Anyone who really, really understands the health insurance system?

[hankscott]

All the hospitals listed are public, and totally free for anyone walking through the door.

OMG! Thanks for letting me know!

 

[nikad]

I recently got a quote from a company brokering health insurance policies in Buenos Aires. The annual cost of the Essential Health policy would be $2,573. That is a great rate. However, I know nothing about the hospitals that accept it. Here's a list. Can anyone share what they know about them?
Hospital de Clínicas, Hospital Durand, Hospital Fernández, Hospital Rivadavia, Hospital Ramos Mejía, Hospital Álvarez, Hospital Argerich, Hospital Vélez Sarsfield, Hospital Penna, Hospital Pirovano

Company brokering health insurance policies in Arg = scam

 

[Silvie]

I recently got a quote from a company brokering health insurance policies in Buenos Aires. The annual cost of the Essential Health policy would be $2,573. That is a great rate. However, I know nothing about the hospitals that accept it. Here's a list. Can anyone share what they know about them?
Hospital de Clínicas, Hospital Durand, Hospital Fernández, Hospital Rivadavia, Hospital Ramos Mejía, Hospital Álvarez, Hospital Argerich, Hospital Vélez Sarsfield, Hospital Penna, Hospital Pirovano

My most recent example: I went during recent months to Hospital Ramos Mejia to be tested for allergies, at the request of my dermatologist who is also an allergist in that hospital. I called 147 for an appointment and for some reason their appointment scheduling system was getting systematically frozen so I had to call several times. They told me that to see a specific doctor, I needed a referral note from the same doctor or a primary care doctor referring me to the requested specialist (or else, I would have to see just anybody the hospital assigned). I had to go about 5 or 6 different times. I got tested for different allergies and had follow up consultations. I paid nothing. Each time I had an appointment, I had to check in at the reception desk on the ground floor of the hospital early in the morning, there were lots of people waiting but what I liked the most was that the first city staff who sees you at the door, takes your id number sees your appointment on their tablet and if you are an older adult, you have priority check in, so I could check in really fast and then I hade to go to another floor to wait to be called by the Allergy staff. I paid nothing at all for the consultations or the patch tests. I was sent to one particular private laboratory where they do very accurate chemical tests and I did pay for that test, which was worth it since in the past I had anaphylaxis caused by a medication. In general, I didn't like having to get up early but my experience at the city hospital was much better than I had expected.

 

[Bajo_cero2]

The law bans to charge More for age, so they have a full fee and deduct age. Hospital Aleman is a good option but crowded. Medical attention is better in the country side, specially public, in places like San Luis where they have low population.

 

[LuckyLuke]

OMG! Thanks for letting me know!

Howdy Hank,

I'm not sure your what your immigration status is here...but I didn't see anyone mention this article I saw recently.

Más provincias analizan cobrarles a los extranjeros la atención en hospitales públicos

Salta comenzó a aplicar los cargos en marzo, mientras que Santa Cruz publicará la resolución para hacer implementar el mismo sistema en las próximas 24 horas. Otras dos provincias tienen proyectos de ley en esa línea

www.infobae.com

 

[Stevied]

Howdy Hank,

I'm not sure your what your immigration status is here...but I didn't see anyone mention this article I saw recently.

Más provincias analizan cobrarles a los extranjeros la atención en hospitales públicos

Salta comenzó a aplicar los cargos en marzo, mientras que Santa Cruz publicará la resolución para hacer implementar el mismo sistema en las próximas 24 horas. Otras dos provincias tienen proyectos de ley en esa línea

www.infobae.com

This is long overdue - Argentina cannot afford to subsidize healthcare for foreigners. The same goes for education, or any other public benefit.

 

[MissM]

So very true. Public doesn’t mean free. Public services are paid by Argentinian taxpayers, who are already over burdened by taxes. Please keep public services for those who pay for them through taxes. Go to a private clinic and pay for services as you would in any other part of the world. Being a free loader on Argentinian taxpayers who are already struggling to make ends meet isn’t right. And yes, private health insurance may not come cheap (a basic Osde plan (Osde 210) for a 45-year old without preexisting conditions is north of 200k ARS/month), but coverage is greater than that which a US health insurance would offer to that person at that price, so it’s still cheaper than it’s comparable in the U.S.

On a different note, I believe hospital Italiano had an in-network health insurance program that was cheaper than many others and had good doctors in its roster, so that plan could be an option to consider. Or the equivalent at hospital aleman. Then, I heard prevención salud (health insurance arm of sancor seguros) is also cheaper, although I cannot comment on quality. And there were discussions about other health insurance plans in the expat hub Facebook group, discussions that might be worth checking.

The short of it is, yes it’s expensive, but paying for healthcare can also mean investing in one’s health, which many would consider a worthy endeavor. Health insurance plans here cover most types of lab work, doctor visits and dental appointments besides hospitalizations, so coverage is more comprehensive than coverage in the U.S., generally speaking.

 

[jantango]

I haven't had an eye exam for several years. Since it was warm and sunny today, I walked to the local public hospital Ramos Mejia to ask for an appointment. There was no waiting line. I walked up to the desk where they give out appointments. The man asked for my DNI number and handed me a piece of paper with all the details for my appointment on July 19. He sent an email confirming the appointment with information on how to cancel if I need to do so. I registered with Coberatura Portena de Salud in May 2015 and coverage costs nothing. I am an Argentine citizen since July 2013.

Hello JANIS!

These are the details of your shift:

Comprehensive Health History: 1393333
Number: 25827129
Date: 07-19-2024
Time: 12:15
Location: JM RAMOS MEJIA GENERAL ACUTE HOSPITAL
General Urquiza 609
Professional: MARIA FABIANA DEL POZO
Office: Ophthalmology/ENT - HOSP. GENERAL DE ACUTOS JM R -