Newcomer Prices - Health Insurance

[TrevorOD]

With some talk in the other thread about prices, I thought it might be useful to provide an extract of some of the information the lovely girls in Personal in my office gave me this week - for 3 of the larger health service providers, monthly prices in pesos. The name of the plan is in italics (left) with the prices on the right. The prices are effective this month (August 2012), as I understand.

Apologies in advance for the formatting.

ASE - Swiss Medical
SB03 381,80 PO03 410,00
SB04 414,00 PO04 453,00
SB62 493,00 PO62 580,00
SB63 519,00 PO63 637,00

ASE - Simeco
Hasta 36 años (up to 36 years of age)
AZUL 246,00
25 317,00
30 359,00
40 499,00

36 a 50 años (between 36 - 50 years of age)
AZUL 322,00
25 402,00
30 463,00
40 647,00

Hijos menores de 21 (children less than 21)
AZUL 120,00
25 130,00
30 161,00
40 240,00

OSDE
Hasta 25 años (up to 25 years of age)
210 492,00
310 641,00
410 855,00

De 26 a 35 años (between 26 and 35 years of age)
210 737,00
310 961,00
410 1269,00

Mas de 36 años (over 36 years of age)
210 1009,00
310 1305,00
410 1784,00

1° hijo (1st child)
210 326,00
310 434,00
410 564,00

desde 2° hijo (2nd child onwards)
210 150,00
310 173,00
410 226,00

 

[StiveCosae]

Because the title of this thread deals with the subject of medical insurance I am posting an edited version of a post I made last night in the "Argentina: in or out?" thread. The information about health insurance in that thread might not be read by some members who would benefit from it:

My Medicus Plan Azul has no deductibles or co-payments and I don't need to get pre-authorizations for doctor visits or general services prescribed by the doctor such as annual blood tests, xrays, ultrasound, etc. I just show my card and sign a form.

I Switched from Omint to Swiss (paying $600/month) in 2008 when Omint went up to $800 pesos per month and from Swiss to Medicus a few months later when I found the expat group discount and was paying Medicus $350 per month in late 2008. The rate has increased by 25% per year and is about to increase by that much again by the end of the year. If the top rate for Swiss Medical is still close to $600 pesos today it is a very good deal. I chose Swiss (briefly) not only because of price but location as well. That was when I was living in Recoleta on Arenales near Junin. The Swiss clinics were just a few blocks from my apartment. I don't remember if Swiss offered the option to use other hospitals.

I liked the Medicus facilities in Recoleta and Belgano much more than Omint's Clinica Del Sol in Palermo....and I had the option to use hospital Aleman, Italia, or Britanico if needed. I originally en rolled in Omint because Clinica del Sol was close to my rented apartment in Palermo and my Argentine girlfried would have put me in the hospital if I had joined any other plan.

I am paying less than $15 pesos per month for a basic dental plan with Medicus and I also have travel insurance as well (only for emergencies). As previously posted the rate will increase next month by 15% and later this year by an additional 10%. All ages to 70 pay the same rate, and anyone under 68 and one half years of age can enroll. I enrolled at age 58 and my premiums have increased by the same amount as everyone else in the plan...even if they are twenty, thirty, or forty yeas younger than I am.

 

[earlyretirement]

With some talk in the other thread about prices, I thought it might be useful to provide an extract of some of the information the lovely girls in Personal in my office gave me this week - for 3 of the larger health service providers, monthly prices in pesos. The name of the plan is in italics (left) with the prices on the right. The prices are effective this month (August 2012), as I understand.

Apologies in advance for the formatting.

ASE - Swiss Medical
SB03 381,80 PO03 410,00
SB04 414,00 PO04 453,00
SB62 493,00 PO62 580,00
SB63 519,00 PO63 637,00

ASE - Simeco
Hasta 36 años (up to 36 years of age)
AZUL 246,00
25 317,00
30 359,00
40 499,00

36 a 50 años (between 36 - 50 years of age)
AZUL 322,00
25 402,00
30 463,00
40 647,00

Hijos menores de 21 (children less than 21)
AZUL 120,00
25 130,00
30 161,00
40 240,00

OSDE
Hasta 25 años (up to 25 years of age)
210 492,00
310 641,00
410 855,00

De 26 a 35 años (between 26 and 35 years of age)
210 737,00
310 961,00
410 1269,00

Mas de 36 años (over 36 years of age)
210 1009,00
310 1305,00
410 1784,00

1° hijo (1st child)
210 326,00
310 434,00
410 564,00

desde 2° hijo (2nd child onwards)
210 150,00
310 173,00
410 226,00

Ah, I thought with all the annual increases with inflation it would be more than this. This looks to be about what we were paying (maybe a bit more) last year.

We had the OSDE 410 plan. I had heard that there were raises or maybe they were planning on raising them 25%. But those prices seem what we paid last year.

We had the 410 with one adult 26-35. One adult over 36 and two kids.

Now with the higher blue rate rather than the white rate it IS more affordable. Here in the USA with a top plan for individual coverage (outside of your employer) we are paying these prices below (all prices in US dollars):

Over 36 years old: $430

26 to 35 years old: $354

Kids (both under 5 years old): $246 each.

We have a similar plan to the OSDE 410 which I consider one of the best in Argentina. This will give you perspective on cost differences between Argentina and the USA.

 

[CarliNeces]

On another note, is it possible to avail/pay for US medical insurance if you are not a US citizen or resident ?

 

[earlyretirement]

On another note, is it possible to avail/pay for US medical insurance if you are not a US citizen or resident ?

At least with the ones I looked into you had have permanent residency. Maybe there are some out there where this isn't the case but I remember looking into it a few years ago when I was shopping health insurance and my wife had to wait until she had her green card for most of them.

I recall one of them (I can't remember which one) would allow her to just use her ITIN # in lieu of a social security #.

Anyone can apply for an ITIN number but you should really investigate it and get everything in writing and not trust them over the phone. Because insurance companies are notorious for denying claims later. They will try to weasel out on paying if there are any major emergencies and they can find an out.

 

[RichardOne]

Interesting discussion,

OSDE 210 Health Plan for 65+ requires a battery of tests, then must be approved by the Council, provides no coverage for pre-existing illness, and a period of several months before you can make any claims. The estimate given, if approved was $2,500 arg. (July 2012 values)