US Citizens choosing mexican health care over US

[nsrammstein]

When Carrollton resident Brian Woods needed laser eye surgery last year, he scrutinized options in North Texas for the best deal.

McAllen resident Cesar Vega was concerned about the long wait he faced to treat his broken leg after a motorcycle accident during the weekend leading into the July 4 holiday.

Both ended up in Monterrey, Mexico. Traditionally, the city affluent residents have traveled to Dallas, Houston or San Antonio for their medical needs.

"All around I was very impressed, and the experience surpassed any expectation I had," Mr. Woods said. "I could have been in Zurich, Switzerland, but it was Mexico. I found the care to be top quality, what you would expect at a U.S. hospital and more."

Like vacations in sparkling Cancún or Cabo San Lucas, health care in Mexico is becoming high-quality, cheap and convenient, advocates say. As more Americans go without heath insurance or feel the pinch of managed care, some are making a run for the border for treatment ranging from routine care to live-saving procedures.

Two North Texas-based hospital chains, Christus Health of Irving and International Hospital Corp. of Dallas, are tapping into a need and an opportunity by providing in their hospitals in Mexico what their executives say are the best of both worlds – U.S.-quality health care and relatively low Mexican prices.

"Our goal is to have the safest hospitals in the international market," said Cliff Orme, CEO of International Hospital Corp. "We're implementing U.S. standards into these hospitals so you won't notice the difference going to a hospital in Dallas than one in a Latin American country."

Some experts, including Peter Maddox of Christus Health, see Mexico as an answer to the complex question of how to treat aging and underinsured Americans at a time when the retirement of baby boomers will further tax the U.S. health care system. An estimated 43 million Americans, about 15 percent of the population, are uninsured, according to a Census Bureau study.

"Our country will go broke unless we find a health care alternative," said Mr. Maddox, Christus' senior vice president for business, strategy and corporate development. "Mexico is a wonderful alternative with incredible potential."


A new kind of tourist

Indeed, Mexico is becoming a top destination for the multibillion-dollar "medical tourism" industry, joining countries including India, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Experts estimate as many as 150,000 Americans travel abroad every year for lower-cost medical care.

Although care in Mexico may not be as inexpensive as care in some Asian nations, the proximity to the U.S. is a big advantage to patients. Some U.S. companies are now sending employees to Mexico for their annual checkups.

Underscoring the trend, Mexican state governments are spending money to refurbish communities near these hospitals, hoping visiting patients will stay there while receiving medical care or even move there permanently. Such is the case in Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, and Villa de Santiago, near Monterrey.

"We think that Villa de Santiago could also be an area for the retirees from the United States," said Alejandro Paez Aragón, secretary of economic development for the state of Nuevo León. "Our aim is to turn Monterrey into one of the world's medical tourism leaders in the next five to 10 years, and we're well on our way."

David Warner, a health researcher at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, said the hospitals run by U.S. companies are primarily for Mexicans, but they also hope to attract medical tourism, Americans without insurance and Mexicans living in the U.S. "And they'd like to get some U.S. insurers to cover them," he added.

But Mexico faces serious challenges in trying to become a world leader in the medical tourism industry. A turf war among drug traffickers is keeping some tourists away. Monterrey, in particular, has seen a surge of drug-related killings in recent months.

"Their plans aren't worth a thing if it's not safe to come here," said Luis Moreno, U.S. consul general in Monterrey.

And Dr. Warner, the UT health researcher, said that surveys done by his students show that many Americans are pleased with the "tender loving care" they received in Mexico, but others have found services to be substandard.

Nonetheless, over the next 10 years, Christus Muguerza, a partnership of Christus Health and Monterrey-based Muguerza, has identified 40 communities along the U.S.-Mexico border where it plans to expand. And International Hospital Corp. is finishing a new hospital in Puebla, near Mexico City.

"I have patients coming here from Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio," said Michael Tarabay, director International Hospital Corp.'s Santa Engracia hospital in Monterrey. "Whether you leave from Dallas, San Antonio, Houston or Austin, it's about an hour plane ride, a 20-minute taxi ride, and you're here."


Cheaper care

Mr. Orme, International's CEO, said that his company's hospitals served "several hundred" American clients last year and that Santa Engracia has served about 300 so far this year.

Mexico is on average 40 percent cheaper for basic surgical procedures, Mr. Warner and officials for both hospital companies said.

