Medical cost and New York style pizza

At our apartment in Cuenca, Barbara and I sit across the table from each other to use our computers, do our planning, research and paper work. It seems that even though we share space, I wait until she posts on the blog to respond to her issues. That sounds about right, doesn't it ?

Barbara's last post was about the medical system in Cuenca but I think she left some things out - I hope I am still allowed my opinion. Here's the scoop - Barbara has one of the very best health insurance plans known to man ( only Congress has better ) but it doesn't apply in Ecuador. So what good is it ? It is a good point of reference. The fact is that she had a medical procedure here in Cuenca that she has had done in the U.S. many times. A process that determines her overall health and how she is doing managing her diabetes. The difference is the tests and lab work was all done by MDs and was way more extensive than in the U.S.. Normally taking 2 weeks the whole process was done in 24 hours, from 1st contact to prescription. Out of all this only the 1st consultation at the clinic was subsidized ( $6 ) the rest is all private business. Her prescription is name brand and the cost is 25% of Canadian prices, I forgot to say she paid less here for all of this than her co-pay would be in the states and her test results and ultra sound are her personal property.

Moving on - we have often said that you can find just about anything here that you are used to in the states, pizza isn't one of them. For the last 2 months we have been pointed to New York Pizza, well we finally found it. The only things New York about New York Pizza in Cuenca is a waitress who speaks a little english and New York prices.

We are finding there is a lot of misinformation being disseminated to gringos in Cuenca and it isn;t coming from Ecuadorians.