Medical Insurance For Expats in Mexico.
What to expect and how to find the best insurance options for your needs.
When it comes to choosing the best health insurance in Mexico for foreigners and expats, one of the most important considerations is the quality of medical treatment in Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, Los Cabos, etc. Regardless of whether medical care is received in a public or private hospital in Mexico, it is important that you know what each specific insurance plan covers. If you want coverage right away, a global health insurance plan not only guarantees immediate coverage, but also offers options for receiving medical care from the best private doctors and hospitals in Mexico.
Many private hospitals in Mexico have been known for charging higher rates to expats and immigrants. For this reason alone, it is important to acquire travel insurance (link to travel insurance questionnaire) before you travel to Mexico. The same holds true for expats and immigrants who live full time in Mexico. Long-term global health insurance plans in Mexico are important to protect expats from increasingly high hospitalization rates.
Public Hospital Care in Mexico: IMSS & INSABI
IMSS is a public / private health insurance program designed for employees, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and any Mexican citizen or permanent or temporary resident of Mexico. Voluntary enrollment is available for individuals not employed by a corporation and is a fee-based insurance plan with rates based on age. Pre-existing conditions are evaluated and policy limitations may apply to certain medical conditions.
INSABI is the public health insurance program which replaced the former Seguro Popular program, created under the Vicente Fox administration. The INSABI health plan currently covers 66 conditions or types of health care.
Basic Information About INSABI.
1. Enrollment in INSABI is free.
2. There is no maximum enrollment age.
3. Who qualifies The Mexican constitution states that all temporary and permanent residents in Mexico have the right to access public health care. Expats with residency status qualify for INSABI & IMSS health plans.
4. Socioeconomic status is considered for enrollment. INSABI is designed for low-income Mexicans and foreigners with residency in Mexico. INSABI will consider an individual´s particular neighborhood when processing applications. If the member lives in a middle or high-class neighborhood; they may determine that enrollment in IMSS or private health insurance is required.
4. There is no underwriting or acceptance process based on health history.
5. Some medical care and treatments are excluded. INSABI doesn´t cover all medical illnesses. For instance; cancer, heart attacks, cardiovascular events, diabetes, hepatitis, major surgeries, and long-term medical care are not fully covered. INSABI does not provide a complete list of limited medical care. Care provisions are based on each member´s degree or severity of illness.
In general, members are required to cover between forty to sixty percent of the cost of major medical conditions.
IMSS and INSABE: What to Expect
IMSS and INSABI general hospitals in Mexico are often crowded, care is not always immediate, private doctors who are not IMSS or INSABI employees are not allowed access to patients. This means that your private doctor will not be able to visit you at any IMSS or INSABI hospital. Also, the primary language spoken is Spanish and translators are not provided as part of the hospital services. Waiting periods for non-emergency procedures in public hospitals in Mexico is a lot longer. There are no individual hospital rooms or bathrooms, only a curtain may separate hospitalized patients. Also, local public hospitals may not be equipped to service advanced medical treatment. When this happens, patients may need to wait for a hospital bed and surgical team availability in the closest major city. If you sign up for IMSS, for example, know that some patients may be given higher priority over expats due to their membership level. IMSS can also apply policy limitations or coverage exclusions on your plan based on pre-existing conditions.
Best Health Insurance Plans in Mexico – Excellent Customer Care and Streamlined Services
VIP Universal Medical Insurance Group, known as VUMI, is a global health insurance company offering exclusive major medical insurance products for Mexicans as well as for US and Canadian expats and foreigners residing in Mexico. VUMI excels in three areas: excellence in customer service, claims processing, and payment coordination with hospitals in Mexico. Customers love VUMI because they make health insurance in Mexico easy. They process members´ reimbursement claims quickly and efficiently. They also offer a user-friendly member portal and application through which members have direct access to the company. Insurance agents love VUMI, because they pay hospitals in Mexico directly and on time.
Best Expat Health Insurance in Mexico – Coordinated Payments to Doctors and Hospitals in Mexico
One of the leading providers of medical insurance in Mexico with global medical coverage is GeoBlue Xplorer. Their plans are designed for U.S. Citizens and provide coverage for pre-existing conditions for those members with current qualifying plan coverage in the US.
The GeoBlue Xplorer plan is an excellent insurance plan for U.S. citizens living in Mexico due to its flexibility, direct payment to doctors and hospitals, and member application tools.
The Best Health Insurance in Mexico for Expats
U.S. citizens and residents may wish to elect a health insurance plan, which allows them access to US medical care. With this type of plan, members can receive medical care while traveling in the US as well as the option to travel to the US from Mexico for medical care. The GeoBlue Xplorer plan is a good option, since it provides members up to 9 months of medical benefits in the U.S., in addition to medical coverage anywhere in the world. GeoBlue also offers a plan excluding US coverage for individuals who prefer to receive care in Mexico. By excluding U.S. coverage from plan, there is a 50% premium savings.
Affordable Health Insurance Plan in Mexico – Lloyd´s of London Reinsurance
Founded in 2008, Azimuth health plans provide a superior combination of robust & innovative health benefits, low rates, and superior backing by their insuring partner, Lloyd’s of London, the number one reinsurance company in the world.
The Cheapest Health Insurance Plan in Mexico
IMG offers several affordable insurance plans for expats and foreigners living in Mexico. The IMG Bronze plan is the cheapest and most affordable plan on the market. It provides hospitalization coverage for catastrophic and emergency medical care. The IMG Global Gold and Platinum plans offer inpatient and outpatient medical services for reasonable rates as well. All IMG Global plans offer either worldwide coverage or worldwide coverage excluding the US, Canada, Japan, China, and Taiwan.
Health Insurance in Mexico for Expats and Foreigners – Mexican Doctors and healthcare workers
Healthcare workers and doctors in Mexico frequently speak English well, because they have received medical training in the US or Canada. Fortunately, bilingual doctor specialists can be found in the majority of the popular expat cities in Mexico, including: San Miguel de Allende, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, Puebla, Los Cabos, Tijuana, Cancun, Huatulco, Oaxaca, and Monterrey.
Private health insurance in Mexico for expats is available at affordable rates. Request quotes today (link to full coverage questionnaire) for expats and immigrants in Mexico.