It’s perfectly normal to ask about health care costs and conditions in Mexico when traveling or deciding to settle abroad. In most cases, when traveling or expatriating abroad, it is highly recommended to find out about the vaccinations recommended in the country in question. What’s more, it’s essential to take out expatriate health insurance tailored to your needs, for optimum coverage in the event of illness or hospitalization.
In Mexico, you’ll find both public and private hospitals. Public hospitals offer free care, but most can only treat people enrolled in one of Mexico’s federal or state health programs, such as IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social) or ISSSTE (Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado). The public system includes its own hospitals, doctors, health centers and pharmacies. In the Mexican healthcare system, costs can quickly mount up, so it’s best to have solid expatriate health insurance for optimum peace of mind.
Vaccinations
Vaccination against yellow fever is imperative for people coming from countries where the disease still exists. This is not the case for people coming from Europe, but it is still strongly recommended. There are no compulsory vaccinations when you decide to visit Mexico. We also recommend vaccination against hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, rabies, tetanus, poliomyelitis and typhoid.
Please note: in Mexico, many public clinics provide vaccinations against rabies, tetanus and other diseases, free of charge, even for foreigners, should the need arise, for example, if you are bitten by a dog during your stay. This type of situation can happen during a trip, so travel health insurance in Mexico seems very important.
Health costs
For standard medicine, pediatrics and certain specialties, costs remain affordable, but for certain types of care, the bill can quickly rise. This is the case, for example, if you need a complete check-up or emergency hospitalization.
As you can see, dental care in Mexico is relatively inexpensive. Some expatriates and travelers therefore prefer to carry out their dental care locally. However, care must be taken when choosing a dentist. In addition, you may need to take out appropriate expatriate health insurance to obtain reimbursement.
Hospitals in Mexico
Doctors in Mexico are qualified and competent, so you needn’t worry about the quality of care provided in most hospitals in Mexico’s major cities, such as Mexico City or Monterrey, for example. Rural areas, on the other hand, tend to lack hospitals. Travel to a care center will be necessary, and in the event of complications or accidents, transfer to a larger city will be required. The fact that there is little access to care in rural areas creates tensions and long waiting lists in big city hospitals.
Private hospitals, though expensive, will give you access to better health care and faster treatment. In big cities like Cancún, for example, most doctors and nurses speak English. Private clinics also have more modern equipment.
In Mexico, private clinics and hospitals tend to accept only those with financial guarantees, even if you have expatriate health insurance. You’ll also have to pay the bills before leaving the hospital, so you’ll have to pay in advance and then be reimbursed by your insurance company. In some cases, your expatriate health insurance may pay the hospital directly before you leave.
Medical insurance in Mexico and international insurance
When you land a job in Mexico, you’ll need to enroll in a government health program, such as IMSS or ISSSTE. However, the majority of Mexicans opt for private health insurance, as the public system is often overburdened, sometimes leading to long delays in obtaining care. In the private system, you’ll benefit from a much faster consultation. What’s more, some employers may offer company agreements with insurance organizations, sometimes offering advantageous health contracts.
When moving abroad, we strongly recommend that you take out private international health insurance. This will give you the freedom to choose your own doctors and medical establishments. What’s more, it guarantees 100% coverage of your healthcare costs, with no additional out-of-pocket expenses. Contact our international health experts to find the right expatriate health insurance for your stay in Mexico, however long it lasts. We also offer travel health insurance in Mexico.
Please note: During the COVID-19 crisis, you were required to present a travel health insurance certificate when you arrived in Mexico, attesting to coverage of COVID-19-related healthcare costs. It is therefore important to check the conditions for entry into Mexico when preparing your trip or moving abroad.
