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Healt insurance for 65 and over or under

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ecuadorjoe
  8/16/2014 17:49 EST

I would like to post this just if anybody is interested. I am using CruzBlanca for my health insurance here in Ecuador. It is not free but it is very good they have hospitals, 24X7 365 clinics in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca and other places. I just returned a few days ago from Salinas with a horrible throat, ear, upper respiratory infection and for $ 3.50 deductible I waited 5 minutes to see a doctor, and receive everything I needed to get better...

sherij
  8/16/2014 18:04 EST

Really nice to see for those of us in the scouting phase of moving to Ecuador.

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ecuadorjoe
  8/16/2014 18:14 EST

Thank you,

Most of the time I am busy, but now I got some time and I am willing to share my life experience in Ecuador.

ecuadorjoe
  8/16/2014 19:09 EST

I do not need a private email for this. And actually I do not fully understand it all depends, I have a masters degree in Computer Science. But the info. is here Mr. Marcelo Romero www.crusblanca.com.....

OceanHideaway
  8/16/2014 20:06 EST

Could you recheck that email address?

cruZ or cruS

Also where were the clinics in Salinas?

Just as a comparison, I would probably have paid 30 to 40 out of pocket for a housecall and medication for that. Dr. Rendon would have come over with his ubiqious tackle box aka Clinic in a Box. I would have been subjected to the heart, lungs, eyes, etc...tap tap check up. Depending on whether it was bacterial, fever etc. and considering I have an auto immune disorder (DES daughter here...anyone else?) he would give me 2 separate antibiotics (I am allergic to peenicillin so I need a gamma positive and gamma negative non penicillin antibiotic coverage. and if necessary he would order blood tests for the morning. He might anyway if it has been 6 months or more since my last blood tests. If I seem quite ill, he´ll order just a check for my white count and liver panel etc.and put off the check up blood test for later when I am well.

This cost would include his follow up to check the results the next day, the medications he gives me and of course anything else he finds he is concerned about (hmmm...I dont like the way this looks, ´let´s get it biopsied, or...you are looking a little yellow, let´s check your enzymes this week...

If he comes back to give me shots...damn I hat shots but they do work best... he´ll charge me a small mount for the visit and of course most medications and syringes together are perhaps $5 or $7 if that much (a tetanus tighter, that comes in its own syringe here is $4 and the nurse at the pharmacy can give you the shot)

Whisperer
  8/17/2014 09:55 EST

Hi Ecuadorjoe:

Would you please tell me what sort of things (meds) the Doctor gave you to get better.

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ecuadorjoe
  8/17/2014 10:03 EST

One injection of antibiotics and one injection against the high fewer. 500 mg cefalexina Analgan paracetamol.

ecuadorjoe
  8/17/2014 10:49 EST

Hello Ocean Hideway,

CruzBlanca web site www.CruzBlanca.com.ec
Marcelo Romeros email address:
[email protected]
Marcelo is Ejecutivo Comercial another words sales.
I found the big difference between CruzBlanca and other companies is that CruzBlanca does not have a cap for hospital visits if you need them, I think that I mentioned that they have hospitals and other facilities in Quito, Santa Domingo, Cuenca and Guayaquil in EC. and also once a person is insured in EC. they are automatically insured in Colombia. A house visit by the D.R. and nurse is $ 10.00 Hope this helps...

jensenhostals
  8/18/2014 13:12 EST

Hello, fellow ExPat,

My husband and I have been in Ecuador for about five years, and
feel it is time to check out the options there are in Ecuador for health insurance. You seem to be satisfied with your choice of Medical Insurance.

Please advise how we may be in contact with them.and add any other reasons why you recommend them so highly, if you will, please.

Garry and Linda Jensen

lorenzo123
  8/18/2014 14:33 EST

As a newbie to many things here, what are the requirements for getting involved with this? RIght now we live in the US and have medicare + cigna. When we come to EC, there must be some residency requirement ?? How do we handle the transition period ?

Thanks

ecuadorjoe
  8/18/2014 15:47 EST

Lorenzo123,

To the best of my knowledge there are 2 types of health insurance available in Ecuador one is the government insurance and the other is private insurance. For the government insurance I believe that there might be residency requirements but I am not sure. As far as private insurance is concerned the only requirement is to sign a contract with the insurance provider you like, no waiting.

