Access to affordable healthcare is often cited by expatriates in regard to their decision to live in Mexico. It was one of mine reasons as well, though I think with a different bent that most. I very seldom ever go to doctor, and I don’t agree with the obsession with prevention, other than  that which is obvious good sense, exercise, decent diet, low stress lifestyle(yes I consider our life low stress).

our little house

What I prefer about Mexico’s health care system is that it is easier to avoid. The culture is not built on the necessity of having insurance, mammograms and taking preventive medicines–yet. And if one did have a serious health problem, a broken leg say, it is far less likely to be financially ruinous, though it will likely leave you with a ghastly scar, as thick as athumb and bumpy with scar tissue. I am pretty sure Mexicans surgeons use baling twine for suturing from the look of every operation result I have seen.

Recently, I had reason to go see the medico in La Tigra’s free clinic. Few residents of La Tigra use the free service, it is considered tacky, a way of showing that you don’t have enough money to pay or the good sense to go to a ‘real’ doctor. The doctors at our clinic are doing their residency; they come for one year and then receive their full licensing.

Our doctor’s most frequent patients are mothers who must maintain health standards(weigh ins, inoculations) for their children in order to receive their oportunidades(welfare), Dona’s with aches and pains who receive a lot more care and concern from the doctor that they have likely ever enjoyed from their husband, and occasionally the gringa( that’s me). Continue reading →