As I begin to think about a move to Mèrida or, at the least, some trips to visit again; I am interested in the phenomena of “medical tourism” that has moved beyond fringe activity into mainstream alternatives.
It is understandable in the world - such as America - where insurance policies cost $5000 a year and more for one person, unbelievably large amounts for couples and families. My policy that finally needed to be dropped was over $5000 with a $10,000 deductible. It is a fine company, Equitable, that always paid as much as they were supposed to or more and paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years of by-passes, emergency surgeries and pacing devices. But that is the problem that is destroying lives in the States where government has resisted more civilized health care for its citizens. The costs of care have been driven up to astronomical and inhuman levels.
Medical care no longer costs a lot by normal standards. It is now obviously based on play money since people do not, cannot have the astronomical sums that are used in the medical world. That is only counting mainstream medicine. Cosmetic surgeries, dentistry, alternative (non-reimbursable) techniques are seldom covered. Dentistry comes to mind first since it is necessary but unaffordable in the US. A visitor recently told me of the implants and dentures he needed in the States and the $48,000 estimate for the cost. That would buy the Mexican dentist a pleasant house in many places.
Mèrida, for one, is gearing itself toward the medical tourism boom that is expected. The economic downturn in the US, recession and the fear of the financial future will help as people flee the US for more affordable havens.
In my case I am looking for a place that has First World standards and Third World prices. One of the alternatives for dentistry and other procedures is Mexico.
Living here I already have a dentist — actually a periodontist who does everything for me except the recent root canal when he sent me to another specialist. He was quite painless, clean and professional with a charge of around $US120 for the root canal. I seem to remember 10 years ago in upstate NY the same job was around $800.
There is finally a website guide to medical tourism called Pangea Medicine that acts as an online medical travel directory to help people find quality care outside the US. Most of their Mexican referrals are similarly to dentists, often in the areas easily accessible to the West Coast but, by now, all the world is accessible by plane. One dentist mentioned in Baja California is an American with a bi-lingual staff and photos of an amazingly modern and clean facility. Just to remind me how backward Chetumal is medically. There are drawbacks to living on the edge of the jungle in a border area.
Another dental destination is Costa Rica which is highlighted on the Pangea Medicine site with a clinic in a town 15 minutes from San Josè which is described as:
Our specialized dental clinic includes dentist, doctors of dental surgery (DDS), orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, and aesthetic surgery all in one place. Along with these specialized dentistry services we also staff professional dental hygienists which help patients with Dental Clinic Prevention Programs. Our dentist and staff come from well known national / international universities and have been hand picked to provide patients with the best dentistry in this country. Dentist appointments are scheduled within travel packages for a nice and relaxing recovery. Get a dental solution, transportation, day tours and visit amazing places all at the same time. Take advantage of high quality dental services for much less than the United States cost. Make the most of your money and time off by touring amazing beaches and rainforests with Costa Rica dental tourism plans.
If you don’t already live here, it sounds great to me. Costa Rica is said to be beautiful, democratic and peaceful. The visiting American I mentioned had described a friend who had great luck with dentistry in Costa Rica.
Because health care costs have become so absurdly high in the US and, the HMO alternative so unusable; the idea of combining tours to interesting and beautiful places while saving the cost of the trip is, indeed, a viable alternative for those who like to travel.
“A dentist with silver forceps and a necklace of large teeth, extracting the tooth of a seated man.” Medieval print courtesy of commons.wikipedia.com.
