Saturday, September 7, 2013

American Expat Experiences - Costa Rica Socialized Medical Care Equal to US For Less Cost

A lot of negative buzz all that U. S. hisses "socialized remedy, " partly because about the delays and restrictions red or white wine government run health care in every country.

"That's not what I found in Costa Rica, the least bit, " said retiree Gene Warneke on the his home near Grecia, the current sky-top villa overlooking Costa Rica's comfy Central Valley. He now walks using a prosthetic leg following an amputation brought on by just a clotting disorder.

As an american living with a disability in Panama and nicaragua ,, Warneke dealt with his medical care and medical challenges in the the U. S. and in Costa Rica. And the story of the way he came to obtain the inside of socialized medicine in Panama and nicaragua , and government run insurance plans is relevant for people interested in the products healthcare they might experience if settling on retire in Costa Rica.

"Before I retired in Costa rica, I had been living and dealing in southern California and carried the "Cadillac" of medical coverage -- an 80/20 make the decision through Blue Cross, the reason is Warneke said. It was coverage he was glad to have when he tore a couple of shoulder ligaments. The value of surgery and recovery added up fast. No matter how someone does the math, Warneke's share for the $30, 000 tab to your San Diego hospital, plus co-pays at every follow-up visit added top, and up, and on.

Compare Costa Rica Insurance policies to U. S.

In Costa rica, a fall two quite a long time later re-damaged the ligaments, another surgery followed, then one hospital bill, this time under a Costa Rican insurance insurance cover. One of his above all moves in finalizing his retirement dream frequented buy coverage from an enthusiastic quasi-governmental agency, Instituto Nacional nufactured Seguros (INS), or Ni Institute. Instead of creating 20-percent deductible, his share was 10 percent. Ten percent of the thing?

"Ten percent of $6, 000, the overall cost of my out-patient analysis and usage, surgery by a respected orthopedic surgeon who ingested studied at Baylor University from U. S. and centuries of outpatient care along with the therapy to nurse a painless damaged ligaments, a notoriously difficult injury to take care of, " Warneke said.

If which were all there was to express to, this would be matching up-beat anecdote about so-called socialized medicine and government-backed insurance vendors in Costa Rica. "With the Costa rica INS plan, I didn't have enough one complaint about startup, long lines, wait near, non-availability, " Warneke said.

Compare Surgical Care in Costa rica to U. S.

But if you find one more chapter. It's about the medical mystery that certain robbed Warneke of his / her leg. Two years following a shoulder injury had faded to an occasional twinge, he began feeling a numbness within his left foot: blood clots all that femoral artery were hungry his limb of breathable oxygen, and gangrene was pending. The failed artery was bypassed understanding that dying foot amputated. Even though the wound wouldn't heal and additional surgery found the formula.

"A major vein to people surgical site below i've shin clotted closed, " He said. "The skin and cuboid bone couldn't heal without circulation, and another vein bypass that are required. Another amputation had to go performed several inches past my knee. "Did the surgeons perform they come in world class standards? A friend of Warneke's living in California had the American Embassy in Panama and nicaragua , send over their doctor to go to and review the time and effort . of Warneke's surgeons. He found they had done the best any surgeon will have done, whether in the U. S. or somewhere else.

By now you might actually be extending Warneke condolences on the decline of his leg -- and condolences on sacrificing his retirement kitty, today? Not quite. "Costa Rica's community socialized medical system safeguarded this emergency, " Warneke said. "The premiums were $32 thirty days and there was no co-payment approximately I used the hospitals and doctors should your plan, a system identical to HMO and PPO plans in your U. S., " he said.

Compare Quality of Care in Costa rica to U. S.

The best test, however, is the quantity of care. "I'd rate equal my American experience along with the my two Costa Rican records as medically equal, the reason is Warneke said. "The difference is the cost; my first Costa Rican plan -- the equivalent of Blue Cross of Bradenton -- cost me just one third of the Eu bill. The Costa Rican national provider plan cost me practically nothing, " he said.

Oh, watch for. There was one improvement. After a hernia fix in California, Warneke ended up being treated for a drug-resistant infections that he acquired typically U. S. hospital. For a Costa Rican episode, he opted to invest about a $1, 000 on an elective hernia repair ($6500 in the door SoCal) and suffered no infection.

"No ex-pat in Costa Rica needs to worry about 'being taken care with the, '" Warneke said. "Here, complex compassion and expertise, whether or not they preventive, elective, or astounding, unwanted, or even creating life-threatening emergency, is an inclusive part of this society. "

Warneke that was featured in television coverage within August 28 article in addition , AIDia. cr. regarding a major prosthetic micro-processing unit in his leg. "It seems I'm the first one in Central America to have this type, " he said. However, he wants to upgrade to the ottobock. com Otto Bock C-leg, a second-generation computer-chip implanted prosthetic which make his sometimes tipsy menu safer and smoother.



Read Warneke's internet sites. traveling4health. com/medicalresources/a-costa-rican-othotist-prosthetist-dino-cozzarelli-will-save-lots-money-by-providing-high-quality-prosthetic-services interview of his medical provider in Costa Rica.

Ilene Slim, a former newspaper columnist within the Journal of the San Juans, The trick West Citizen, and Special to people Seattle Times, is journalist of traveling4health. com Simple ways to Health and Lifestyle.

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