Health insurance - Updated Info 2006

Robert · #1 07-31-2002, 01:46 PM

Would like to hear anyone's experience with health insurance here in the DR.

Good or bad plans?
Good or negative experiences with a particular company?

The usual info basically...

Hillbilly · #2 07-31-2002, 06:21 PM

Any good insurance agent can fit you with a plan.

If you want I can set up an appointment we I see you next.

HB

GringoCArlos · #3 07-31-2002, 06:36 PM

I have health insurance in the DR. It is good and it is bad.

Good: I can go in and see their doctors, and if they accept my insurance, it only costs me RD$20 a visit. They have 2 hospitals/clinics to go to in Santo Domingo, as well as clinics throughout the country which also accept this insurance as payment. Also includes ambulance coverage.

Good: the cost of the insurance is only about RD$10,500 a year for family coverage. In the US it would be US$10,000 a year for equivalent coverage AND a hell of a lot of paperwork for every claim.

Good: It pays 100% of vaccinations and lab work.

Good: No paperwork, we just show our carnet and pay RD$20.

Bad: the really good, experienced doctors in their own hospitals don't accept payment from this insurance, and I end up paying the Doctor from RD$500 to $700 a visit if I want to see the best doctor, (in my definition, one who has a second medical specialty degree from España or Argentina or the US, and 10 to 20 years experience and a wall full of medical books thrown in as well).

Bad: It does NOT cover catastrophic medical events. You have to buy a second catastrophic policy with a deductible for things like cancer, heart trouble, liver transplant, etc, or the alternative for you will be to go home and lay on the couch in your house and die slowly without treatment after your cash runs out.....

Bad: We went in on a Sunday as an emergency visit. I ended up paying for the majority of the labwork (this would have been free if we had waited until Monday, but that didn't seem appropriate); I paid for the Doctor on duty's fee, as he didn't accept the insurance, and the deductible for the call as well. Might as well not have had insurance for that visit.

Bad: A lack of accurate information in writing for our policy. You just have to go to the clinic or the doctor, and find out how much and what is covered, and pay the difference immediately.

Good luck.

GringoCArlos · #4 07-31-2002, 06:39 PM

I second HB's advice: use an insurance broker in the area you live in, to find the policy that will best meet your needs at the price you are willing to pay. Many clinics offer their own insurance, as well as many private doctors, and the broker will know the medical facilities available and their reputations.

Larry · #5 07-31-2002, 08:42 PM

How much does a better plan cost for an individual that would cover catastropic events?For example,if my appendix explodes and I have to be operated upon and liad up in the hospital for a week.How much would a plan such as this cost?Of course I would like to be operated upon by a reputable doctor as well.
ILoveDR
(PS) I would want dental coverage as well

GringoCArlos · #6 08-01-2002, 07:24 PM

Ask the insurance broker about their plans.

For me, I opted to have the major medical coverage for the US with a bigger deductible to cut the cost, thinking that if I or my family is faced with something major, I didn't want meatball surgery. I wanted the best facility and doctors who did that kind of thing every day, rather than making the front page of El Caribe and Hoy because they did the surgery here for the first time.

CaribbeanGeorge · #7 08-02-2002, 03:46 AM

Let me recomend Salud Total, S.A. i have the xxx plan which includes, dentist, optic & most important movimed service I pay 1200 per bimester for me & my girlfriend.
Plus in case of an emergency in a non member hospital they pay u back the 60% like in Hospiten.

Eddy · #8 08-03-2002, 07:15 PM

Stay away from it or any other product offerd by Copal Medico (or at least the local brokers in Sosua/Cabarete area) I've been there. Segna among a few others are reliable.

tamadoor · #9 04-10-2006, 11:22 PM

years ago health insurance premiums seemed very affordable with fantastic coverage to match. see http://www.insurancepaylite.com check how insurance companies price

well, if you're an individual or family who pays for health insurance today chances are you're literally getting punched in the pocket book, and it hurts.

Chris · #10 04-10-2006, 11:25 PM

This is a really old thread but it can do with an update. Anyone out there with more current information on Health Insurance in the DR?