigger impact on improving heart health.” For instance, numerous recent studies, says Dr. Blackburn, have documented the physiologic benefits of walking on a regular basis and at a moderate intensity.

Stretching
Whether you’re a former tennis player ready to take up the sport again, or you’re taking it up for the first time, pre-play stretching is one of the most important precautions you can take to minimize the risk of muscle or limb injury. Stretching prepares the body for physical activity by warming the muscles and joints. The process takes only a few minutes. Stretching does not guarantee that you won’t be injured during play, but the evidence shows that it can help significantly reduce the risk.

For those of you thinking, “Dude, this body don’t bend,” stretching exercises are not designed to contort the limbs, inflict pain or serve as a tryout for Cirque de Soleil. The objective is to ready the muscles and joints for the stretching and extending you’ll do as play begins and progresses.

To keep tennis safe and healthy, always keep these tips in mind:

•    Get the body’s muscles and joints properly warmed up by stretching.
•    Use water or healthy sports drinks to keep the body properly hydrated before, during and after play. This is particularly important when playing in hot, humid weather, or for longer than an hour per session.
•    If you injure yourself or experience chest pain, stop playing immediately and contact your physician.
Play within your means. (In other words, leave the acrobatics to Roddick and Henin-Hardenne.)
Get Your Game On…Safely
Dr. Blackburn encourages anyone who can to take up tennis, but certain individuals, he says, need to check with a physician before doing so. If you are interested in playing tennis, check the list below to see if any of the criteria describe or relate to your health status. If so, you’ll want to discuss your intentions with your doctor.

•    Chest discomfort or pain during physical activity
•    Current inactive lifestyle, by choice or because of a medical condition
•    Rheumatoid arthritis
•    Heart disease
•    Recent surgery (within past year)
•    Pacemaker
•    High or low blood pressure
•    Osteoporosis
•    Regular dizziness or loss of consciousness
•    Vision problems
•    Joint replacement

If you are thinking in moving to Mexico, don’t think more act today.  We Can Help.  Call today 858-433-0561 or email Miguel Sedano  info@rentinginmexico.com the perfect home is waiting for you.

Also posted in americans living in mexico, baja communities, baja condos, Baja Real Estate, baja real estate agents, baja rentals, Health Care in Mexico, Living In Mexico, Luxury Mexico Real Estate, palacio del mar, Palacio Del Mar Condos, retiring to mexico, Sporting Events – Comments Off

How safe is travel in Mexico

March 17, 2010

It all depends on your destination. The State Department warns against travel in the border towns of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros, but most beach resorts and other historical spots popular with American tourists are unaffected.

Carol Pucci
Seattle Times staff columnist

How safe is travel in Mexico?

How safe is travel in Mexico?

How safe is travel in Mexico?

It all depends on where you’re going.

As a new travel warning by the U.S. State Department (http://travel.state.gov) points out, the areas of concern are not the beach resorts or historical cities most Americans visit, but rather the border towns, specifically Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juárez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros.

Too often in the past, these types of government alerts have taken a broad-brush approach, simply advising against travel to a country as a whole. What’s different about this warning, issued Sunday following the shooting in Ciudad Juárez of three people with ties to the American consulate, is its level of detail, and the way it rightly targets only towns where drug-related violence has been rampant.

This could have something to do with the fact that Mexico’s tourism economy is fragile, and the U.S. government doesn’t want to do anything that might damage it, but let’s hope it also has something to do with a new, more responsible approach to travel warnings in general.

As the State Department points out, millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year, and this isn’t likely to change. Nearly a million Americans live in various parts of the country, enjoying the benefits of an inexpensive retirement and low-cost medical care. read more »

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Bring Your Medicare to Mexico

October 13, 2009

Bring Your Medicare to Mexico

Bring Your Medicare to Mexico

Suzan Haskins
Latin America Editor, International Living
International Living Postcards—your daily escape

Which foreign country will be the first in which Americans can use Medicare and Medicaid benefits?

Mexico, of course.

It just makes sense. Mexico is right next door to the largest market of health care consumers in the world. Some health services in Mexico can cost 12 times less than what is charged in the U.S., experts say.

It’s no wonder that Americans (and yes, Canadians, too) cross the Mexican border in frequently increasing numbers to avail of the high-quality but low-cost health care Mexico provides, including reduced cost prescriptions.

