Free Health Coverage For All In The City Of Buenos Aires

[Ceviche]

I am not sure I understand it correctly.

The embassy of Italy, germany, France etc ask for travel health insrance along with schengen visa application

 

[Girino]

The embassy of Italy, germany, France etc ask for travel health insurance along with schengen visa application

Okay, that is because they won't cover any cost to take you back home. But this doesn't mean that you won't be treated locally. They just won't make any arrangement to send you to Congo.

 

[Ceviche]

Okay, that is because they won't cover any cost to take you back home. But this doesn't mean that you won't be treated locally. They just won't make any arrangement to send you to Congo.

are you delibertaly acting like a "duh"? Whats happened to your queen's English?

They ask you to buy "HEALTH" insurance to cover your medical expenses, when visiting Euro zone, for duration the visa is issued.

The air ambulance is one extra caveat they insert "OVER AND ABOVE" the health insurance.

Congo or any 3rd world country which needs visa to go to Eurozone, including South American countries such as Peru and Colombia have to comply similarly.

It does mean you would be treated locally but basis your health insurance paid by yourself.

 

[Girino]

Once you present yourself at the ER, the medical staff has the duty to visit you, regardless of your nationality, immigrant status or whether you possess or not a medical insurance.

 

[Flay]

Free social medicine.. I think they have that in Valenzuela too only problem is they do not have any medicine. Like I said! Thanks but no thanks!

Most developed countries have universal healthcare too; it's not some wacky Latin American populist idea. The USA was always a bizarre exception in being a developed country with a third-world attitude to healthcare.

Once you present yourself at the ER, the medical staff has the duty to visit you, regardless of your nationality, immigrant status or whether you possess or not a medical insurance.

this is true. While they often ask for proof of health insurance when you enter EU countries, there's often no obligation to use it should you need medical assistance - in the UK we have no ID card system, so there's no practical way for hospitals to check nationality, and doctors are hardly going to deny people emergency treatment.

I've used both public and private hospitals here, and the main difference is the superficial appearance of the place, and the wait, which can be torturously long at public hospitals. The thing that unnerves me about private healthcare though - and not only in Argentina - is the trustworthiness of medical professionals who seem more like salesmen trying to make money out of you (or your insurance provider). I know several people here who have been pressured by doctors to undergo operations of dubious merit. My girlfriend's gynaecologist tried to sell her an operation with the argument that she would probably never be able to have children without it - I suggested she get a second opinion and, after a couple of tests, the other doctor she consulted told her everything was fine and that the first guy was trying to scare her into something completely unnecessary.

 

[Ceviche]

I suggested she get a second opinion and, after a couple of tests, the other doctor she consulted told her everything was fine

Its always prudent to take a 2nd/3rd opinion opinion before a major surgery. Not all doctors have same education/experince/thought process.

It does not mean he/she is trying to con you in a surgery.

In fact, I have seen that with US hospitals where they try to con you especially if you dont have a insurance plan and are paying by cash.

 

[EdRooney]

There's another point here that should be made about public hospitals here.

There are three levels of public hospitals here: high, medium and low complexity. The idea behind the system is to provide the most urgent care to those who most urgently need it. If you are going for a blood test, a sprained ankle, or a rabies shot, you are going to a low complexity facility. These facilities are very basic and are meant for everyday care for the bulk of the population, and as such the focus is on serving as many people as possible with an acceptable level of care. As health issues become more complex or urgent, patients are referred to the higher complexity hospitals (such as the Hospital El Cruce in Quilmes, perhaps Latin America's best hospital), where the equipment is state-of-the-art and the care top notch. At these hospitals they perform organ transplants advanced cancer treatments, etc., but sorry, no rabies shots.

Obviously, it would be ideal to have low-complexity hospitals with shorter wait times, superior facilities and better paid medical staff, but hey weren't we just talking about how great it will be when the PRO gets elected and finally cuts the budget? (oops sorry wrong thread)

 

[Girino]

There's another point here that should be made about public hospitals here.

I am with Hospital Italiano and I was told that in case of emergency, such if I am run down by a car driven by Ceviche, a public ambulance is called and they take me to the nearest public facility equipped with an ER. Then if the situation allows it, I can be redirected to any private hospital of my choice (i.e. within HI network).
This is to avoid unnecessary procedures in private hospitals - you first received an unbiased medical assessment, then you can choose where to be treated.

I had a family member hospitalized in a private (small) ER, the "low complexity" kind (they deliver babies, give you an RX, have limited beds), and by the time a (private) ambulance was available to have him taken where he wanted (a high complexity facility) 4 hours passed. The guy almost had a stroke, mind you!
I tried to convince him to be discharged against medical advice and take a remis or his car - we would have driven him to the other facility. But he was a sissy.
This is just to say that private healthcare here has its flaws, as well!

There is no insurance against stupidity and bad luck!

 

[sesamosinsal]

I've gone to Clínicas twice, once because Alemán didn't have surgeons available for me to see. The other time because it was night time, and urgent care at Alemán takes forever.

Clínicas isn't a pretty place, but the care I've received there has always been top-notch and pretty fast.

There is always room for improvement. That's life. I still think the Argentines should be proud of what they have. I am certainly proud of them, knowing what exists in my country up north...

 

[NatV]

I signed up for this over a year ago. So far, I've only used it for a checkup, including a blood test and a chest x-ray, and for an allergy specialist and related tests.

You are asked to choose a family doctor, dentist and gynecologist who see you at their own office.

With the family doctor, I experienced pretty much no waiting time and she spent about half an hour taking a detailed medical history the first time I went there, no rushing and she seemed very caring.

Doing the blood test was more inconvenient since you need to head to the hospital early and do some waiting, the x-ray was easier. I'm also very happy with my allergist. If it makes any difference, my experience is with Hospital Fernandez. They also told me to carry around the print out (I don't have the card yet, they have major delays giving those out) and show it in case of emergency. Supposedly being 'affiliated' with the hospital will ensure you are taken there instead of a more dodgy one.