Job Discussion Forums

Pennypacker1 · Joined: 07 Sep 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Caracas, Venezuela!

Hey guys! wanted to ask all of you currently teaching in latin america if you have had any insurance/medical related problems..

Im guessing a prospective teacher should look on their time there as a 'trip' and organize insurance accordingly.. anybody there without insurance?

thanks
ryan

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I came to Mexico without any private insurance. Wise? Maybe not - but it's difficult to spend hundreds of dollars on insurance when you're broke. Once I started employment I was covered by the national health care plan.

Mind you I'm (knock on wood) as healthy as an ox. I've never suffered from anything worse than measles or a bad flu in my life.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

MELEE · Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject:

Before my twins were born, people often asked me if I was going to go back to the US for the delivery. I was like NO WAY! you think I want to start off their lives 20,000 dollars in debt!!! All through out my pregnancy I played IMSS and the private doctor off each other. In the end the birth was in the private clinic, because I'd have my own room and could have 1 visiter all the time. It cost 15,000 pesos. less than 10% of what I would have paid in the US. I'm covered by both IMSS and ISSTE and last June had my gull bladder out at the ISSTE hospital in Morelia. In 2002 I had another minor surgery here at out tiny IMSS hospital (36 beds in all). I take my daughters to their checkups with a private doctor, which we pay out of pocket for.

Fatcat · Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 92 Location: Athens, Georgia

"IMSS scares me here in Mexico."

Why Guy?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

MELEE · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:34 pm Post subject:

I think stories about IMSS are like stories about Mexico City. I know plenty of people who are afraid to go there too. (And GUY lives in Mexico City)

We should have this conversation on the Mexico board, there is a very similar thread there too. I suspect some readers might not know what IMSS is.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Yeah, Mexico did hijack the thread didn't it?

IMSS is the socialized health care system in Mexico.

My main horror story is from Veracruz, but there a-plenty here in Mexico City and Acapulco.

I'm really tempted to boil it all down to a simple money and resources issue. IMSS staff earn so little in comparison to their private practice colleagues, and the government is unable to match the amounts needed for resources that private clinics do. One official complaint is how much the government needs to pay out in pensions to retired IMSS employees...this is a current issue and cause for the daily protests at IMSS HQ a few blocks from my place, as the government is looking make changes.

I think it's as simple as watching where the best doctors go...for the money. We have a similar problem in Canada with our best and brightest heading to the US and having small northern communities underserviced.