Health Insurance SOTB?

[HonkyTonk]

With many Board members going the x-pat route now or in the future, either full time or most of the time, what do you do for health insurance SOTB?

Nobody wants to pay the rates we have to pay up here, so what are our options in LAm and how does it stack up to what we have here?

[El Capitan]

Tonk, I know a few guys that purchase Health and Life products from this outfit -

http://www.healthcareinternational.com/


I believe they'll write for any State in the U.S., but you can go through the quote process and take a look.

[Lostagain]

When I lived in Colombia, I managed to get Coomeva, which turned out to be some of the best medical insurance I ever had. It was inexpensive and the doctors were first rate. The problem is it is a supplemental policy which provided coverage over and above the EPS system and you have to have that as a base.

[Cap'n Jib]

One option is to inquire at one of the local hospitals near where you have chosen to live. In my case the nearest hospital is 40 km away in David. There are two regional hospitals which offer hospital plans which are quite reasonable $50 to $65 a month. These two hospitals have an ‘International’ staff that that speaks English and will set a person up on a program. An attempt should be made to look at the ‘things not covered’ in the plans. Usually a wrap around policy can be obtained from another vender which would cover those items excluded in the primarily coverage.


I decided after moving here, I should establish a “medical base” with someone. They had trouble understanding why I wanted all these tests and procedures if I wasn’t sick. I explained that I wanted a “normal” for me ‘bench mark’ that they could use to understand discrepancies in the future. They could see why this might be of considerable help in an emergency.

About 10% of the doctors speak English and the majority of the others can read English so communication problems are really not a big issue.

Also look into the possibility of an Urgent Care program as these can be very inexpensive if offered. The doctors of the Urgent Care are often the same as the hospital doctors anyway.

Extensive lab fees ran $53 dollars for 31 different blood tests. The results were computerized and easily understood as medical Spanish is not much different than English once a person get the hang of it.

Standard doctors’ visit will run $30 for the first visit and $25 for each one thereafter.

Total out of pocket expense was $91. I had no insurance at that time.

I agree with Cap 'n Jib....

Most guys don't have it and just pay in cash if they have a problem, and most can because health care in Colombia is reasonable and "health plans" are even lower, like $80K pesos a month. Brazil is about the same. Nurses and doctors in general anywhere in Latin America, care wise is a step up from the US. They care for you better. I don't know why, they just do. I know a guy who got a face lift in Colombia and his Doctor's nurse spent the night with him without any compensation, just to look after him. I still go back and forth, so I pay about $400 a month here in the US which is a lot. But if I lived full-time sotb, then yes - I would have a health plan.

[Tinto]

It has been a year or so but while living in Medellin I looked into obtaining medical insurance. As I recall, the cost was going to be about 140.000 pesos per month. There was a sliding scale over a three year period for complete coverage. The fee cost more compared to a national because I was a foreigner (yes, yet another "Gringo tax") but taking into consideration the extremely high cost of medical insurance in the States it was a bargain. Unfortunately I never applied for the insurance as I wanted to check out another provider. I think there were at least three companies offering coverage and never got "a roundtoit".

When I return to SA that will be a priority.

A question for you expats...did you drop your Stateside medical insurance after getting foreign coverage or did you keep both?

[Rogbo]

My ex kept me on her Confenalco family plan and I am currently in the middle of some dianostic tests. (I will be looking into other insurance companys and will Report my findings)
I paid 40,000 COP for a supplimental discount plan for diagnostic testing and over the past few days it has paid for itself ten fold.
Had a CT scan for my chest yesterday 170,000 COP
blood work 60,000 COP

My Arthritis is pre existing so it is not covered, I saw a specialist for treatment 120,000 COP.

An additionl plan with EMI for Ambulance service 48,000 COP per month per person. Another service provided by them under this plan are cars with a doctor that comes to the home or hotel and evaluates and treats onsite or if need be calls for an ambulance for transport. The ex has used the home service 4 times for her son and is very happy with the service. Last week he had a high temp in the middle of the night. The doc arrived within 15 to 20 minutes, they ended up calling an ambulance and transporting. Something to think about.

[Rogbo]

more on my post from yesterday.
corrected spelling is Comfenalco,

The supplimental diognstic discount plan is with CE-DI-MA Integral, Cali office is at Calle 27 No. 44a - 18, pbx 334-6055.
They offer discounts on many services like blood work, X-rays, HIV testing and dental work. I paid a 40,000 fee for one year and it covers a family up to 8 people. I was unable to find a website.

EMI- Emergencia Medica Integral, Cali office, barrio Centinario, Avenida 1aN No. 5N-55 within sight off the Intercontinetal Hotel, PBX 653-0404, www.emiemergencia.com or www.grupoemi.com

[Rogbo]

The diagnosis on the ex´s son was Dengue, a couple days at home and he was fine, but he has had it several times in the past and most likely has some immunities. The skeeters down here are different from what I am used to they are very small and and don´t make any noise. Needless to say widow screens are something to think about when renting a room.