Planning for Medical Care Emergencies in Mexico

It’s exciting, and a little nerve-wracking: that’s how most people who have journeyed from their home country would describe making the move to Mexico. There are a lot of arrangements to make, and underneath it all is also a sense of adventure. We are feeling good, positive, and looking forward to a new and stimulating life situation.

What could possibly go wrong? Well, we can’t know of course—but life with all its unpredictability marches on, even in Mexico.  The best way to deal with the unknown is to be prepared for eventualities, and a medical care plan should be included in those.

“Planning for medical emergencies when you travel or reside abroad is essential,” says Grant Conway, of Travel MedEvac Insurance, a company providing medical evacuation insurance plans for leisure visitors, snowbirds, and foreign residents in Mexico.  Drawing on Travel MedEvac’s experience, he shares some practical insights which are useful to take into consideration as you plan your medical care needs here in Mexico:

Make a plan for your medical care: “You should have a plan for what you are going to do if you become ill and need to be hospitalized in Mexico. A lot of people don’t know that most hospitals here won’t take an insurance assignment. That means that even if you have insurance, you’ll have to pay to get released from the hospital and file a claim with your insurer to be reimbursed later. Most hospitals request a deposit by credit card when you are admitted.

Find a local doctor: “If you’re taking up residency in Mexico, establish a relationship with a local general practitioner right away. Know which hospital he or she practices at and find a recommended ambulance company. Keep the phone numbers and hospital address handy.”

Medical evacuation: “Consider an air medical evacuation plan that is real insurance–compliant with and regulated by industry standards.  Travel MedEvac insurance offers hospital-to-hospital transport coverage with no deductible or out-of-pocket expenses.  The company utilizes Air Ambulance Worldwide and their global network of highly accredited EURAMI or CAMTS certified air medical transport companies.”

Travel Insurance: If you’re visiting Mexico for a defined period but not living here, be sure to have a travel insurance policy that will cover your needs.  Travel MedEvac also offers coverages for short term visits to Mexico.

Get informed: You can find extensive information about health and medical care matters on our guides to Healthcare in Mexico here on Mexperience, including resources about planing for Medical Evacuation should you ever need it.