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Does anyone know of the least expensive pharmacy in Rosarito Beach area to fill prescriptions written by local Mexican Doctors? Does the WalMart store in Rosarito have a pharmacy?

Originally Posted by larry

Does anyone know of the least expensive pharmacy in Rosarito Beach area to fill prescriptions written by local Mexican Doctors? Does the WalMart store in Rosarito have a pharmacy?

Hi Larry. We use the Gusher pharmacy on Benito Juarez Blvd. To get the best price bring a small passport-sized photo with you and they will give you a discount card to use your first visit. Gushers is on the west side of the street a block north of the Ortegas Buffet. They have a small parking lot with a guard.

Doesn't Rosarito have a Costco? Maybe not.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

Doesn't Rosarito have a Costco? Maybe not.

nope. not yet anyway.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

Hi Larry. We use the Gusher pharmacy on Benito Juarez Blvd. To get the best price bring a small passport-sized photo with you and they will give you a discount card to use your first visit. Gushers is on the west side of the street a block north of the Ortegas Buffet. They have a small parking lot with a guard.

Thanks, we will give it a try. Does the WalMart have a pharmacy?

Originally Posted by Woooosh

nope. not yet anyway.

We're big time. Costco...AND Sam's Club.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

We're big time. Costco...AND Sam's Club.

That's the Costco in Ensenada? Are their pharmacy prices worth the drive from Rosarito?

Originally Posted by larry

That's the Costco in Ensenada? Are their pharmacy prices worth the drive from Rosarito?

I can only compare with prices from an independent pharmacy. Much less.
There's a Costco in TJ much closer to Rosarito than Ensenada.
Of course, there's a Walmart in Rosarito. I'd try that first.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

I can only compare with prices from an independent pharmacy. Much less.
There's a Costco in TJ much closer to Rosarito than Ensenada.
Of course, there's a Walmart in Rosarito. I'd try that first.

Costco may have better prices, not sure and I'm not a WalMart shopper. There is a privacy issue with CostCo. Your Mexico pharmaceutical purchases are connected in their database to your CostCo membership number. The prying eyes of insurance companies, employers and anyone else who would check your background could potentially access it. For example- If you are claiming to be a non-smoker and drinker for health insurance rates- it's a risk to put cigarette and booze purchases on a CostCo or Credit Card. If you are batshit crazy and need to get your psych meds in Mexico for privacy reasons, don't use your CostCo card. jmho

I had heard that the Costco's in TJ and Ensenada were owned by the same Corporation that owns Commercial Mexicana Markets? I doubt very much that purchases from Costco pharmacies in Mexico would lead a trail back to an employer? Even in Mexico, I think there must be some privacy legislation. Without a subpoena in the USA, the US Government could not obtain any purchase records from Costco or any other company.

[QUOTE=larry;36680]I had heard that the Costco's in TJ and Ensenada were owned by the same Corporation that owns Commercial Mexicana Markets? QUOTE]

Not any more. I have a link somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.



The Seattle Times
Winner of a 2012 Pulitzer Prize
Business / Technology
Originally published Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 5:54 PM

Costco buys out partner's stake in Mexican division

Costco Wholesale is buying the 50 percent stake held by Controladora Comercial Mexicana in its Mexican division for about $760.4 million. The deal might lead Costco to put more money into its Mexican operations.

By Seattle Times news services

Costco Wholesale is buying the 50 percent stake held by Controladora Comercial Mexicana in its Mexican division for about $760.4 million, the companies announced Thursday.

Costco and Controladora have each had a 50 percent interest in Costco de Mexico, which Costco Wholesale ran.

At the same time, Costco Mexico declared a dividend of approximately $340.9 million, which will be split evenly between a Costco Wholesale subsidiary and Controladora.

Costco Wholesale said it will use its share of the dividend along with cash on hand and investment balances to pay for the acquisition.
The buyout will consolidate control under the management of Issaquah-based Costco Wholesale and give Mexico City-based Controladora cash to pay down debt.

The joint venture has grown little in recent years, so Costco Wholesale will probably put more money into its Mexican operations, said Carlos Hernandez, an analyst with Planet Retail in Madrid.

"Costco hasn't grown that much in Mexico," Hernandez said.

"Controladora didn't have money to expand its own stores let alone the joint-venture stores with Costco. Now, Costco can expand into other cities."

Costco Wholesale has 32 stores in Mexico, the same number it had in 2009, Hernandez said.

Janney Capital Markets analyst David Strasser said he expects the deal will add 10 to 12 cents per share to Costco Wholesale's earnings over the next twelve months, and he raised his estimates based on the announcement.

Stifel Nicolaus analyst David Schick was bullish on the long-term prospects for business in Mexico

Costco Mexico CEO Jaime Gonzalez Solana will remain in the post and Controladora Chairman Guillermo Gonzalez Nova and CEO Carlos Gonzalez Zabalegui will continue as board members.

The deal still needs the approval of Controladora shareholders and the Mexican Federal Competition Commission.

Costco Wholesale runs 602 warehouses, including 435 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 82 in Canada, 22 in the United Kingdom, 13 in Japan, eight in Taiwan, seven in South Korea and three in Australia.

Its stock closed Thursday at $89.83, up $2.40, or 2.7 percent. It has had a 52-week trading range of $70.22 to $92.10 per share.

(Information from The Associated Press and Bloomberg News is included in this report.)






