Written by Stephanie Carmon
The other day I stopped by Hospital Faro del Mayab, the newest specialty hospital in Merida. If you live in Merida, I am sure you have seen it on your way to the new shopping mall La Isla. It is a prominent multi-floor modern building and has been a point of curiosity for many a passer-by. After much anticipation, they are almost ready to open their doors and are fully equipped to offer a variety of medical services. I met with Chief Medical Director Jose Luis Araujo Barrera and he informed me that there are over 200 doctors and specialists at the hospital. Nearly ninety of their doctors are fluent in English and several speak other languages. Their focus is to cater to all needs and demographics in Merida.
A notable advantage of Faro Hospital is that it accepts virtually all insurances from abroad. The administration works with a company called Amexcare, a Mexican-American company based in Houston that handles all the logistics and bureaucracy of foreign insurance claims. Amexcare facilitates medical coverage and helps foreigners–visiting or living here–use their insurance from back home to get cashless medical services at various hospitals in Mexico including four in Merida. In Merida, Amexcare works with Hospital Faro del Mayab, Hospital CEM Centro de Especialidades Médicas del Sureste, Onkort, and soon to open EME RED Hospital. If foreign insurance holders have a condition that cannot be treated in Merida, or if they are going to another part of Mexico, it is also possible to get cashless services and their insurance company will get billed directly by the hospital that in Amexcare’s Network. Amexcare also works with hospitals in Mexico City, Queretaro, SMDA, Leon, Celaya, Guanajuato, Merida, Progresso, Veracruz, Puebla, Monterrey, Reynosa, Saltillo, Guadalajara, Chapala, Ajijic, San Luis Potosi, Aguascalientes, Mexicali, Ensenada, Tijuana, La Paz, Mazatlan, and Culiacan.
The hospitals mentioned above work with all foreign health/travel/ex-pat/veteran insurances from US, Canada, Europe, Asia, e.t.c., including, but not limited to, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, United Health, Allianz USA, Best Doctors, Tricare and VA (Veterans Affairs).
What Amexcare suggests is that each person with foreign insurance contact the Amexcare representative (contact below) directly in order to find out the specific details on whether or not their insurance is accepted at the hospitals here. Once the insurance is verified, they will help the patient set up appointments with complying doctors and hospitals. The representative will even give their cell phone number so that in case of an emergency, one can call and the representative will inform the hospital about the incoming patient and coverage.
As we all know, Merida is quickly becoming a major city in Mexico. It seems with each month there are more and more services that make it easier for an ex-pat or foreigner to live here without so much bureaucratic hassle. Many foreigners can get Mexican insurance with no problem; however, the dilemma is there is the initial waiting period of 1-4 years for full coverage. The service that the above-mentioned hospitals and Amexcare are offering could potentially be very beneficial to a lot of people. To see if your insurance accepted at these select medical centers, check the contacts below.
For more information in English:
Amexcare vob@amexcare.com
Office: 55 5941 4724 (Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM)
Greetings. We are considering a move to Merida. We have Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance currently and would like to know of any providers that accept it.
Thank you.