Coincidence, Just got this in my email today

Health: This is a Top Haven for Quality Care Overseas
By Edd Staton

Patty and Mike Grimm have been in Ecuador for nearly three years. During that time, "we have pretty much covered the gamut of medical care, including dentistry, eye exams and glasses, emergency rooms, colonoscopy, mammogram, gallbladder removal, treatment for ulcers (endoscopes), and serious back treatments," says Mike. "In each and every case, our care has been first class, with very caring and skilled medical practitioners. And it’s been a fraction of the cost of the U.S."

Over and over, expats praise Ecuadorean doctors who "put the patient first" and take time with their patients—up to 45 minutes for an office visit, if needed.

In Ecuador’s major cities—Quito, Cuenca, and Guayaquil—English-speaking doctors are fairly common, since many have gone to medical school in the U.S. These three cities are also where you’ll find Ecuador’s most modern hospitals and most of the medical specialists.

Costs are low—about 10% to 25% of what you’d pay in the U.S. For major surgeries, the cost is often less than 10%.

Expat Linn Smith, who lives in Cuenca, can attest to the low cost. She had an emergency appendectomy whose total cost—laparoscopic surgery, doctors, nurses, hospital, equipment, and medications—was only $1,200. "This same surgery can cost $40,000 to $60,000 in the U.S.," she says.


It’s no wonder, then, that 67% of expats are "self-insured"—pay as you go.

But insurance is available. In addition to international plans, you can choose an Ecuadorean health-insurance plan, which costs around $70 a month. Or you can choose a health plan offered by a private hospital.

Ecuador also has a public health-care system. In 2010 and 2011 the country spent millions of dollars to upgrade this system, and it now allows expats to join it. To qualify, expats must hold a residence visa and be between the ages of 18 and 60. The cost is $60 to $70 a month, and you must pay for three months before you can access regular care (one month for emergency care).

Under the public system, you have no choice of doctors and you must sometimes wait weeks for appointments. But coverage is comprehensive, with no deductible. You’ll be referred to a specialist if needed and transferred to a private hospital if you require special facilities—at no additional charge.

Most drugs are available without prescription, although they often have different brand names. The doctor or pharmacy can cross-reference the names.

"Services here are expanding, spurred in part by progress, U.S./European-trained doctors and the influx of expat arrivals," says expat Linda Walker.

"All of our physicians regularly attend Latin American, Stateside and worldwide seminars/conventions to keep abreast of the latest in their fields. You’ll now find dental state-of-the-art offices that rival any in the U.S."

do you by any chance have a direct link to this article? i'd like to share it with some co-workers. thank you!

eta: found it

http://internationalliving.com/2013/04/health-care-survey-the-best-havens-for-quality-care-overseas/

but it didnt have the great graphic the online version you found does. Interestingly, they send emails of parts of their articles from the previous month. Thanks for finding that!

Absolutely flawless, perfect.

That's the spirit!

Thank you, Catherina, great article, and important news posted to your thread below your O.P.

which has been shrieking its guts out regarding Latin American leftist leadership is beyond infuriating.

Where are the hysterical, obsessive headlines, the prissy bloodless wrecks on one hand, and the overactive, hopped up, rabid, sneering ass$$les who infest public conversation who could turn their ulcerous eyes on this domestic shrieking real calamity?

It would make a maggot gag.

As was stated in the article:

I was looking for something else and landed on this. I'm laughing my ass off lol. Freedom House is all in a tizzy that Correa tied their hands to disrupt, mislead, and agitate to stop Ecuador's populist progress. (Yeah, that article is quite revealing. We're wrecking this country, people, babies in hospitals can't get the critical nutrients they need to survive but we create a manufactured uproar over a manufactured toilet paper crisis to destabilize Venezuela. Profit over everyone, preemies included).

The two videos could go a long way toward bringing some of the unenlightened closer to having a grasp of what's actually been happening.

Wonderful getting the chance to see these videos.

Correa's got guts, more power to him, hoping for his well being, his country needs him.

Thanks for sharing! Correa is a great guy.

Here's one for the evening breeze