I was reading the LA Times and there was a letter to the editor complaining about how illegal aliens from Mexico are clogging up the ERs in Los Angeles. It says they give them free emergency treatment.
Now whether this is true or not, I don’t know. But it got me to thinking. I am an American. Supposing I slip across the border to Mexico and am now an illegal alien in Mexico.
If I get sick or break my leg, and go to an emergency room in Mexico. Will I be treated?
Probably only if you can pay up front, in cash.
Mexico does have its own illegal immigration problem. From what I’ve heard, illegal immigrants in Mexico get treated far, far worse than illegal immigrants in the US.
I’m an American that has to have hospital treatment in several countries outside America.
Official ID or other info, never required. Cash up front, always required.
"Many of the illegals in Mexico, who emigrate from Central and South America, complain of “double dangers” of extortion by Mexican authorities and robbery and killings by organized gangs.
The State Department’s Human Rights Practices report, released only last month, cites abuses at all levels of the Mexican government, and charges that Mexican police and immigration officials not only violate the rights of illegal immigrants, but traffic in illegal aliens.
Although Mexico demands that its citizens’ rights be protected when they illegally enter the United States, immigrants who cross illegally into Mexico “are often ripped off six ways until sundown,” says George Grayson, a professor at the College of William & Mary and a fellow at the Washington-based Center for Immigration Studies (CIS)."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/mar/24/20050324-121935-8473r/
My experience as an American living (legally) in Mexico is the same. Public healthcare is only available to citizens. Private hospitals expect payment up front for services. It is important to note, however, that in Mexico quality healthcare is a fraction of the cost of equivalent care in the US. An average doctor visit with a specialist is about US $25, teeth cleaning $20.00, overnight stay in a hospital, $35, etc. So obtaining private healthcare as an illegal alien in Mexico would be financially feasible for almost anyone in an emergency whereas in the US we face multi-thousand dollar fees for even basic procedures.
While immigrants tend to have it tough in general and Mexico is no exception the article you link is over 7 years old. A lot has changed in Mexico in recent years including a massive crackdown on corruption in government agencies. Immigration authorities are not allowed to handle money for example and police do not have the latitude they once did.
In spirit, Mexico’s constitution (just like the US constitution, in spirit) grants basic rights to all people within her borders regardless of immigration status and it has always been illegal to extort, rob or kill someone whether the victim is an immigrant or citizen. These stories tell more about past corruption problems in government than they do a policy or attitude toward illegal immigrants in general.
That $25 office visit might be cheap to you or I, but I wonder what your typical Mexican (making typical Mexican wages) thinks of it.
Considering the GDP per capita and the Gini index of Mexico, the above quoted prices for medical care are not bad at all, not bad at all.
That is an incorrect statement. Public healthcare is provided to non-citizens also.
The people (and their families) that work for me are all provided free health care. It is my responsibilty as an employer to enroll them in IMSS which is our Social Security system. For those that don’t qualify at their place of employment there is a program called Seguro Popular that offers healthcare at very low rates. And most towns and many small villages have what is called a Centro de Salud which provides basic health care at little to no cost. If you can’t pay, you are not charged.
As an employee of a company that deducts healthcare premiums from their pay I think non-citizen immigrants may be eligible. Is this the mechanism you are speaking of or something else?
You may be covered under IMSS. Non-citizens can also pay privately for IMSS or Seguro Popular.
I may be mistaken in my use of the term ‘public healthcare’ but I am referring to free national healthcare available to every citizen regardless of employment and without making any contributions to a health plan. (e.g. what the hypothetical ‘illegal alien’ in the OP would likely bring to the table in a medical emergency.) The care to which I refer is guaranteed under article 4 of the constitution and administered by the Secretary of Health. The paid insurance plans you refer to are not a constitutional guarantee and are administered by the IMSS (the social security administration).
I have been given contradictory information about almost every aspect of life in Mexico as a foreign resident but have always been told without exception that in order to qualify for the former one needs a voter’s registration card (i.e. citizenship).
Not all citizens have voters registration cards and yet they are eligible for free care at the “centros de salud” (run by Ssa) and what are called civil hospitals. My nephew is currently doing his general surgery residency at the Hospital Civil here in Guadalajara. Many trauma victims are rushed there with life threatening injuries and they are treated regardless of their nationality.
In a life-threatening emergency I’m pretty sure all hospitals are supposed to save the life first and then worry about the billing later, much less worry about nationality.
After doing a little more searching, it seems in 2006 Calderon extended the right to healthcare to ‘all residents’ in Mexico. There doesn’t seem to be a stipulation that they be documented and legal residents.
Many people are covered by their employers who are required to pay into an insurance plan on their behalf, some are covered independently by buying insurance themselves, and in 2006 a ‘safety net’ was extended to help many who fell through the cracks. (presumably unemployed who do not buy their own insurance) And in those cases, treatment is charged based on their ability to pay - down to $0.00 for those who can’t afford it.
It probably still works out that a non-citizen resident will be required to pay something because they would have had to prove their employment or other ability to support themselves to be granted legal residency originally. I guess it is possible to immigrate based on having Mexican family and still not have an employer or or savings. I’m not sure how an ‘illegal immigrant’ with a non-life-threatening emergency might fit in to this though and my Spanish is not up to speed yet for more than a casual study of the law.
Being accustomed to US prices for medical care I think the private care in Mexico is a real bargain though, and I would opt for that anyway except in the most dire of emergencies, but after doing some research I think you are right that non-citizens and possibly even undocumented residents are entitled to subsidized prices based on their ability to pay.
Not always the case. People have been turned away from private hospitals for one reason or another.
That is precisely the Seguro Popular program I mentioned in another post that was started under Fox (the idea stolen from López Obrador) prior to 2006.
Many foreigners reside here on a temporary basis and are not considered immigrants. And believe it or not there are quite a number of Americans and Canadians that are here illegally. They can receive free care at the Health Centers operated by the SSa.
I maintain private health insurance for my family which at this time is my wife, my youngest child and myself. It is only major medical. We pay for minor problems and doctor visits but it is unlimited coverage for anything serious. My cost is something like 2300usd per year for the 3 of us and we have our choice of the very best hospitals, we get private suites etc.