45% of Americans do not have dental insurance - millions go to Mexico for dental care

[SuckOnThis]

This may not be as big of deal as the health care issue but I find it amusing how right wingers talk about how we have the greatest system in the world yet people are having to go to Mexico to get dental care. Great country we live in.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medi...p?newsid=74572

The Washington Post on Monday examined the trend of U.S. residents seeking dental care in Mexico, which is "quickly transforming its border cities into catch basins for millions of bargain-hunting and uninsured Americans." Forty-five percent of U.S. residents do not have dental insurance.

According to the Post, Arizona retirement communities have begun organizing "regular bus tours for Mexican dental work and inexpensive [prescription] drugs," and some U.S. health insurers cover services received in Mexico. A recent University of Texas study found that 86% of low-income El Paso, Texas, residents surveyed -- half of whom were undocumented immigrants -- receive medical care or buy prescription drugs from Mexico. In addition, a study published in the Pan-American Journal of Health found that more than 37% of uninsured New Mexico border residents travel to Mexico for medical care.

Mexican dentists "often charge one-fifth to one-fourth of U.S. prices," in part because of "significantly lower" operating costs, the Post reports. Mexican dentists also do not have to purchase high-cost medical malpractice insurance because the Mexican legal system "makes it almost impossible to sue them," the Post reports.

The trend has "unsettled U.S.-based dentists, who tell horror stories of rampant infections, undetected cases of oral cancer and shoddy work south of the border," according to the Post. However, some U.S dentists have "conceded to the competition and begun a 'reverse migration,' opening offices in Mexico to take advantage of the lower costs," the Post reports (Roig-Franzia, Washington Post, 6/18).

[kane]

I can fully understand the prescription drug part. I have asthma and use two different medicines. One, the inhaler, costs $35 and lasts around a month. The other costs $315 and lasts two months. I can buy them from out of the country pharmacies for $8 for the inhaler and $90 for the other. Exact same medicine it just comes from the UK where they have laws that limit the amount they can charge for the medicine.

[Rochard]

Forty five percent of Americans are Mexican so I'm not surprised.

[incognito69]

Toothooooo ?

[ZoneMaster]

Originally Posted by kane

I can fully understand the prescription drug part. I have asthma and use two different medicines. One, the inhaler, costs $35 and lasts around a month. The other costs $315 and lasts two months. I can buy them from out of the country pharmacies for $8 for the inhaler and $90 for the other. Exact same medicine it just comes from the UK where they have laws that limit the amount they can charge for the medicine.

Bit of info for you - if you were living or resident in the UK you would get both these products for GBP 6.50 each - or $13 each on a script. (notice you are actually gaining on one product, but "overpaying" on the other )

You are correct in that any pharmacutical company has to bid competitively when attempting to sell product via the health system. Unfortunately, the situation is the complete reverse in the US where there is no limitation on what a pharma company can charge for their product.

[kane]

Originally Posted by ZoneMaster

Bit of info for you - if you were living or resident in the UK you would get both these products for GBP 6.50 each - or $13 each on a script. (notice you are actually gaining on one product, but "overpaying" on the other )

You are correct in that any pharmacutical company has to bid competitively when attempting to sell product via the health system. Unfortunately, the situation is the complete reverse in the US where there is no limitation on what a pharma company can charge for their product.

I need to find myself a UK connection. Someone can buy them for me and ship them over

Another thing that screws people over is that the pharmacies can have no set price. For example an insurance company can tell the pharmacy that they will pay a max of $280 on a drug. So if you have a $10 co-pay the pharmacy will charge you $290. You pay $10 and they bill your insurance the other $280. then someone walks in and wants to pay cash for the same drug and they will charge them $325 for it. you can see the price differences just by calling around. The inhaler I use is $35 at costco, but Walgreens wants $44 and two other pharmacies wanted $49 and $56. Sometimes when you call to find out the price of something they will tell you, "the cash prices is $$$." Which means they have different price levels depending on if you are paying cash or what type of insurance you have.

[ZoneMaster]

Originally Posted by kane

I need to find myself a UK connection. Someone can buy them for me and ship them over

Another thing that screws people over is that the pharmacies can have no set price. For example an insurance company can tell the pharmacy that they will pay a max of $280 on a drug. So if you have a $10 co-pay the pharmacy will charge you $290. You pay $10 and they bill your insurance the other $280. then someone walks in and wants to pay cash for the same drug and they will charge them $325 for it. you can see the price differences just by calling around. The inhaler I use is $35 at costco, but Walgreens wants $44 and two other pharmacies wanted $49 and $56. Sometimes when you call to find out the price of something they will tell you, "the cash prices is $$$." Which means they have different price levels depending on if you are paying cash or what type of insurance you have.