A bill in the Texas Legislature sponsored this year by Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, would have allowed U.S.-based insurers to cover health services in Mexico with the goal of making policies affordable for uninsured groups like the working poor. There was also a House version of the bill.

Coverage would have been limited to Texans who live within 75 miles of the border. The bill did not get out of committee.

"We have a crisis right now," Mr. Lucio said in an e-mail. "There are simply too many residents in Texas lacking health care coverage. Cross-border health plans present an opportunity to increase our rates of private health insurance coverage, particularly in an area of high poverty and greatest need."

Cross-border health insurance plans typically cost 40 percent less than traditional policies, he said.

"Cross-border health plans have been effective in California, and the primary concern for me is how we can address the lack of health care coverage along the border," he said.

For now, most Americans coming to Mexico for health care are considered "medical refugees," as in the case of Mr. Woods, 43, a network engineer. He visited a Christus Muguerza hospital in Monterrey last Christmas and stayed with his wife's relatives there. He had looked into getting laser eye surgery close to home, but the cost made that impossible, he said. U.S. doctors wanted to charge him $4,000, Mr. Woods said, but he paid $1,500 in Mexico.

"People were very cordial, warm," Mr. Woods said of the experience. "They treated me very well, and I wouldn't hesitate returning for other medical procedures."

Mr. Vega's wife, Adriana, said the couple had a similar experience.

She frantically checked South Texas hospitals after her husband's motorcycle accident, but was told hospitals were short-staffed before the holiday weekend. When Mr. Vega was examined, he was told he would have to wait more than 72 hours for treatment for his broken leg, she said.

The exam alone cost $1,000, she said.

Furious, Ms. Vega told her husband, "We're going to Monterrey."

Once there, he was immediately admitted and operated on, she said. "I drove back to Texas two days later."

The couple paid about $4,000 – one-third of what she was told the treatment would cost in Texas.

"I thought the quality was the same as any U.S. hospital," she said. "What really stood apart, however, was the service. The Mexicans were much more cordial, warmer. Here in the U.S., everyone is worried about being sued, especially doctors. No one seems to smile."


Impossible in the U.S.

Christus Murguerza's specialties include cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, transplants and plastic surgery. Its hospitals in Monterrey boast state-of-the-art telemedicine systems, which allow doctors to monitor and follow up with patients anywhere in the world in hospitals that share this technology.

International Hospital Corp.'s Santa Engracia hospital is in an upscale neighborhood, near hotels that give a preferential rate to hospital patients.

In the hospital itself, a private room looks more like a hotel suite, with a separate living room, two televisions and space for an entire family for $300 per night – something unthinkable in the United States, said hospital director Mr. Tarabay, who has managed U.S. hospitals.

About 90 percent of Santa Engracia patients are well-off or well-insured Mexicans, many of whom used to go to Texas for top-notch health care. Mr. Moreno, the U.S. consul in Monterrey, said he bought a home for retirement in San Antonio, in part to be close to the medical facilities in Monterrey, a four-hour drive away.

"They have a cultural thing here in Mexico where you're not treated like a number," said Mr. Moreno. "Without a doubt, these are the best medical facilities that I've ever seen in my foreign-service career."

[boutons_]

Medical tourism is pretty big business. Many websites offering packages to India, central/south America. Quite a few Americans w/o dental coverage but need major dental are driving over to MX. The doctors have mostly been trained in US and are using the same equipment found in US hospitals.

Of course, (US) drugs are a lot cheaper in Canada. US citzens, aka suckers, subsidize Big Pharma that turns around and charges lower prices for the same drugs to "single buyer" national health orgs in Canada, Europe, Japan.

[johnsmith]

I knew a lady that went to Mexico to get her stomach stapled (the bypass thing), because it's cheaper there.

She ing died.

[Extra Stout]

Monterrey is rapidly approaching first-world status as a city. Its per capita income (purchasing power parity) is nearly 75% that of San Antonio's, its poverty rate of 17% is exactly the same as San Antonio's, and the dollar-peso exchange rate means that your dollar goes 50-60% further there. After years of regiomontanos making the trip up to San Antonio and points beyond for tourism and shopping, perhaps now is the time to return the favor.

