So I worked for a big health insurance company for 11 years. Of which 4 of those I worked in international claims.
We would get these claims from Mexico sometimes for people with terminal cancer.
The companies were U.S companies, some canadian. But clinics were in Mexico.
Ever see those commercials for “cancer treatment centers of America” where they promise new innovative and experimental treatments?
They used to run commercials all the time. Well all the facilities are all located in Mexico.
(Now it’s been about 6 years since I last worked there and maybe these companies don’t exist anymore. I hope not).
Anywho. We would get these medical claims in for literally a few million dollars.
For vitamin B shots.
Water exercises.
Massages.
Nothing innovative. No actual cancer treatments.
Just pain killers and vitamin B shots.
People would stay there for a month or two then die.
But that’s only part of the horror.
The cancer centers would not release the bodies of the person until the debt was paid.
Yeah they would hold them for ransom.
That’s why desperate people would try to get the u.s health insurance company to pay some of it. But we wouldn’t. Because 1. It’s considered medical tourism. And 2. It’s not considered legitimate health care.
We felt bad for the families whenever one of these claims came through. They would often submit it multiple times trying to get it paid. With letters begging us. Which is how we learned that these companies won’t release the body of the deceased until they were paid.
They have been sued many times but still going strong.
There are lots of them not just the one I mentioned.
So I worked for a big health insurance company for 11 years. Of which 4 of those I worked in international claims.
We would get these claims from Mexico sometimes for people with terminal cancer.
The companies were U.S companies, some canadian. But clinics were in Mexico.
Ever see those commercials for “cancer treatment centers of America” where they promise new innovative and experimental treatments?
They used to run commercials all the time. Well all the facilities are all located in Mexico.
(Now it’s been about 6 years since I last worked there and maybe these companies don’t exist anymore. I hope not).
Anywho. We would get these medical claims in for literally a few million dollars.
For vitamin B shots. Water exercises. Massages.
Nothing innovative. No actual cancer treatments.
Just pain killers and vitamin B shots.
People would stay there for a month or two then die. But that’s only part of the horror.
The cancer centers would not release the bodies of the person until the debt was paid.
Yeah they would hold them for ransom.
That’s why desperate people would try to get the u.s health insurance company to pay some of it. But we wouldn’t. Because 1. It’s considered medical tourism. And 2. It’s not considered legitimate health care.
We felt bad for the families whenever one of these claims came through. They would often submit it multiple times trying to get it paid. With letters begging us. Which is how we learned that these companies won’t release the body of the deceased until they were paid.
They have been sued many times but still going strong.
There are lots of them not just the one I mentioned.
https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/enforcement/ctca-agreed-to-pay-82-million-for-allegedly-violating-the-civil-monetary-penalties-law-by-paying-remuneration-to-physicians-for-referrals/
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/consumer-group-says-most-u-s-cancer-centers-use-misleading-n934041
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1878788/ Questionable cancer practices in Tijuana and other Mexican border clinics
Why is medical tourism not covered? Seems like they should be on board with cost saving