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jensenhostals
  8/18/2014 15:53 EST

Thank you for the info. After living in Ecuador and owning a home now for 5 yrs. we are definitely residents. But we have no medical insurance, and would like to ask whether you have govt. or private health insurance, and why? Again, we appreciate your response.

Garry and Linda Jensen

ecuadorjoe
  8/18/2014 15:53 EST

The Jensens,

Please read my posts regarding the reason I like my insurance, but in the nutshell there are no limits on the coverage I found this only on this product. I also like to pay the $ 3.50 deductible. The contact information I posted at least twice here it is available. If you can not find it please let me know.

lorenzo123
  8/18/2014 16:30 EST

Any clue as to the cost of private health insurance ? I ASSUME that the CruzBlanca is government insurance given the prices, but what do I know?

Thanks

lorenzo123
  8/18/2014 17:43 EST

O K Here is what the newbie found

http://blog.pro-ecuador.com/a-view-from-the-roof-ecuador-health-care-and-insurance-offers-great-bargain/

Any comments ?

Gracias y'all

jensenhostals
  8/18/2014 23:13 EST

Lorenzo... this is excellent, and we appreciate you giving your time to help in this so much. My mother will be very glad to hear that we are finally doing something about this seriously! GOD/YAHWEH BLESS
YOU ABUNDANTLY!

Linda and Garry Jensen

lorenzo123
  8/19/2014 08:01 EST

I figure that we are all here to help each other and the engineer in me comes out and researches....

Larry

lorenzo123
  8/19/2014 09:46 EST

Here's a couple of other useful sites to get an idea of costs...

Cost of living in ....

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/city_result.jsp?country=Ecuador&city=Cuenca

Cost of TV/Internet/

http://www.grupotvcable.com/grupo/internet

Hwy101
  8/19/2014 14:23 EST

@ecuadorjoe,

www.crusblanca.com

I get: This webpage is not available
Reloading does not help...

*And remember, the 'Rest-of-Us' might not be as computer literate as you are...

lorenzo123
  8/19/2014 14:30 EST

The correct URL is www.cruzblanca.com.ec

the "ec" means ecuador

Larry

ecuadorjoe
  8/19/2014 17:49 EST

O.K. Larry,
Did I post an incorrect URL? If I did it was not on purpose, I am only a graduated engineer with a masters degree in Computer Science... I would also say since I am using this company's product I might know it well.

ecuadorjoe
  8/19/2014 18:03 EST

I apologize to everybody for the wrong URL re: CruzBlanca.... IT SHOULD BE WWW.CRUZBLANCA.COM.EC (Since I live in ECUADOR EC. STANDS FOR ECUADOR Although the company is actually based out of Colombia, so if you get insurance in Ecuador you are automatically covered in Colombia as well.

ecuadorjoe
  8/19/2014 18:08 EST

Just a bit more info:Marcelo Romero C.
Asesor Comercial
Tel: +593 (2) 2 556 445 Ext.201
Cel: +593 9 984072189
Avenida General Salazar E11-115 y Avenida 12 de Octubre
Quito, Ecuador
[email protected]

Hwy101
  8/20/2014 00:26 EST

Thank you Larry, for the Correct URL.

jaymo
  8/20/2014 16:00 EST

Forgive me a stupid question. These health plans all seem to reference Quito & Guayaquil. I'm just wondering if Cuencans have a similar plan, or if one gets stabilized & then moved to Quito or Guayaquil? Obviously, same question goes for smaller towns, but I did read the "Top of the World" piece that said if you're in Otavalo or Ibarra, you'd eventually get transported to Quito.

jensenhostals
  8/20/2014 16:26 EST

Hello, Expats in Ecuador! Would appreciate if someone who has insurance and lives in either Cuenca or Loja would tell us whether they receive treatment in those very cities? What names of insurance, if you would, please?

