Knee surgery in Leon or Queretaro?

[Izzenhood]

Greetings from Colorado.

I need arthroscopic surgery for meniscus repair and since I have such a high deductible I am considering surgery in Mexico.

My research shows that Cinica Queretaro does knee surgery, but possibly only knee replacement.

I see that both Leon and Queretaro have a Hospital Angeles.
Is Angeles recommended? If so Leon vs Queretaro?

After a week of rehab near the clinic or hospital I'm hoping to spend a few weeks in Guanajuato City.

I am familiar with GTO, having spent a month there in 2006, I loved the place, hence my inquiry about Leon or Queretaro.

Any advice, positive or negative is appreciated.

thanks

[Mel?mana]

Good idea! I had a total hip replacement in Le?n 10 months ago after five totally crippling years, and since the day following surgery, I've been in seventh heaven! My surgeon is a well-known genius and the cost was affordable. Most operate in your choice of hospitals - Angeles being the most over-priced imaginable. I was in Aranda de la Parra, the best one I've encountered in my life. After 13 years in Mexico, I did NOT want to be operated on in Canada, even though it was almost free. Treatment, recovery, etc., was wonderful and if you Google my MD's name you'll get the picture. So, here it is: Dr. Jes?s Rodolfo Palazuelos G?mez, (477)718 3407, He's a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and all his patients, from knees to necks, LOVE him. Hope this helps.

[meroberts]

I went to the same Doctor that "Mel?mana" recommended to me as well. He was wonderful. He has extensive knowledge and experience in this matter. I need to have hip replacement surgery. He charged me $500 pesos for the consultation and $350 for X-Rays. The cost of the surgery would be $25,000 USD to include the 20% that would cover the deductible from my Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Plan. Medicare does not pay for any procedures done in Mexico.

However, I would have to pay all of it up front as BCBS does not pay in advance. One, I do not have that kind of money laying around and two, if for some reason BCBS ends up not approving it, I would not recover the money for the loan.

Then I tried Seguro Popular. They would do the surgery for free, however I would have to provide my own replacement hip at a cost of $4,000 USD. Again, I don?t have that kind of money. So my only option now is to go back to Pueblo, Co or Maryland, where my children live in order to have the surgery paid by Medicare and BCBS at no additional cost to me whatsoever as I will be covered by both insurance in full by having the surgery in the US.

I hope this gives you another perspective and you are better informed of the options that you may have when you get here. If you?d like to discuss this further, please send me an e-mail at: mer.gtomx@yahoo.com or call me toll free at: 1 877 225 2154.

Best regards,

Martha E. Roberts
www.casa-roberts.com
www.mexicanliving.us
Guanajuato, Gto., MX

[McMurphy_RP]

Thanks - this is all great information.

I'm a little confused about the financials involved. Mel?mana, what was the cost of your surgery?

[Izzenhood]

Thanks for the Doctor recommendation. Leon would be more convenient to GTO than Queretero so I will look in to it. I will have an MRI here in the states next week so will be able to provide my procedure code to the Doctor in Leon.

Meroberts
Perhaps I misread your post. Did you say that you were quoted $25000 US for the procedure to be done in Mexico? I realize that a hip replacement would be very expensive but that figure suprised me. Not that I have any inkling how much it would cost. I just thought it might be cheaper in Mx.

Mel?mana
I speak very little spanish. Do you think having the work done at Aranda de la Parra vs Hospital Angeles would make any difference due to the language barrier? Most importantly, does the Doctor you recommended speak english?

Thanks for the advice

[McMurphy_RP]

I can't speak to surgical costs in Mexico, but I've had arthroscopic surgery on both knees and it's a walk in the park compared to a hip replacement. It doesn't make sense to extrapolate costs from one to the other.

[Izzenhood]

Sorry to stray from my original inquiry, from a little google research I can see that a hip replacement would probably cost 25K US in Mexico.

But to return to my initial inquiry in this post, Doctor, hospital, or clinic recommendations, near Guanajuato, are still appreciated. The Doctor in Leon recommended sounds promising. Also from what I see from the medical tourism site, there are shorter waiting times for surgery in Mx compared to the US, which is a big consideration for me.

thanks again