It does have drug-related crime, though lower than levels in major Texas cities. The crime rate is being exaggerated by the U.S. government in order to further its own purposes, one being to avoid having Americans from places like Detroit and New Orleans visit there and say, "How the f*** is it that the crime rate, standard of living, and quality of services in f***ing Mexico are better than where I live??!!"

Of greater dissuasion are the oppressive, Houston-like climate and mountain-trapped air pollution.

[Extra Stout]

I knew a lady that went to Mexico to get her stomach stapled (the bypass thing), because it's cheaper there.

She ing died.

The death rate in the U.S. from that surgery is 5%.

[johnsmith]

The death rate in the U.S. from that surgery is 5%.

Wow.

And I mean that in a "holy " type of way.

I can't believe how many people opt for that then.

[ploto]

No thank you.

[nsrammstein]

I've been to a hospital in Monterrey because I was down there for vacation with a couple of friends and I fractured my arm in 2 places, they took me to the hopital and we didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes! they just asked me what was wrong and they told me to go in and they attended me. The hospital I went to made me feel like I was in a swiss hospital, they are really nice.

[peewee's lovechild]

Monterrey is rapidly approaching first-world status as a city. Its per capita income (purchasing power parity) is nearly 75% that of San Antonio's, its poverty rate of 17% is exactly the same as San Antonio's, and the dollar-peso exchange rate means that your dollar goes 50-60% further there. After years of regiomontanos making the trip up to San Antonio and points beyond for tourism and shopping, perhaps now is the time to return the favor.

It does have drug-related crime, though lower than levels in major Texas cities. The crime rate is being exaggerated by the U.S. government in order to further its own purposes, one being to avoid having Americans from places like Detroit and New Orleans visit there and say, "How the f*** is it that the crime rate, standard of living, and quality of services in f***ing Mexico are better than where I live??!!"

Of greater dissuasion are the oppressive, Houston-like climate and mountain-trapped air pollution.

Dude, have you ever been to Monterrey??

The ing crime there is unbelievable.
I've seen the inside of a cell there because a cop set us up with a cocaine charge. $120 later, I was out.

I go there all the time. I have friends and family there. It's a great city, but it's far from being less violent than the major cities in Texas.

I'd say it's pretty much on par with Houston.

[exstatic]

Wow.

And I mean that in a "holy " type of way.

I can't believe how many people opt for that then.

They only do it as a last resort. Chances are that someone who is that morbidly obese has a death percentage way higher than 5% over the next 2-3 years anyway. They don't do this surgery of you are 50-75 lbs overweight. You have to be like multiples of your normal body weight.

[ObiwanGinobili]

just about everyone i know will ONLY go to Mexico when it comes to dental work etc.
And I know a woman who went for some reconstructive surgery.. came out great.

[Extra Stout]

Dude, have you ever been to Monterrey??

The ing crime there is unbelievable.
I've seen the inside of a cell there because a cop set us up with a cocaine charge. $120 later, I was out.

I go there all the time. I have friends and family there. It's a great city, but it's far from being less violent than the major cities in Texas.

I'd say it's pretty much on par with Houston.

My information was about five years out of date. Monterrey currently is in the middle of an enormous drug war with judges and police chiefs getting killed. The Mexican drug lords get their weapons at U.S. gun shows.

[TDMVPDPOY]

with money everything is fast

[peewee's lovechild]

My information was about five years out of date. Monterrey currently is in the middle of an enormous drug war with judges and police chiefs getting killed. The Mexican drug lords get their weapons at U.S. gun shows.

Gotta love the good ole U.S. of A.

We supply the drug addicts to help their business, and we supply the weapons to keep them nice and safe.

Then we that our borders aren't safe.

[AlamoSpursFan]

I've been to a hospital in Monterrey because I was down there for vacation with a couple of friends and I fractured my arm in 2 places, they took me to the hopital and we didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes!

Ok, if nobody else will do it, I will...

If the Mexicans currently clogging up our emergency rooms here were back home where they belong, you'd no doubt have had to wait longer than 5 minutes...

[peewee's lovechild]

Ok, if nobody else will do it, I will...

If the Mexicans currently clogging up our emergency rooms here were back home where they belong, you'd no doubt have had to wait longer than 5 minutes...

You're a ing idiot.

First of all, I've been to several hospitals where it's chock full of white people. And, they clog up the ERs because they have a rash or the ing cold.

WTF???

