Are you interested in working in Mexico? Even though this country has its mother tongue, many Mexicans are fluent in English. Also, you don’t need to worry about the language barrier. Before leaving, be sure you have prepared your protection by purchasing health insurance in Mexico for expats.
Health should be a crucial consideration if you are going to work and stay for a long time in a foreign country. By purchasing health insurance, you can still enjoy examination or treatment services with the best facilities. Not only that, you also don’t have to spend a lot of money to pay for expensive medical expenses.
Overview of Health Care in Mexico
Mexico has three levels of systems in health care. The bottom tier or first level is for unemployed Mexicans with limited coverage. If you are an expat, then you will not access the first level.
Next, the second level is specifically for the public sector IMSS which stands for Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Employers and employees are parties who fund the program in equal proportions. Meanwhile, the highest level or the third level is assistance from private clinics or hospitals.
Travelers or expats are strongly advised to purchase health insurance that provides comprehensive coverage. This comprehensive coverage will allow you to save more while still getting the best treatment.
Many Americans seek treatment at Mexican hospitals because the expense is more affordable than in the United States. That is why Americans who do not have insurance will choose Mexico as an affordable alternative to medical treatment.
Options of Health Insurance in Mexico for Expats
Here are some health insurance options that you can consider before leaving for Mexico:
1. Short Visit
If you are going to Mexico for a short visit due to business or traveling, it is still necessary to provide health protection. Even though you’ll be there for only a few days or a couple of weeks, you may face unexpected health problems.
Insurance coverage for short visits is usually more limited because used as needed. Generally, health insurance includes travel insurance, but double-check your policy to be sure. If your travel insurance doesn’t provide the health coverage you need, then buy health insurance that gives you peace of mind while you are in Mexico.
2. Extended Stay
If you want to stay in Mexico longer than a short visit, it’s not a good choice if you choose health insurance for a short visit. It’s best to choose an insurance policy that provides local coverage if you live in Mexico for six months or less.
However, if you already have insurance in your home country, you can buy emergency medical travel insurance. Thus, if you experience an emergency medical condition and need to return to your home country, emergency medical travel insurance will cover these costs.
3. Foreign Residents
If you are expats who have already obtained permits or intends to obtain them, then travel insurance or health insurance from your origin country is no longer valid. You have to buy international health insurance special for expat to get health protection. The following are international health insurance in Mexico for expats:
a. The IMSS System
Residents or foreigners living in Mexico can apply to the IMSS Public Health Insurance system voluntarily or through companies. If you use this insurance service, you must be willing to queue for a long time and pay the insurance fee based on age.
To get priority treatment at the hospital, you should register through the company. The annual fee per person you have to pay is around 7000 Pesos.
b. Private Medical Insurance
Expats or foreigners who live in Mexico prefer private medical insurance to meet their health service needs. You can choose a policy for an individual or a family. The amount of insurance fees that you have to pay varies because it is affected by several factors, such as deductibles, age, duration, and level of coverage.
Apart from being more careful about getting comprehensive insurance coverage, you also need to find out whether local hospitals in Mexico accept the insurance that you will choose.
c. Emergency Evacuation
If you don’t want to buy health insurance in Mexico for expats because you want to use health insurance in the country you come from, then it’s best to choose emergency evacuation insurance. Emergency evacuation insurance coverage will fly you to your home country in an emergency.
If you need to get medical care while in Mexico, you will have to arrange it locally and the medical expenses are not covered by emergency insurance.
Health Insurance in Mexico for Expats
You can take into consideration these companies below so they can cover your health protection needs:
1. Cigna
You will get unlimited quotes for the platinum plan. Meanwhile, inpatient prescription drugs are $500 to be paid in full depending on the plan. If your wife is pregnant, you will get routine nursery care for a newborn child of a covered pregnancy worth $25,000 to $156,000 depending on the plan.
2. IMG
IMG insurance company provides coverage costs up to $8,000,000. In addition, the inpatient prescription drug coverage costs also reach $8,000,000. You will also get cover for accidents resulting in death or accidental dismemberment.
3. Go Blue
Health insurance policyholders from the Go Blue company will receive coverage for accidental dismemberment or death due to accidents up to $50,000. Meanwhile, the coverage for the repatriation and evacuation reaches $25,000. You can also enjoy dental health services with $1,000 coverage per year, divided into $200 per tooth.
4. Safety Wing
The benefits you will get if you choose Safety Wing health insurance are a medical maximum of $1,000,000 per year. Inpatient and outpatient prescription drugs will get a complete reimbursement.
Let’s Get Health Insurance in Mexico for Expats Right Away!
In short, health insurance is an essential thing if you still want to get proper health care while living or working in a foreign country. The discussion of health insurance in Mexico for expats above provides an overview of health care and the types of insurance you can choose from.
Hopefully, this article can help you to be more careful and wiser in choosing health insurance.