Digital Nomads’ Guide to Health Insurance Options in Mexico

Notable options for health insurance in Mexico include the public health insurance IMSS (Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social), INSABI (El Instituto Nacional de Salud Para el Bienestar), and private health insurance.

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Are you an expat in Mexico seeking adequate health insurance in the country? In this blog post by Pacific Prime, we will be discussing the various health insurance options in Mexico for digital nomads to ensure they can access the right health insurance options while living overseas in Mexico.

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Health Insurance for Digital Nomads in Mexico

When selecting an ideal health insurance plan in Mexico as an expat, you should choose a health insurance option that matches your particular health insurance needs and the urgency of healthcare if you have specific conditions or emergency cases.

Public health insurance may be affordable, but it may also come at the cost of crowded medical facilities and long waiting times even for non-emergency cases. The lack of multilingual doctors may be also problematic for non-Spanish-speaking expats.

If you have certain conditions or emergency cases, or if you do not speak Spanish and would like multilingual medical staff to help, opting for private healthcare may be a more suitable option for you.

The Main Options for Health Insurance in Mexico for Digital Nomads

Key options for health insurance in Mexico include the IMSS (Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social), the INSABI (El Instituto Nacional de Salud Para el Bienestar), and the private health insurance sector. Each option has its share of benefits and drawbacks.

Any Mexican nationals and foreigners who are employed under an IMSS-registered company are eligible for the IMSS health insurance through the social security system but at the cost of any pre-existing conditions not being covered.

On the other hand, the INSABI is designed for those who aren’t covered by any Mexican social security system and the private health insurance sector allows for greater quality care. Below are the health insurance options in Mexico along with their eligibility criteria and limitations.

IMSS (Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social)

Mexico’s public healthcare is provided through the country’s security system known as the IMSS (Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social). In terms of eligibility, any Mexican national and foreigners who are employed under an IMSS-registered company can qualify for coverage.

For those who aren’t employed in an IMSS-registered company, IMSS coverage can still be bought separately for a small registration fee.

Thanks to the IMSS, employees in Mexican companies pay a percentage of their salary each month in exchange for healthcare in Mexico and salary insurance in case they are unable to resume work due to injuries or illnesses.

However, do keep in mind that any pre-existing conditions will not be covered. These include addictions, HIV, malignant tumors, and congenital or chronic conditions.

INSABI (El Instituto Nacional de Salud Para el Bienestar)

The INSABI (El Instituto Nacional de Salud Para el Bienestar) is a government-funded system designed for the Mexican community on a budget to the point that a regular doctor’s visit is a financial hurdle. This system is also ideal for those who aren’t covered by a Mexican social security system.

The INSABI covers healthcare services, medicines, and other supplies. However, the INSABI does not cover exactly every medical illness. Cases such as cancer, heart attacks and cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, hepatitis, major continuous surgeries, and long-term medical care are not covered.

Private Healthcare in Mexico

While being considerably more expensive than the public healthcare sector, much like any other country, the private health insurance option in Mexico makes up for it with even greater quality care.

One prominent example where the private health insurance system shines in comparison to its public counterparts is the waiting time. Waiting times in public healthcare facilities can be excessively long and such facilities can be overcrowded, delaying citizens and expats’ healthcare urgency.

Private healthcare facilities are much less crowded, and waiting times are much shorter so patients can access urgent healthcare whether or not their case is an emergency or not.

Another good news for expats is that private health insurance in Mexico will allow you to freely choose your desired doctor as you would like, including multilingual ones.

This is because while public health insurance allows access to more affordable healthcare, it comes at a cost of non-English speaking doctors, which can be problematic for non-Spanish speaking expats.

Below are the various areas covered by Mexico’s private health insurance:

Dental and Vision treatment
Mental healthcare
Inpatient and Outpatient treatment
Physiotherapy
Rehabilitation
Pre-existing conditions
Evacuation or repatriation
Travel Insurance

The Cost of Health Insurance Options in Mexico

For expats in Mexico, the average cost of a comprehensive health insurance plan is USD $5,900 per year (approximately 108,590 Mexican Pesos).