Also, we live in Catamayo, and would like to resolve the question of where we would receive medical treatment -- where to buy?... Over internet or sales people? Which kind of insurance to have living in Catamayo ? -- the wisest (reasonable) and best insurance for the money.
Great Day and Blessings to everyone!
Linda and Garry Jensen

ecuadorjoe
  8/20/2014 16:53 EST

jamo,

It is not a stupid question, the one I am using CruzBlanca are in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca and Santa Domingo but if it is an emergency you are covered at any doctor and any hospital in Ecuador. I am trying to stay away from this subject any more because originally I made a spelling mistake posting the URL for the company, for that I got crucified. But I kept reading your post so I am answering, most of this companies also offer or have ambulance service (automotive and helicopter at least CruzBlanca) to Quito and Gya.. because that is where the best hospital are in Ecuador.

satyarising
  8/20/2014 17:02 EST

My experience in Cuenca with two hospitals was that I felt the quality of medical care provided was superior to the care I was getting in the U.S. So I don't think one would very often need to leave Cuenca for even complex medical care. If there is the Guayaquil has some excellent hospitals and doctors as well. I'm a bit disappointed in the nurses (my original training was as a Registered Nurse, so I'm pretty picky about nursing care.) But most of the doctors I have met have been very thorough, knowledgeable, and highly skilled. I was pleasantly surprised. Bottom line: You don't have to go to Quito for medical care, unless there is something highly specialized. I don't know about transplants and such down here.

jensenhostals
  8/20/2014 17:44 EST

Hola, Satyarising!
Glad to hear from you! Amazing to hear you say that you feel the care is superior to U.S. Very encouraging for us, and we are definitely considering going ahead with CruzBlanco for insurance as it seems to be getting many star ratings. If you think of anything else to add, please do, and thank you so much!
Garry and Linda

ecuadorjoe
  8/20/2014 17:52 EST

Marcelo Romero C.
Asesor Comercial
Tel: +593 (2) 2 556 445 Ext.201
Cel: +593 9 984072189
Avenida General Salazar E11-115 y Avenida 12 de Octubre
Quito, Ecuador
[email protected]
Please contact the agent if you like, I am doing this for free. Please let me know if you like the insurance since I like it.

Regards,

Joseph Novak

EcuaGringo
  8/20/2014 18:29 EST

CruzBlanco does NOT cover ANY pre-existing conditions AT ALL. I found they out the hard way because they do not tell you this and when I asked they said they did. BEWARE!

ecuadorjoe
  8/20/2014 18:48 EST

Sorry, it is CruzBlanca not CruzBlanco I did this kind of error and got laugh at and people from US correcting my wrong URL. I hope you will be happy with the coverage and the price.

ecuadorjoe
  8/20/2014 18:53 EST

Therefore I said I do not have any preexisting conditions and I am covered. I am not here to protect any company or any person I am just sharing my Ecuadorian experience re: private insurance.

jensenhostals
  8/20/2014 21:58 EST

One more time, Joseph...
thanks for being a good neighbor. Everything helps to know about, esp. since I have had some trouble since I had three fractures of knee and foot over the past 2 1/2 years. P.S. I was the one who spelled Blanca wrong, not you! :)
shalom.

Linda & Garry

lional
  8/20/2014 23:09 EST

Cuenca has several good health plans that provide service in all parts of Ecuador. And offers good options for skilled medical care. It is not hard to understand that most of the hospitals, doctors, trauma centers and Specialist will be found in the major cities. That is also where the Medical schools are located. For the most part this is true in the US as well. Hard to find a major trauma center in Three Corners, IA but pretty easy in Chicago, Washington DC or New York City.

OceanHideaway
  8/21/2014 02:33 EST

So basically ecuadorjoe...you lied to get your health insurance?

...how´s that working for you...

ecuadorjoe
  8/21/2014 08:38 EST

Basically I did not lie to anybody. However I thought that I offered help to people that might need it. I am not going to discus my private life any more than this. When I came to Ecuador I had a few health issues: high cholesterol, high blood pressure and a bit overweight. My health insurance provider at the time was EHG after 4 months of being here in Ecuador the doctors at EHG run a complete test ECG blood tests, and found me completely healthy. Ocean Hideaway I am not going to give you a copy of the doctors report but I did give a copy of it to CruzBlanca when I changed the insurance provider from EHG because that was a lousy insurance company and did not pay for a finger surgery that was supposedly covered.

drbill
  8/24/2014 02:28 EST

Of course, OH, in your case you would have to consider the interactions with all of your SELF-prescribed psychiatric medications (which I can say since you so proudly "outed" yourself every chance you get. It gets quite complicated when overlayed with such a sociopathic personality disorder.

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