Already, the four largest commercial U.S. health insurers—with enrollments totaling nearly 100 million people—have either launched pilot programs exploring or offering overseas travel to countries like Mexico for health services. Some smaller health insurers and brokers also have introduced travel options for hundreds of employers around the country. read more »

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USA: California medical tourism association formed to promote Baja

October 7, 2009

Baja California Medical Tourism Association (BCMTA)

Baja California Medical Tourism Association (BCMTA)

Baja California Medical Tourism Association (BCMTA) is a State of California non-profit mutual benefit association. It is the only association outside the Republic of Mexico totally dedicated to advocating and promoting medical services for the entire state of Baja California. BCMTA will represent all of Baja California not just one location or cluster

BCMTA aims to help provide medical service seekers access to Baja California’s highest quality, affordable and compassionate medical services. It has offices in Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, USA.From the Mexico border north through the Greater Los Angeles Region there are 24 million residents.

The huge number of Americans traveling to Mexico has seen many agencies; hospitals and clinics open to medical tourists, or set up specifically for them. While many offer excellent care at reasonable prices, some are taking advantage of the modern equivalent of the California gold rush.

Choosing a clinic or hospital is a lottery, and incompetent or dishonest surgeons and agencies cheat a few unlucky medical tourists. BCMTA wants to offer a “Seal of Approval” to people seeking medical services, information and referrals in the Western United States, with emphasis in California’s vast Hispanic and non-Hispanic population. BCMTA wants to make available a network of highly accredited health care providers dedicated to the practice of providing treatment with healing in mind and dedicated to wellness programmes. The organization believes that the practice of medicine requires of its practitioners an advanced level of competence and above reproach moral values. BCMTA considers for membership only those who meet this code of values. read more »

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Medical In Baja

October 4, 2009

By Lana Jordan Juvinall,
AMPI Realtor, Rosarito Board of Realtors
Originally posted on the Baja Times

Medical Care in Baja

Medical Care in Baja

A Surgery Store in Mexico
Many Americans come to Mexico for medical services and many fear medical services in Mexico. I know numerous stories of the incredible medical care in Baja and I would like to share a couple.

I, personally, am living testament to the outstanding and inexpensive medical service in Mexico. Four years ago I was run over by a car. The accident broke the fibula and tibia in my right leg completely in half, my head was split when I was thrown and my ribs, shoulder and left hand were run over.

The ambulance arrived within 15 minutes with totally professional medics putting my leg together and checking my injuries and vital signs. They phoned ahead to Excel Hospital in Tijuana and, when I arrived, two orthopedic surgeons were awaiting me. I was taken immediately into x-ray where they x-rayed my entire body. Then the surgeons sewed my head, reset my leg and poured a half cast.

I was placed in a private room, with an extra bed for my husband. There were ten rooms on the floor, all monitored by TV cameras to the central nursing station which, in addition to the nurses, had a 24-hr. doctor. Daily the walls and floors were cleaned with an antiseptic to avoid chance of staph infection. The surgeons chose to delay surgery one day to make sure of no internal injuries. A titanium plate and 8 screws were installed in my leg. The doctors were wonderful, competent and caring, as were the floor doctor, staff and nurses. The staff from the front desk even accommodated me by bringing phone messages to my room when my line was busy.

The total cost for my 4-day, 3-night stay was $12,000 USD, including surgeons, anesthesiologist, operating room, private room and doctor’s care for the next year. My American Blue Cross paid half. read more »

Also posted in Ensenada, Health Care in Mexico, Living In Mexico – 1 Comment

Health-care challenged Californians flocking to Mexico

May 28, 2009

The pharmacy business in Tijuana is still booming, despite crackdowns by the state to weed out illegitimate operators. - John Gibbins / Union-Tribune

By Keith Darcé, Union-Tribune Staff Writer

TIJUANA — About 1 million adult Californians seek health care in Mexico each year – and that figure is likely growing as the recession expands the ranks of the uninsured who are drawn to cheaper care south of the border, said the lead researcher of the first major report on the topic released Tuesday.

These people live from the Bay Area to San Diego County. Most come to Mexico for prescription drugs and dental care, and a smaller number go for surgeries. Beyond finances, other factors prompting individuals to head south include language and cultural barriers.

Living within 15 miles of the border also greatly increases the likelihood of someone obtaining health services in Mexico. read more »

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