Don't leave home without your Lifesaver Card


By Ronald W. Jensen

Special to The Baja Times



Americans living in Mexico should know about the Binational Emergency Medical Care Committee: a reputable non-profit organization that will get them out of Mexico in case of a life-threatening medical emergency. Based in Chula Vista, California, the organization cost $45 to join. Membership includes the following services and benefits:

•A Lifesaver Card you can carry in your wallet that allows you to call collect anywhere in Mexico, 24 hours a day to activate emergency assistance in case of a sudden illness or accident.

•Expert coordination of your emergency evacuation from Mexico via land or air ambulance transport.

•Bilingual support staff on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

•Bilingual legal assistance.

•10% discount on auto insurance with Instant Mexico Auto Insurance Services.

•Annual membership renewal for a discounted price of $40.

As soon as your call is received, the Binational Emergency Care Committee – known by the acronym BEMCC – will immediately assist you in obtaining proper medical care while working on your safe return to the United States. By becoming a member, BEMCC will have all the information that is needed for your safe return.

Your personal information such as your Social Security number, health insurance information, and emergency contact is kept in BEMCC's secure database and is accessible only by the bilingual BEMCC staff. This information is crucial to arrange your evacuation to the United States when you are involved in a medical emergency in Mexico. This information is kept strictly confidential and is never sold or used for marketing purposes, according to Celia Diaz, the director and founder of BEMCC.

Your medical insurance will be billed for the cost of the actual transport plus any other medical service fees. BEMCC does not pay for the transport service. BEMCC coordinates the emergency evacuation. They eliminate the uncertainty and confusion during a medical emergency, she explained.

As a retired paramedic now living in Mexico, I have personally used and benefited from these services on numerous occasions. The organization has contacts ranging from Mexico City to Washington D.C., and it works closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. consulates and numerous Mexican federal, state, and regional public safety agencies to facilitate the safe and timely return of sick and injured Americans traveling or living in Mexico.

Members can call collect from anywhere in Mexico 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to activate emergency medical or legal assistance. That number is: 619-425-5080.

You may also apply online or renew your current membership and pay with a credit card. All applications processed online will be active once BEMCC obtains credit card confirmation from their credit card merchant services organization. Your BEMCC Lifesaver Card will be sent to you via the US postal service.

The online address is: bemcc@bemcc.org

Jensen is a former Mexico correspondent for United Press International and other U.S. new agencies. Email address: bajaronjens@live.com