© 2013

Originally Posted by larry

Does anyone know of the least expensive pharmacy in Rosarito Beach area to fill prescriptions written by local Mexican Doctors? Does the WalMart store in Rosarito have a pharmacy?

Yes the Walmart in Rosarito has a decent pharmacy with many well known brands like pfizer. Although, IMO Comercial (la comer) has the same or better quality with lower prices. There's also calimex which is cheaper than the other two but the quality of their meds is not as good.

The only time I have ever needed a script in Mexico was for antibiotics. They're also required for narcotics like vicodin and percocet.

The law is still the law. No personal medical information to government agencies without a subpoena. My experience is 40 yrs. in law enforcement.

Originally Posted by larry

The law is still the law. No personal medical information to government agencies without a subpoena. My experience is 40 yrs. in law enforcement.

It's the private sector that concerns me. A prescription purchase using a CostCo membership card is not "medical information", it is a retail sale with an item SKU number and bar code linked to your membership ID. Sadly, most people have unknowingly given up their right to privacy and related searches in the fine print of their health/life insurance policy application. Most applications say they can check everything about you before underwriting approves you. They don't need to break the law with your permission. Just use a prepaid debit card or cash.

I respectfully disagree. Personal prescriptions are personal medical information and can not be obtained without a subpoena legally. If you have personal experience to the contrary, I would like to be the attorney to represent you, especially if the defendant was a large Corporation with deep pockets such as Costco.

Originally Posted by larry

I respectfully disagree. Personal prescriptions are personal medical information and can not be obtained without a subpoena legally. If you have personal experience to the contrary, I would like to be the attorney to represent you, especially if the defendant was a large Corporation with deep pockets such as Costco.

OK. You win. My medical shopping history is private from all prying eyes without a subpoena. But I trust that to be true in real life as much as I trust the IRS to not target the Tea party. Pay cash or use a debit card for all purchases you want kept private and you'll sleep better.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

Costco may have better prices, not sure and I'm not a WalMart shopper. There is a privacy issue with CostCo. Your Mexico pharmaceutical purchases are connected in their database to your CostCo membership number. The prying eyes of insurance companies, employers and anyone else who would check your background could potentially access it. For example- If you are claiming to be a non-smoker and drinker for health insurance rates- it's a risk to put cigarette and booze purchases on a CostCo or Credit Card. If you are batshit crazy and need to get your psych meds in Mexico for privacy reasons, don't use your CostCo card. jmho

Craig........where did this info come from???.....do you have a link or back-up documentation???

Would be interesting to ask a stateside COSTCO/Pharmacy if this info is correct.

Originally Posted by Teniente

Craig........where did this info come from???.....do you have a link or back-up documentation???

Would be interesting to ask a stateside COSTCO/Pharmacy if this info is correct.

What I know is I have received postcards from Costco regarding past purchases. One was a meat recall (hamburger patties) they traced back to me because I purchased that item a month earlier. So I know they have a searchable database to match everything purchased in a CostCo to the exact member who purchased it. Whether or not this extends to the purchase of pharmaceutical items, I do not know. Perhaps only the item number and purchase amount would show- not the name of the drug itself. If Costco was to be informed about a drug recall, I have no doubt they could match all their sales to their member-customers who purchased it, and notify them.

I don't doubt Larry is correct that a health or life insurance company would need a subpoena to force Costco to release the information. My point is the fine print on the insurance applications people sign gives them your permission to get all your medical history (by subpoena or whatever means they decided to take) to validate your application information and underwrite your policy. They also search social media. btw

This is general info on Life Insurance:

"When you apply for life insurance, an underwriter will consider multiple factors before offering you a policy: your age, gender, occupation, financial status, risky pastimes, lifestyle (particularly tobacco, alcohol and drug use), face amount of the policy and your health. Then, armed with actuarial tables drawn from the company's claims history, the underwriter will place you in a risk class based on the likelihood that you will expire before your policy matures, thus forcing the company to take a loss on you. Naturally, the higher the face value of your policy, the closer the underwriter will scrutinize your health."

Read more: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/insu...#ixzz2Ut7K86Ai
Follow us: @Bankrate on Twitter | Bankrate on Facebook

And here is you signing your privacy away:

The only time I have ever needed a script in Mexico was for antibiotics. They're also required for narcotics like vicodin and percocet.

I have bought antibiotics numerous times in TJ, and have never needed a prescription. Narcotics on the other hand, are another ball game, and I wouldn't even attempt it. Although I do know someone who bought them without a prescription, and brought them back across the border without a problem.

Originally Posted by tjsue

The only time I have ever needed a script in Mexico was for antibiotics. They're also required for narcotics like vicodin and percocet.

I have bought antibiotics numerous times in TJ, and have never needed a prescription. Narcotics on the other hand, are another ball game, and I wouldn't even attempt it. Although I do know someone who bought them without a prescription, and brought them back across the border without a problem.

The antibiotics thing is a recent requirement although everything is available for a price.
Narcotics? That's a different story. A major scrip in triplicate is required to buy them and few Farmacias carry them anyway.
Out here at the "Bufadora Mall," it's all available without a scrip, but it's all bogus. Counterfiet drugs. Anything for the tourists.....and my gullible neighbor, who swears he walks into the store and buys Percodan. In the states, they call Percodan, "Junior Junk." Very serious stuff.