“Kathleen, after receiving your e-mails for more than a year, I asked to be removed from your mailing list, as we decided we were content with our little abode on Vancouver Island.
“Then, lo and behold, your letters started arriving again, after a year. I’m not sure why. At first, I was having them go into the spam folder. But I have now moved them into my e-mail inbox and again look forward to reading them each day. Thanks!”
— John P., Canada
Welcome back!
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“Kathleen, I was reading your recent e-letter containing a letter from a reader commenting on her experiences with the costs of medical care in Panama, and I thought I would let you know about my recent experience going to the dentist in this country.
“I found out at my exam that I needed not one but two root canals, so I made an appointment for the next day to have the work done. Keep in mind that I am 60 years old and have never had a root canal before. Now I find myself living in Panama and asking myself, ‘Do I want to go to the dentist here or do I want to try to live with the pain and wait until I go back to the States to see a dentist there?’
“I chose to go to the dentist in Panama, and I am very glad I did. It was the best experience I have ever had at the dentist. The root canals took about two hours, and I have to say there was no pain. The hardest part was holding my mouth open for two hours. The best part was the bill. Each root canal cost US$400.
“I talked to my sister in California last night, and she had just come from the dentist because she needed a root canal. It cost her US$1,200 for one. So my US$400 was a pretty good deal.
“I found out that I need a crown, as well. It will cost another US$400, compared with the US$800 my sister had to pay in the States.
“Bottom line, total cost for a root canal and crown in Panama is US$800. The total cost for my sister’s root canal and crown in California was US$2,000. Not a bad deal.
“Plus, my mouth has not felt this good in a long time. I can now eat ice cream without it killing me because of the cold!”
— Gary M., Panama
