International Option?

[Yukari-sensei]

A point of order, I am currently under the care of an endocrinologist in the US; however, I am paying all of my costs out of pocket. Since my income level is abysmally low and Texas has decided to currently forgo the Medicaid expansion, I'm sorta "all dressed up with nowhere to go".

Each round of labs costs $500 dollars and each physician visit costs me $100. I only earn $900/month, so I just keep refilling my spiro and moving back my next appointment.

So here is the conundrum, why shouldn't I just walk across the border (which is very close) and see a physician in Mexico? I can fill my scripts there at a much lower price as well. Is the standard of care that much higher that I should continue care in the US or should I look into my other option?

I'm curious to hear if any others have some insight or experience. Please share!

[Rachel]

You may want to contact your local LGBT center and ask. I am sure you are not alone and they would have a better pulse of what is happening in the community. 

[Hikari]

Just remember that you cannot import more than 3 months worth (whatever that means) of prescription drugs into the United States regardless of how much you are prescribed if you fill your scripts in Mexico. I don't know if a Mexican physician's prescription would be filled at a US pharmacy.

Also to note, if any of those prescription medicines are controlled substances, moving them across the boarder even with a prescription could be considered drug trafficking which obviously carries serious prison time. None of the stuff that I can think of for HRT would be a controlled substance (except Testosterone, but you aren't a FTM) but, be weary especially if you have any other prescriptions for other related conditions. I heard of people getting into ridiculous legal entanglements because they had Oxycontin on them, despite the fact it was legally prescribed and purchased.

It should also go without saying, that the import provisions are for personal use only, not just selling but even giving away prescription medications imported is illegal. I am sure you wouldn't be doing that lol, but it bares mentioning.

[Jessica Merriman]

I personally feel a little better doing everything in the U.S. Like Hikari said, problems abound with imports, even legal one's.

[Hikari]

I forgot to mention this in my previous post
I have imported prescriptions into the United States before but, always via post. Sometimes customs will hold it for days or even weeks before deciding it isn't cocaine lol. I have no idea how customs at the border works, but it would be very inconvenient if they decided they wanted to operate in the same way.

Of note, Androcur (cyproterone acetate) isn't confiscated by customs despite the fact it isn't FDA approved (though it is important to distinguish lack of FDA approval doesn't mean illegal).  Though, US doctors don't like to write scripts for things that aren't FDA approved, even if only a foreign pharmacy sees it.

If it is just bloodwork, then it seems like a Mexican doctor would be great, but the more I think about it getting your prescriptions within the country is probably the best method, unless you really want CPA, but there are other alternatives to Spiro that are approved here. Especially because if I mess up and try to import something I shouldn't Customs removes the item and sends the rest of my package along (along with a note mentioning they confiscated this item), but if you are in person on the border I could see the potential for much greater problems.

[Yukari-sensei]

Thank you very much everyone for your insight and feedback!

Ironically my wife just made the point moot - she had me added onto her health insurance. Things just got a whole lot more affordable.

[barbie]

Thank you very much everyone for your insight and feedback!

Ironically my wife just made the point moot - she had me added onto her health insurance. Things just got a whole lot more affordable.

I think, in the world, probably only the U.S. has astronomic medical costs, inidicating a failure of national medical system.

When I was in the U.S., I paid more than $100 for one session of x-ray under insurance coverage. I once visited my country (S. Korea) and had to take x-ray. They charged ca. US$4, even I did not subscribe the Korean medical insurance.

In the U.S., I paid a copayment of $5 or $10 for medicine, covered by the medicine insurance. Here in my country, the widely-used medicines mostly cost about US$1-3.

Each visit to the doctor's office here costed just ca. US$3, even without insurance, but it was $20 in the US, under insurance coverage, and $60 without insurance.

Two years ago, an old couple from the U.S. visited here during the Expo event. The wife falled down in the hotel room and her head was injured. I guided them to the emergency room installed by the Expo organization. They took several x-rays in the ambulance to examine her skull, and the doctor there sent the x-ray images to her primary physician in the U.S. through e-mail. He diagnosed that it would be no problem even if she gets treatment going back to the U.S. in several days. When leaving the room, the husband took out his credit card to pay for the emerency treatment, but heard that all is free. In the U.S., they typically charged a minumum of US$400.

barbie~~

[Yukari-sensei]

I think, in the world, probably only the U.S. has astronomic medical costs, inidicating a failure of national medical system.

When I was in the U.S., I paid more than $100 for one session of x-ray under insurance coverage. I once visited my country (S. Korea) and had to take x-ray. They charged ca. US$4, even I did not subscribe the Korean medical insurance.

In the U.S., I paid a copayment of $5 or $10 for medicine, covered by the medicine insurance. Here in my country, the widely-used medicines mostly cost about US$1-3.

Each visit to the doctor's office here costed just ca. US$3, even without insurance, but it was $20 in the US, under insurance coverage, and $60 without insurance.

Two years ago, an old couple from the U.S. visited here during the Expo event. The wife falled down in the hotel room and her head was injured. I guided them to the emergency room installed by the Expo organization. They took several x-rays in the ambulance to examine her skull, and the doctor there sent the x-ray images to her primary physician in the U.S. through e-mail. He diagnosed that it would be no problem even if she gets treatment going back to the U.S. in several days. When leaving the room, the husband took out his credit card to pay for the emerency treatment, but heard that all is free. In the U.S., they typically charged a minumum of US$400.

barbie~~

I cannot agree with you more Barbie on the failure of our healthcare system.  I find it even more insulting that the people obstructing its repair are citing freedom as the reason for their obstruction.

Someday, I hope to never see families crossing the border to be able to afford their cancer treatments. I also hope people see the folly of their beliefs before too much damage has been done to the health of Americans.

[KayXo]

I live in Canada so definitely can't complain! 

[barbie]

I cannot agree with you more Barbie on the failure of our healthcare system.  I find it even more insulting that the people obstructing its repair are citing freedom as the reason for their obstruction.

Someday, I hope to never see families crossing the border to be able to afford their cancer treatments. I also hope people see the folly of their beliefs before too much damage has been done to the health of Americans.

A problem is that now the Korean government is trying to adopt the American healthcare system, I mean, better and far more expensive service for richer people. Fortunately, most people are upset at the plan, opposing it. To maintain a life of aged and hopeless, but very rich patient, how many poor and young patients should sacrifice? It is just good for doctors and probably a few politicians, IMHO.

A merit of American healthcare system is, IMHO, that it allows rapid development of new medical technology.

barbie~~