I used to buy stuff for a friend in the US and ship it over. Apparently the US cost on a monthly basis was in the region of $1300, but cost only around $120 for three months supply - it was well worth the effort.

Yep... noticed that when in the US - was shocked at the prices for even basic items like asprin - can't remember the prices now, but depending on the product, was between double and fourfold the cost of a UK pharmacy. There has got to be be a serious biz shipping product from "universal healthcare" countries to the US

[kane]

Originally Posted by ZoneMaster

I used to buy stuff for a friend in the US and ship it over. Apparently the US cost on a monthly basis was in the region of $1300, but cost only around $120 for three months supply - it was well worth the effort.

Yep... noticed that when in the US - was shocked at the prices for even basic items like asprin - can't remember the prices now, but depending on the product, was between double and fourfold the cost of a UK pharmacy. There has got to be be a serious biz shipping product from "universal healthcare" countries to the US

I would imagine there are a few people making some serious cash sending "universal healthcare" stuff to the US.

That is amazing how much your friend saved.

[Mr. Cool Ice]

The United States is the GREATEST country on earth!!!


not.

[ThunderBalls]

Bill O'Lielly, Rush Limpballs, and the other nazi's would be having a heyday if half the French people had to go to Africa to get their teeth fixed. These assholes are turning the US into a 3rd world country fast, wake the fuck up people.

[ZoneMaster]

Originally Posted by kane

That is amazing how much your friend saved.

That was the first time I ever knew that pharma products were so expensive and amazed anyone actually spent that amount of money on a monthly basis for a couple of products. That is on the level of mortage payments *lol*

Another "shock time" was while I was in the US and an elderly lady was paying for scripts in a pharmacy - her bill was $800 ish and had to ask her why she was paying this money each month?

Can't remember now.. but sent two products to the US every quarter - think they cost around $13 each - so would be around .. sorry.. not $120, more like $80-90 for 3 months supply - basically a saving of over $1200 each month - crazy money just for scripts. Seriously don't know how many people could afford to have medication at that price.

PS Depending - It could even be worthwhile taking an airline flight to Canada or Europe and stocking up with medications and still show a profit - and have a vacation as a bonus *lol*

[crockett]

Originally Posted by kane

I can fully understand the prescription drug part. I have asthma and use two different medicines. One, the inhaler, costs $35 and lasts around a month. The other costs $315 and lasts two months. I can buy them from out of the country pharmacies for $8 for the inhaler and $90 for the other. Exact same medicine it just comes from the UK where they have laws that limit the amount they can charge for the medicine.

Yes I get psoriasis sometimes. The ointment that I use here in the US cost me $160.00 for a small 60g tube. The exact same medication in Canada for twice the amount 120g is only $57.00.

One of the many reasons I'm thinking of permanently leaving the US.

[nico-t]

i bet sticky has an explanation.

[kane]

Originally Posted by ZoneMaster

That was the first time I ever knew that pharma products were so expensive and amazed anyone actually spent that amount of money on a monthly basis for a couple of products. That is on the level of mortage payments *lol*

Another "shock time" was while I was in the US and an elderly lady was paying for scripts in a pharmacy - her bill was $800 ish and had to ask her why she was paying this money each month?

Can't remember now.. but sent two products to the US every quarter - think they cost around $13 each - so would be around .. sorry.. not $120, more like $80-90 for 3 months supply - basically a saving of over $1200 each month - crazy money just for scripts. Seriously don't know how many people could afford to have medication at that price.

PS Depending - It could even be worthwhile taking an airline flight to Canada or Europe and stocking up with medications and still show a profit - and have a vacation as a bonus *lol*

I hear that. Maybe I need to book a vacation to London

My mom had a bunch of health problems a while back and ended up having surgery. She had about $900 a month in medicine. Luckily she is over 65 and between medicare, and another policy she was able to get through medicare they cover it all otherwise she would never have been able to afford it.

[SuckOnThis]

Originally Posted by nico-t

i bet sticky has an explanation.

Originally Posted by StinkyFingers

I trust my government, they put flouride in the water so we don't need dentists.

Actual picture of Stinkyfingers