Healthcare in Mexico

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Mexico's Healthcare for Retirees, Expats and Digital Nomads

Why move to Mexico? Mexico Free Country GuideHealthcare in Mexico

Mexico’s healthcare system is commendable, ranked at an impressive #61 on the global healthcare index of the World Health Organization. When living in Mexico, expats can anticipate top-notch medical care and services with relative ease. If you are planning to retire there, rest assured that you will benefit from a wide array of quality hospitals located throughout medium or large cities across the country. Moreover, healthcare expenses tend to be less than half as much (or even lower) compared to those in the United States – likewise for prescription drugs manufactured within Mexico itself! 

If you live and work in the country, contributing to national healthcare is a must through the IMSS system. With both temporary or permanent residency status of Mexico, you have access to the same scheme. The only potential obstacle could be language-related; specifically when signing up for IMSS – if your Spanish skills are insufficient, it may be wise to seek help with completing all the necessary paperwork requirements.

Healthcare in Mexico for expats can be a tricky subject to navigate. It is important to understand the healthcare system in the country before deciding whether healthcare in Mexico is right for you.

Mexico has both public and private healthcare options available. The public healthcare system, known as Seguro Popular, is provided by the Mexican government and is widely accessible throughout the country. It provides basic healthcare coverage, including preventative care, vaccinations, hospital stays, and surgeries. However, it does not cover many services such as specialty care and certain medications.

Private healthcare in Mexico has been steadily growing over the years and provides much better coverage than Seguro Popular. While this type of healthcare generally costs more than public healthcare plans, there are some significant benefits that come with it such as no long wait times for appointments or procedures and access to more specialized care providers. Private healthcare plans also tend to offer more comprehensive coverage for medications and treatments that are not covered by Seguro Popular.

Cancun, Mexico Tropical beach world-class tourist infrastructure and resorts

When considering healthcare in Mexico for expats and digital nomads, it is important to consider all your options so that you can make an informed decision about your health needs and budget. Your best bet may be to purchase a combination of private insurance plan along with some sort of supplemental coverage from Seguro Popular. This will ensure that you have comprehensive coverage while still keeping costs down when possible. Additionally, it is wise to research any restrictions or exclusions that could affect your ability to receive certain treatments or services while living abroad in Mexico.

Overall, healthcare in Mexico can provide expats with quality medical care at an affordable cost if they take the time understand their options fully before making a decision on which plan works best for them.

Traveling to 🇲🇽 Mexico soon?

I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:

🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!

✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.

🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.

🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.

🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.

🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.

📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.

☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.