Private health insurance in Mexico, due to greater quality care and additions such as free specialist selections for expats, is considerably more expensive than its public healthcare counterpart.

The cost of IMSS enrollment, for those who aren’t employed in Mexico and would like to enroll on their own through their voluntary enrollment option, the enrollment cost will vary depending on your age.

For instance, an enrollment would cost around USD $63 (approximately 1,119.67 Mexican pesos) for 50-59-year-olds. Meanwhile, enrollment for those aged 70-79 will cost around USD $93 (approximately 1,652.84 Mexican pesos).

Thanks to the system being government-funded, the INSABI will not require any payment for enrolling in the public health insurance program.

Hospital Billing Considerations

Have some cash in case some clinics and hospitals in Mexico are not part of a direct billing network of certain health insurance policies. In that case, you may need to pay before leaving the hospital and submit relevant paperwork for reimbursement, or even a deposit before receiving treatment.

Non-residents, retired expats, freelancers, and nomads are ineligible for IMSS coverage and will need their own private health insurance coverage. Additionally, keep in mind that even a good health insurance policy doesn’t necessarily eliminate the need to pay for medical emergencies entirely.

Certain hospitals in Mexico may require a guarantee of payment certificate from the insurance company to prove the payment won’t be out-of-pocket. While this eliminates the need to pay upfront, you will need to coordinate international paperwork.

Make sure to clarify with your selected insurance company about any requirements regarding notifying them before seeking medical treatment and what receipts they need for reimbursements.

US Health Insurance Validity in Mexico

For expats in Mexico, it’s worth noting that most US health insurance plans will not cover US citizens living in Mexico. Most US health insurance plans will only cover you in the state you’re living in while some plans cover you throughout the US entirely.

On the other hand, only a few US health insurance plans can cover you outside the US. You will have to confirm coverage limitations once you leave the US in preparation for moving to Mexico. Thus, it’s crucial to obtain an international health insurance policy to ensure worldwide coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of health insurance do I need in Mexico?

In Mexico, you have public and private health insurance options available. The public insurance sector is provided through the IMSS and INSABI, which provides healthcare to those not covered by IMSS or private insurance. Private health insurance, while expensive, grants greater quality care.

Is healthcare in Mexico good?

Mexico’s healthcare system, consisting of both public and private sectors, has generally high standards. This results in great levels of care at a considerably more affordable rate in comparison to the US.

Is healthcare in Mexico cheaper?

Generally speaking, healthcare in Mexico is considerably cheaper in comparison to the United States or Western Europe. However, some highly specialized doctors could charge higher fees depending on the treatment.

What if I don’t have health insurance in Mexico?

If you do not have health insurance in Mexico, you will be forced to pay out of pocket for illnesses and injuries sustained while in the country. To remedy this, arrange a health insurance policy that is not only valid for coverage in Mexico but also covers you and any of your family members.

Is going to the hospital expensive in Mexico?

Healthcare in Mexico is generally affordable compared to the US, especially for those with health insurance. However, all healthcare services come with a cost, and the quality of your health insurance plan, doctor consultations may involve some out-of-pocket expenses for you.

Conclusion

In conclusion, health insurance in Mexico for digital nomads such as the IMSS or INSABI systems and private health insurance all offer their fair share of benefits and limitations. The key is to find the health insurance plan that matches your healthcare needs.

For instance, the IMSS is accessible to Mexicans and foreign residents employed under registered companies but pre-existing conditions aren’t covered, the INSABI covers healthcare services but not every medical condition, and private health insurance is much more expensive.

As a leading international health insurance broker, Pacific Prime has over 20 years of matching both expats and local citizens to a health insurance plan that suits both their budget range and unique healthcare needs.

Whether you’re a Mexican national yourself or an expat living in Mexico, our team of specialists will be more than happy to help you find the right health insurance plan. If you have any further questions, please get in touch with us and get a free quote here.

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Serena Fung

Head of Content at Pacific Prime

Serena Fung is the Head of Content at Pacific Prime, a global insurance brokerage and employee specialist serving over 1.5 million clients in 15 offices across the world. With 6+ years of experience writing about the subject, she aims to demystify the world of insurance for readers with the latest updates, guides and articles on the blog.

Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).

Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.