Health-I-CARE
I am increasingly hearing about the troubles with the healthcare system in the US; costs up ongoingly, inadequate person appointed to head the shop in less than a month, the UnitedHealth CEO being shot dead, and most directly, and on a daily basis, I hear from patients as I interpret for them during their doctor’s visits.
For years I worked on a campaign to make Healthy Families a real accessible healthcare program, not only for kids, but for the parents, and really make it a program that fully honored its name. This was in the Clinton years. Well, we know what happened. And personally, I recall my own experiences as an uninsured person for decades. Even when I had insurance it was tough, not all accessible, costly, not quick, in terms of receiving services needed.
Quickly I had decided that getting sick was prohibited for me.
Fast forward, on a fine good day I decided to wake, get up early and walk out to line up at the nearest local health center so I could initiate my medical care in México. There I was, fresh and ready to be among the first people lined up by 6am and it was cold, winter approaching.
Who wants to do this? Be out early and in the cold? There was an afternoon schedule after all. Well, I wanted to get this done.
Perhaps I could have chosen to go to a private clinic. At the same time, I wanted to see how the system works. Also, I wanted to see, or confirm, all the things I hear when people complain about when it comes to public services.
At the top of my priority list however was getting blood work done and having an overall check up after almost 3 years without having one and doing a follow up to a mammogram.
It was all free of cost.
How did I do it? I did as I was told and downloaded required forms stating that I have no insurance, then I printed and took copies of those along with my identification card to the window so I could get a number and get the services. I did not need to bring check stubs and prove I am low income or how much I make. Nothing like that. There was no talk about money at all.
The healthcare center opened without any delays, the staff was kind and welcoming and the waiting did not take long.
I did this early morning rising a couple of times. Initially, a female doctor saw me and on the day I returned for results she was away. Then, Pablo, a very young, good looking, and primarily super professional doctor was there in her stead. He prescribed a treatment after going over my results and finding I had an infection. Then, I mentioned the need to follow up on the mammogram I had done in México City. He proceeded to write a referral and handed it to me. Next door was the pharmacy, so I picked up the medication and there was no charge for it.
That… that was an extra surprise for me.
Since I was on a roll I took a bus directly to the Women’s Hospital to check things out and see what I needed to get the ultrasound done.
Upon entering the receptionist directed me to an area of the hospital where to ask further information. I gave my referral to the staff at the kiosk and I was told to wait an hour. I was basically a walk-in there among a lot of women waiting their turn. Right at the hour, at 11am, a nurse called out my name and I went in to be seen by Dr. González.
We had a conversation about all kinds of things while she checked me. She then told me to return the next day at 11am to pick up my results. Before I left she recommended that next year I go directly to the special care unit adjacent to the hospital and get my annual check done there.
Within 24 hours I was back and I got my letter with the results. All was well!
I write this because this is a first for me and receiving care as an adult in a public hospital here in México. This is also a first as far as having this type of care; excellent, immediate and free of cost. In the US I could never just show up to a clinic. There is a whole process before that, starting with a couple of months wait upon setting up the appointment. Then, to do a follow up, if results came out abnormal, there were another couple months more in between before getting to be seen.
Recently, I had to seek care while in the middle of moving. I was packing to go to another town. In the rush, I thought I had no time so I decided to go to a private doctor and I ended up spending a lot of money and not getting good care. The doctor arrived over 40 minutes late… In a fantasy I thought I’d get an apology and extra good care. Wrong. The session was just not professional. I am glad I went at that time, but I will not return.
I realize this is just one experience. So my goal is not to use this to generalize- I am still getting acquainted with everything here. At the same time, I believe in public services and in the right of a population to access them. I too believe that accessing quality care is really up to us all as a community; from the government prioritizing and investing in public health, such as this case, to ensuring medical students are well trained and supported so that they can be caring and responsive staff when they are serving patients. Then, we, the people; we have a role to play. First, by changing our attitudes and narratives about public services. We are beneficiaries, and rightful recipients of these. We already paid for the services. Services are not free after all. Nothing is free. Second, we can contribute by participating, and also by demanding quality care while we take care of the services we do have and mainly taking care of ourselves.
If you are returning to the country or if you know nothing about healthcare access you can start by doing this-
Fill out the forms linked below declaring that you are an uninsured person in order to receive medical care. The requirements are to
1. have no private insurance and to
2. have a CURP (it is like a social security number unique for each person)
In some states people might be asked for one form only. In my case, I went ahead and filled out the two forms. See links for IMSS and for ISSSTE, both healthcare and benefits entities in the country.
https://www.imss.gob.mx/constancia-no-derechohabiencia
https://oficinavirtual.issste.gob.mx/Servicios/Acreditaci%C3%B3n-de-no-Afiliaci%C3%B3n
