Buying health insurance is one of the most important things you must take off your “to-do list” before traveling or moving to México. In this blog, we will discuss the advantages of getting health insurance in Mexico, as well as the four major types of insurance options available to you.
If you want health insurance in Mexico right away, you can contact West Coast Global Insurance for advice and a free no-hassle quote.
Why Do You Need Mexico Health Insurance?
Travelers and expatriates in Mexico buy health insurance for several reasons. These include:
The first—and perhaps the most important reason—is that you get immediate access to quality healthcare services in Mexico if you get sick or injured. Despite Mexico’s excellent healthcare system, there is no guarantee that you will have quick and easy access to a good hospital or clinic unless you pay out of pocket or use Mexico health insurance. After all, public insurance programs back home, such as Medicaid and Medicare, provide limited benefits when traveling and living in Mexico.
For example, when receiving healthcare services through the Mexican Institute of Social Security (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social or “IMSS”), you must go to a local clinic assigned to you. If your assigned clinic cannot treat your medical condition or injury, you’ll be referred to another specialist or a larger hospital. When you have Mexico health insurance, you can pick a hospital (and even a doctor) of your choice. The waiting time is also significantly reduced.
Second, healthcare facilities in Mexico require an upfront payment. You must first pay before receiving medical treatment—or else, the hospital may refuse to treat you. This can be a critical concern in a life-or-death situation where every minute counts! In addition, if you are unable to pay your hospital bills, you may be denied permission to leave the hospital grounds.
Third, carrying a Mexico health insurance policy gives you peace of mind. When you get sick, you know you can go to a quality healthcare facility right away and have your insurance company cover all the costs.
It is strongly advised to buy Mexico health insurance while traveling to or living in Mexico as an expat for all of these reasons. And though Mexico has a new free healthcare system known as the Instituto de Salud para el Bienestar, or “INSABI,” it remains precarious and appears to be worsening as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
4 Major Types of Mexico Health Insurance Plans
- Single-Trip Global Medical Insurance: This type of travel medical insurance is designed for Americans visiting Mexico for anywhere between 5 and 365 days. This short-term policy covers accidents and illnesses up to the policy limits and includes emergency air evacuation—transportation to the nearest healthcare to treat the medical emergency.
- Multi-Trip Global Medical Insurance: This is a travel medical insurance policy designed for Americans who make multiple trips to Mexico in a year, with no trip lasting more than 90 days at a time. This policy covers accidents and illnesses up to the policy limits and includes emergency air evacuation—transportation to the nearest healthcare to treat the medical emergency.
- Expat Major Medical Insurance: This long-term health cover is designed for Americans who plan to stay in Mexico for at least six months. This policy includes emergency air evacuation—transportation to the nearest healthcare that can treat the medical emergency.
- Air Evacuation Protection Only: In a catastrophic medical emergency in Mexico, this policy provides Americans with an Air Ambulance. Optional travel medical benefits are available.
Feel free to contact West Coast Global Insurance to obtain free quotes for Mexico insurance online. You can also fill in this Health Questionnaire to determine your adequate level of coverage.