Is a border town a good health plan?

[rudder]

I'm seriously considering moving to a border town along the US-Mexico border, because my job has me tied to the USA for at least the next couple years, so I can save up enough money to open a business abroad. I'm flexible to relocate anywhere in the country though, because I'm a trucker.

Recently, I visited Del Rio, Tx and really enjoyed my stay. It was more like a laid back Mexican town than a US city. There's a nice creek that flows through the middle of town with clean water you can swim in. I loved it. Everyone I met was friendly, and you can tell people appreciate a gringo that speaks spanish.

I currently reside in Tennessee, and don't have legitimate health insurance. I'm 31 and find it to be too expensive. I don't want $200 taken out of every week's paycheck for something where I'll have to pay a $4000 deductible anyway. Since obamacare ended, and we're not required to have insurance anymore, I'm wondering if I should even retain what I have, which is called Medi-Share. It's a Christian health share thing that I don't even fully understand. My plan keeps getting more expensive every few months. I'm currently paying $150 per month for this $10,000 deductible plan. So, if something happens to me, I pay up to $10,000 dollars out of my own pocket, after that amount I become eligible to petition for the "share" money to cover the remaining medical expenses.

I was talking to someone in Del Rio who said you can go visit doctors on the other side of the border for about $5 for a consultation. If I had an emergency and had to be rushed to the hospital, I guess I'd be screwed without insurance.

What do you all do for health insurance? Is there a way to win where you don't have to pay hundreds of dollars every month or risk bankrupting yourself from an accident?

[Shemp]

I am 58yo and haven't had health insurance since I quit my corporate job middle of 1995, or 24 years ago. Haven't been to the doctor since then either, other than for vasectomy ($1100 cash 3 years ago in the USA) and routine vaccinations at clinics in the USA and Ukraine. If I get sick, I'll just go to a foreign country for treatment paid in cash. Hopefully no emergencies while in the USA currently 4 months per year, hopefully less in the future.

I was born using 58yo medical technology and had a broken arm and other care as a child using 50yo technology. Not saying modern technology isn't better, but the old technology, like what they have in less developed countries, is still plenty good enough for most things.

[redfeather]

Rudder,
I live in Texas, and I have a neighbor that has a 2nd house in Mexico. Many people from Texas drive to the border of Texas and Mexico and cross over for medical treatments, and dental treatments, and inexpensive medicine refills. People in Texas have been doing this for more than 100 years, and we save a bunch of money. I was just in Mexico six months ago getting my dental work done. I will be going down there with me and my filipina wife once she gets here because we can save tons of money. I like Del Rio and I have been there many times, and Lake Amistad has some great bass fishing.

[Ghost]

.

[rudder]

Rudder,
I live in Texas, and I have a neighbor that has a 2nd house in Mexico. Many people from Texas drive to the border of Texas and Mexico and cross over for medical treatments, and dental treatments, and inexpensive medicine refills. People in Texas have been doing this for more than 100 years, and we save a bunch of money. I was just in Mexico six months ago getting my dental work done. I will be going down there with me and my filipina wife once she gets here because we can save tons of money. I like Del Rio and I have been there many times, and Lake Amistad has some great bass fishing.

Nice.

Actually, these are all very helpful responses.

Where do you live in TX? I’ve pretty much driven everywhere in that state.
Any idea for local trucking jobs in Del Rio? That seems to be the real snag in my plan, since it’s not such a big town. I know there’d be lots of jobs in Laredo, but I don’t like it as much there. I’ve been on the road for 2 years, so I’m looking for something to be home every night to have a life again.

Del Rio for the nice swimming opportunities right in town and proximity to the border.

Any other recommendations that have those two features?

[rudder]

Another thought: how is the quality of care in those Mexican towns? I don’t really believe in the western big pharma care model. I’m more for chiropractic medicine and dietary optimization of health along the lines of what Dr. Berg touts; and natural dentistry.

[CannedHam]

I pay a lot of money for a pretty mediocre health insurance plan since I'm at a small company. But I also have an HSA which allows me to save a ton of money on taxes, and also health insurance premiums paid thru payroll are pre-tax, so you get a discount on your premiums there as well.

Some serious problems I see:

0. Emergency room visits, as you mentioned - if you're having a heart attack or losing life-threatening amounts of blood, the ambulance will take you to the closest ER (and rightfully so) which will not be in Mexico. You can always negotiate as a cash payer and receive discounts of up to 90%.

1. You don't need to go to Mexico for consultations or office visits - in my metro area there are 3-4 "cash only" reputable MD physicians doctors that charge something like $60 for a 15-minute office visit.

2. If something goes wrong in Mexico, good luck dealing with their legal system. At least there is some modicum of accountability in the US health care system, as f***ed up as it may be.

3. The biggest issue IMO:if you need something like expensive cancer treatment, or a transplant, you will be SOL.

IMO I'd suck it up and take whatever insurance you can get through your employer, or at least get the cheapest plan you can find on the exchange. The point of insurance isn't to come out ahead but rather to limit the financial damage that can happen in the worst case scenario.