We are finding more and more that health and healthcare concerns are the number one topic on the minds of all the people looking at coming to Lake Chapala. I think that's also a product of the fact that healthcare is a concern in both the United States and Canada.
Canada's health care system is the subject of much political controversy and debate in the country. Some question the efficiencies of the current public system to deliver treatments in a timely fashion, and advocate adopting a private system similar to the United States. Conversely, there are worries that privatization would lead to inequalities in the health system with only the wealthy being able to afford certain treatments.
Health care in the United States is provided by many separate private entities. Current estimates put U.S. healthcare spending at approximately 15% of GDP, which is the highest in the world. The United States spends the highest percentage of health care costs on pharmaceuticals in the world. Health insurance is expensive and medical bills are overwhelmingly the most common reason for personal bankruptcy in the United States.
When we generate surveys asking why people are considering a move to the Lake Chapala area, almost half of those polled state some kind of healthcare issue, whether it's the cost of prescriptions, the seemingly indifferent doctors, the overall view that the U.S. system is for people with very good insurance (who get a high level of service), or the rich who receive the best healthcare money can buy, while scant medical care is provided to America's low-wage workers.
Obviously, healthcare concerns are worldwide.
Since this is a topic of great importance to you, we're going to take it very seriously and begin a monthly "Here's to Your Health" column. Included will be articles on the various health insurances, doctors, clinics and hospitals on the lakeside and in Guadalajara. We will also bring you lots of good information about the available alternative forms of health care or things that are attributed to good health such as Alternative Health Care, Natural Medicine, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Reiki, Chelation, Oxygen, Detoxification Cures, Dental Health, as well as Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Thermal waters, Steam Baths, Massages, Gyms, Dance Classes, Hiking Tours, Sweat Lodges and even visit a Shaman---unlimited choices for your health and harmony.
We are also working on a report that will try to compare apples to apples with all the healthcare options available at Lakeside. We will be distributing these at our seminars as soon as the report is ready, and to our alumni who have already taken our program. Basically it will encompass as many medical options as possible so it will be a good comprehensive report covering everything you want to know about healthcare in Mexico, including IMSS. We'll add information about which hospitals in Guadalajara will take insurance (and which insurance) also.
We have a wealth of alternatives here...from naturopathy to acupuncture to chiropractic to the healing touch to a practicing shaman. We want to be your reference for sources of information not only for your mainstream healthcare options, but for unconventional, unorthodox, and alternative, complementary, and innovative therapies available in the Lakeside area.
And, my statement about indifferent doctors resounds with me. I had to go to a doctor in Guadalajara a few months after coming here. When we arrived at the office, we waited less than five minutes before we were ushered into the doctor's office. His office was big and my husband went in with me. I saw in back of his office another little room, which I found out later was the examination room. He sat and talked to both of us for quite some time (in perfect English). There were no interruptions from his nurse, no phone calls (that he had to take immediately). There was just me and his total concentration on me and my problems. Once we had discussed all my issues, he took me to the examination room where he conducted a thorough exam, while continuing to ask me questions. He then ordered a series of blood tests, five or six in all, which I would be getting from the lab in his building. We made a future appointment after he got the lab results, and I went to get blood drawn. Now everyone who knows me knows I am a chicken about needles...I've gotten better, but then I would have had to...I certainly couldn't have gotten worse! My usual statement to a technician was that they better get it right the first time when they're drawing blood, because they wouldn't get a second chance! I didn't know how to say that in Spanish, so I was having a panic attack to say the least. I'm sure the lab tech saw my discomfort, but just smiled, looked at the orders and proceeded to draw blood. I never felt a thing while she was connecting and disconnecting the six tubes needed for the different tests. I was amazed. It was a great experience.
When I came back in about 10 days for the results, as the doctor was talking to me and telling me what perfect health I was in, I began writing all the information down. He then told me it wasn't necessary, because he would be giving me all my results. I just stared at him dumbly...and he explained, "they are yours, you know; you paid for them." Go figure...I always thought MY blood tests belonged to the doctor. What a concept.
By the way, the blood tests cost approximately $150 pesos each, and the total bill for seeing the doctor was $500 pesos.
Needless to say, I am thrilled with healthcare in Mexico.
One story Marie likes to share with our participants is also a personal one:
The Good Samaritan Doctor
A good friend of ours found out he needed triple bypass surgery. They had left Canada and were residents in Lake Chapala, and had IMSS insurance, but weren't yet illegible for major surgery coverage. John went to see the specialist (who at the time was the head of the IMSS in all of Mexico). John told the surgeon that he didn't have coverage so his wife (a former nurse) was going to check in Canada and the U.S. to find out the cost of the same surgery and compare it to the cost in Mexico. In Canada the surgery would have cost him $88,000 Canadian (he had become a non-resident of Canada and was not eligible for health care coverage there), but he would have been on a waiting list and he was told he needed the surgery immediately. In the U.S. he could have had the surgery immediately, but the cost was $250,000 U.S. In Mexico the cost was $11,000 (Canadian equivalent) and he could have it immediately. Then the surgeon told him: "John, if you can't afford the surgery, I will do it anyway so don't worry. The main thing is you need to have it done and soon."
Needless to say, John was speechless. He told the doctor. I can pay. I just wanted to check out the cost to compare. John not only had the surgery and it was successful, but he and his wife became friends with the doctor.
John told us later that this doctor was paid about $30,000 U.S. equivalent in Mexico (as the head doctor for IMSS), but frequently flew to the States to perform surgeries and received $100,000 U.S. per operation. Why did he stay at IMSS instead of going into private practice? Simple. They needed him there. Yes, the doctors in Mexico are very caring indeed.
So...that's what this column will be about...personal experiences, interviews with individual healthcare providers here, even updates on restaurants...we have a vegetarian restaurant and just recently a small Asian restaurant was added to the mix...serving sushi, Thai and Japanese cuisine...we've heard it's excellent; we can't wait to try it. We'll also have guest writers from time to time talking about their specialties or their experiences.
So...help us help you...we know what we want to talk about. But we would also like to know what you would like us to talk about. If you have a specific healthcare question, don't hesitate to let us know. We'll do our best to find out the answer for you.
We're in this together. We're here to help you decide whether Mexico is where you want to spend "the best of your life!" Tell us what you want.