Secondly, okay . . . send all the Mexicans back. You think that will provide a solution?? It will only get filled with another minority for you to at!!!

you.

[AlamoSpursFan]

Truth hurts, eh load of Reubens?

Visit an emergency room, ANY emergency room and get back to me, moron.

Go sit for 4 hours in a waiting room full of no insurance having sniffling illegal immigrants with a fully insured 7 year old American ing citizen with a 103 degree fever and tell me what a ing idiot I am.

Suck my , wad.

[peewee's lovechild]

Truth hurts, eh load of Reubens?

Visit an emergency room, ANY emergency room and get back to me, moron.

Go sit for 4 hours in a waiting room full of no insurance having sniffling illegal immigrants with a fully insured 7 year old American ing citizen with a 103 degree fever and tell me what a ing idiot I am.

Suck my , wad.

Try eating any fruit sold in this country with out the thought that the majority of these "mexicans" picked them for you while getting paid $1 an hour.

you.

If you have insurance, what the are you crying about??

Besides, you want to about them over taking American ERs??
How about the fact that America over took their lands because of a piece of philosophy called "Manifest Destiny".

Shut the up with your y whining!!

If you don't like the fact that there's "Mexicans", move to an all white city and about the white-trash filling up the ERs.

[AlamoSpursFan]

Try eating any fruit sold in this country with out the thought that the majority of these "mexicans" picked them for you while getting paid $1 an hour.

Not my problem.

you.

Not even on your birthday.

If you have insurance, what the are you crying about??

The fact that I sat in the AMERICAN ER of an AMERICAN hospital for FOUR ING AMERICAN HOURS on an AMERICAN Saturday evening with my suffering, crying, burning up AMERICAN daughter after giving the AMERICAN lady behind the AMERICAN GODDAMN check in desk my AMERICAN insurance information (read: they knew they were actually going to get paid for helping my AMERICAN daughter get over her sickness) while a seemingly endless stream of Spanish speaking people in no apparent immediate distress were called back to see the doctors. Go yourself and every Julio who looks like you if that is a problem for you, jerky.

Besides, you want to about them over taking American ERs??
How about the fact that America over took their lands because of a piece of philosophy called "Manifest Destiny".

To the victors go the spoils, prick.

Shut the up with your y whining!!

If you don't like the fact that there's "Mexicans", move to an all white city and about the white-trash filling up the ERs.

Eat me.

[T Park]

ah gotta love the guilty america hating pricks.

[AlamoSpursFan]

And what's with quotating the word Mexican? Are you doubting the fact that these people come from Mexico?

I don't have a problem with them personally, just the fact that when I went with my payment to a for-profit hospital seeking professional help, they were mooching up the process and keeping my daughter from getting the treatment I pay every week for.

Sounds to me like some vato has a guilty conscience about something...

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

The bright side of this seemingly interesting news thread turning into a flamewar is that we seem to have a new rivalry brewing on ST, one that involves a relatively new poster and a longtime poster, but who has never really been pushed into the proverbial ring that much.

Congrats, guys. There's some sandwiches and beer in the back of the clubhouse.

[AlamoSpursFan]

Cervezas y tortas? Donde?

[peewee's lovechild]

Not my problem.

You're right.
Yet, you do a good job ing about your problems to us.

The fact that I sat in the AMERICAN ER of an AMERICAN hospital for FOUR ING AMERICAN HOURS on an AMERICAN Saturday evening with my suffering, crying, burning up AMERICAN daughter after giving the AMERICAN lady behind the AMERICAN GODDAMN check in desk my AMERICAN insurance information (read: they knew they were actually going to get paid for helping my AMERICAN daughter get over her sickness) while a seemingly endless stream of Spanish speaking people in no apparent immediate distress were called back to see the doctors. Go yourself and every Julio who looks like you if that is a problem for you, jerky.

Not my problem.
(sound familiar)

(jerky??)

To the victors go the spoils, prick.

Yea, you would say something like that.
But, it doesn't matter because it seems that they're taking back what was once theirs.

And, that scares you, doesn't it.

Eat me.

Nah, that's okay . . . I'm not a .
But, I'm sure you can find a couple that post here.

[AlamoSpursFan]

Repeat after me:

"I got nothing, jerky."





(Editor's note: I'm assuming they don't have quality prank call humor in your native Mexico...)