- Based on the information that is updated every year, a general medical consultation at the IMSS has a price of 831 pesos for outpatients.
- Regarding third-level services, the most expensive is the Hemodynamic Interventional Cardiology Procedure because it costs 46,208 pesos.
- On the other hand, in Médica Sur the first attention has a price of 110 pesos although for the following appointments a socioeconomic study must be completed.
Health is an item of vital importance because it is the basis that sustains any society. When well-being is lacking, other activities cannot be carried out and thus a problem that has no end is generated. In the case of our country, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) is one of the most important authorities, but Do you know what the price of a medical consultation is?
IMSS is not free
In this sense, a mistake that many people make is to think that their services are free. In reality, it works in a tripartite manner due to the contributions of workers, employers and the government.
With the above in mind, beneficiaries receive a discount on their salary every month, regardless of whether or not they use social security benefits. For the same reason, it is not exactly a free service.
Now, a very important aspect of its operation is that anyone can request all kinds of medical services. The difference is that all external workers must pay directly for the type of care they require.
Information regarding the price of services is available in the Official Journal of the Federation. The most recent version is that of 2021 and indicates that a general medical consultation at the IMSS costs 831 pesos.
For its part, the Stomatology service has a cost of 859 pesos and an emergency service 671. While within the first level the clinical laboratory study is the cheapest service because it costs 101 pesos. On the other hand, the most expensive is the intervention of tocosurgery because it has a value of 12 thousand 335.
On the other hand, in the second level units, the lowest cost is the clinical laboratory study because it costs 114 pesos. While a dialysis session costs 136 pesos and a pathology study costs 238 pesos. While the most expensive service is a day in intensive care because it has a value of 44 thousand 151 pesos. In this last item is where one of the largest increases is observed because last year it had a cost of 37 thousand 410 pesos.
Finally, in the IMSS third-level units, the cheapest service is also the Therapy Session/Occupational Reeducation with a cost of 115 pesos. It is followed by the clinical laboratory study with 185 pesos and the dialysis session with 136 pesos. At this level, the most expensive services are a surgical intervention with a cost of 40 thousand 517 pesos and the Hemodynamic Interventional Cardiology Procedure that costs 46 thousand 208 pesos.
What happens in private hospitals?
On the other hand, when comparing the price of a medical consultation at the IMSS with private institutions, there are great differences. For example, in Médica Sur it has a price of 110 pesos. With this, it can be seen that the difference is 800 percent.
This information becomes relevant when considering that Médica Sur is repeatedly considered as the best private hospital in Mexico. Not only for the quality of its service but also for its infrastructure and the level of its elements.
Another characteristic is that when the patient arrives for the first time, they must complete a socioeconomic study. This questionnaire must be filled out and delivered to the person in charge at the reception.
While something that should be considered is that the price mentioned only corresponds to the first consultation. To continue with a follow-up appointment, a socioeconomic study must be completed.
The questions allow estimating the socioeconomic level to which the patient’s household belongs. Its purpose is to determine the costs that laboratory studies and medical services will have for each person. With the above in mind, although the price of the consultation is fixed, if additional attention or follow-up is required, the costs vary. It all depends on the possibilities of each patient.