Job Discussion Forums

[melisssssa]

Hi everyone,
I posted this on the Mexico forum but would really be interested to hear what others do about health care elsewhere in LA. I really appreciate your help on this one.

I am Canadian and was in Mexico for the last 6 months working under the table. I will be returning next week to work legally, independently. I purchased a one way ticket out of Montreal since I am not sure when/if I am coming back. I really want to be able to work and travel with a health insurance policy (I won't be getting it through work).

It seems easy: buy private health insurance. Except private health insurance piggy backs on provincial medicare: private cos. won't cover you if you are not covered by provincial health care (Quebec, in my case). And provincial health care ceases to cover you if you are out of province more than 6 mos. per calendar year. You can apply for extended coverage, up to 365 days, but only once every 7 years. So it's not even a possibility to enter and exit the country every 6 months: you really have to be in province. Exceptions are: being a student, being employed by a Quebec company outside of Quebec, working for an NGO, none of which apply to me, or really I think to many ESL teachers.

What do other Canadians do in Mexico? What kind of medical coverage do you have? Is it possible for foreigners to buy private health insurance from a Mexican insurance co.? Is this a good solution? I'm also wondering if having the actual document of the work visa is necessary for the purchase of such insurance, as I imagine there could be a lengthy delay.

thanks for your help on this one. it's much appreciated. Melissa

[john_n_carolina]

CEC in Quito, Ecuador covers you after you're there 6 months, i believe.

it is a 70/30 health plan, you pay 30%, which is nothing anyways.

here is their website: www.cec-epn.edu.ec


otherwise, you can buy your own in Ecuador for about $60 a month from Salud S.A.? I think this is like 70/30 coverage also,... there are no HMO's in Ecuador,

[John Hall]

Check out the discussion on this thread about health insurance in Costa Rica:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=50583

Probably one of the best things about staying in Costa Rica long-term and working legally here is the health insurance. Mine is deducted from my paycheck and covers my entire family.

I also have a friend who is a legal resident and English teacher but does not work full-time. He is married, and has a kid, but only pays 10000 Costa Rican colones per month for full coverage. That's about US$19 per month!

[misterbrownpants]

i know when i was in mexico i didnt have coverage.. but when i got sick i just went to the dr. and paid cash - it was like 20$ not very much...

here in uy you can buy private healthcare which is around $60 / month or you can have it deducted from your pay and its around 20$...
public health care costs 5$/month... but, i personally would opt for private

one question.. how will your health care in canada know when you leave and when you come back???

[Justin Trullinger]