The Value of Free MX Health Insurance

[Jzmackenzie]

We got our Seguro Popular May 1, 2011, but never used it until yesterday. Our advice - GO GET IT TODAY. For three years we paid $321 each a year for ISSS and never used it either, but we were certainly glad we had Seguro Popular coverage yesterday.

Don has been having excessive pain around his heart for the last three days. I have been trying everything to get him to rest more. But, the house is nearly done. The family was due to move this coming Sunday. However, two days in a row we ran out of critical items; we had the long, hard, stressful ride to Leon to make - both of us exhausted. Three days in a row, the man who was supposed to dig the ditch for the electrical cable did not show up with the trencher (nor did he call and say when he would). We had to get more tile, more paint, more copper fittings, you get the picture. Don said he felt like he was driving in his sleep!

At 1:30pm yesterday, Don experienced "the pain" not only in his heart but down his left arm. It took is nearly an hour (40 minutes) to get to the hospital from our home; normally the drive is about 15 minutes. The traffic at the hub to the hospital was bumper to bumper for 30 minutes. We sat in our car watching the "critical hour" passing us by with no medical help.

Our "Public Security" Seguro Popular insurance made the hospital visit flawless and totally free. Of course, "flawless" is a relative term in Mexico. We arrived at 3pm and left just before 1am. In those eight hours we were always treated with respect and kindness. Don had two EKGs and two blood studies. He was placed on oxygen, in-line saline drip, blood pressure monitor, respiratory monitor, and medicated for pain. No less than seven doctors examined him. Two nurses and and two medical interns (doctors not yet on their own to practice as doctors) assisted him.

The final conclusion was that once again, Don "ducked" the "big bullet." He was on the verge of a heart attack or stroke; his brain is not getting enough blood, nor was his heart, due to stress. He was told to "Eat and sleep and nothing else for three days." After that, rest every day regardless of what is going on. Obviously, buying tickets last week to spend a month on the beaches of Ecuador was a smart move, but we probably would have been smarter to do that a month ago.

We appreciate the excessive efforts by others to help us. Jolene was absolutely priceless in her translating for us. The bilingual intern could not have been more kind. The entire experience was so unlike what we have seen, heard, and felt in the USA for his Veterans Administration medical care. The summary is, of course, that free or not, the causes were environmental, so slowing down we both now must, especially Don.

Now, get in your car and go get the free insurance for your loved ones. I am sure glad I did.