7 Best Insurance International Health for Expats in Mexico

Are you thinking about moving to Mexico? Want to know how to have good health coverage in the country? Here you can find everything you need to ensure your safety in case of emergencies! Keep reading!  

There are several things you need to do before moving to another country – having a stay to settle down, look for jobs, understand the bureaucracies, buy your tickets, go after learning the new language…

In the midst of so many tasks, sometimes people don’t remember or don’t know they need to guarantee health insurance.

Living in Mexico can be very enriching: you will enjoy incredible weather, wonderful nature and great food, while probably reducing your cost of living!

Mexico is a relaxed and friendly country. The highways are good, the health care is excellent and affordable. The immigration system is surprisingly uncomplicated, and long-term life in Mexico is possible for many retirees and remote workers – no lawyers or agents are needed.

The country has options for everyone: funky cities and stylish resorts, hundreds of beaches, world-class diving and snorkeling, lush jungles, high altitude deserts, snow-capped mountains and beautiful Spanish colonial cities. If you like a warm climate with a constant sea breeze, a semi-arid hot and dry or desert climate, or want to be somewhere cool enough to need to wear an evening jacket all year round, Mexico offers unlimited options.

But in addition to talking about your international health insurance options as an expatriate in Mexico, let’s first talk a little bit about how Mexico’s health care system is structured, what is the difference between travel insurance and insurance for expats, what coverage you will need, and more.

(And be sure to read to the end of the article to learn more about the different types of visas you can use to start living, studying or working in the Latino country!)

How does the health care system in Mexico work?

Mexican Healthcare is a 3-layer system. Some health systems are described as “two-level” systems, which are a mixture of public and private facilities. But interestingly, Mexico has a system of 3 levels.

The most commonly spoken level is known as IMSS. It is essentially Mexico’s social security program and covers employees of private industry and public service.

Another level in the health system of Mexico is the Popularprogram Insurance. The Popular Insurance is created to provide those who do not qualify for the IMSS level, either for financial reasons or because of pre-existing conditions.

The final level in Mexico’s healthcare system is provided through private insurance. Like most private insurance programs, it offers patients a greater degree of comfort and convenience when seeking medical attention. However, compared to IMSS and o Popular Insurance, it is much more expensive.

Do expatriates need health insurance in Mexico?

Simplifying: yes! Healthcare in Mexico is mandatory for expats to have a resident visa or work permit.

So, it is essential that you secure yourself with one of the coverage I have selected in the list below

But in addition to being mandatory, an international health plan allows more tranquility for you. Especially being in a new country, different from yours, with laws, structures and a language you may not know, and unpredictable health costs.

So, while ensuring international health insurance coverage you will get the security that you are protected in any unexpected emergency or situation. Also, there are several other benefits you may have with an international plan (as I will say in the next question).

As an immigrant in Mexico, should you get an international health plan as recommended in the list below? Or should you get a national plan?

So, this is a choice that will depend on you, since only you know your specific medical needs, the specific coverages you will need in your insurance, from your duration of your stay in Mexico to the options available from the national plans.

An international health insurance plan must meet your coverage requirements in the country. If you choose to get an international plan, be sure to check with the Mexican government embassies to find out if there is and what is the minimum necessary insurance coverage.

I have never lived in Mexico, so I don’t know enough about the national plans that may be available and therefore I can’t talk much about them.

With that in mind, below are some of the reasons you may want to choose an international health insurance plan rather than using public coverage:

• Compared to the costs you may have, international health insurance may have cheaper tuition;
• International health insurance can be easier to use if your stay is short in Mexico, as you can choose exactly how long you want your plan to be;
• International health insurance has greater flexibility as you can cancel or extend at any time;
• International health insurance offers coverage in other countries, not just in Mexico (so they are “international” health insurance).

Who do these international health insurance policies provide coverage for?

The health insurance companies I have listed below are for the following citizens living in Mexico as expatriates, immigrants, workers, or even students:

• The Americans and Americans
• Canadians and the Canadians and the
• The A’less a-
• Brazilians
• Citizens of the European Union (Portuguese, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Polish, Belgian, Swedish)
• Argentinians
• British (English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish)
• The New Zealanders
• And for citizens of almost any other country

In addition to expatriates/immigrants residing in Mexico, these companies also work for residents who live in:

• the United States;
• Canada;
• Europe (European Union and United Kingdom);
• Australia;
• And for expats who live in almost any other country in the world.

Overall, as are international plans and companies, they can be used by virtually anyone anywhere, since they have worldwide coverage!

Why can’t I take out travel insurance when I move to Mexico? What is the difference between travel insurance and expatriate insurance?

O Travel insurance is required for any trip, as it will not only cover problems you may experience in case of emergencies and unexpected medical problems, but also for problems with the trip, such as lost luggage or flight cancellation.

You should know that travel insurance is not ideal for immigrants. Although it is possible to have travel insurance for longer periods of time, it is made only for travelers with temporary stays in a country. Travel insurance coverage is not valid for someone who will stay long term in another country.

In addition, travel insurance will not meet your health insurance coverage required by law to live in Mexico.

So, you will really want to choose an insurance plan that specifically covers expats. And that’s exactly what I’ll help you with the list below.

What are the 7 best health insurance for expatriates and immigrants in Mexico?

I know it’s exhausting to find the right insurance plan. With this in mind, take a look at the comparison table of the companies I recommend below. Thus, you can quickly see what are the pros and cons of each company and make the best choice for you!

After the table, I will make a longer description of each of the companies, their plans, main benefits and more!

So the biggest advice I can give you is to quickly make a quote with each of the companies on this list before making your decision. It may take a while, but at the end of the day, you can save a lot of money!

Note: the 7 companies are international. If you prefer to work with a Brazilian company with service in Portuguese, check out in Seguros Promo. I talk more about it at the end of the article.

	Make a Quote	Make a Quote	Make a Quote	Make a Quote	Make a Quote	Make a Quote	Make a Quote
BENEFIT	LIMIT	LIMIT	LIMIT	LIMIT	LIMIT	LIMIT	LIMIT
Information about the benefit
Medical Maximus	Unlimited (for the Platinum plan)	$8,000,000	The website does not inform	Unlimited	$1,000,000.00 per year	The website does not inform	$1,000,000
Co-insurance in the US	You choose. From 70% (100% subsequent) to 100%	100% 100%	Not to	60% for maximum co-insurance and then 100%	Yes, for higher rates	Only for emergencies	Yes I
Off-net-net-safe co-insurance in the US	You choose. From 70% (100% subsequent) to 100%	90% to $5,000 (100% subsequent)	Yes, for higher rates	100% 100%	100% 100%	100% 100%	100% 100%
Availability for Mental Health	No period of waiting	Waiting period of 12 months	Co-payment of $25 per visit, franchise exemption	75% up to 40 visits / 60% after this	Not to	Waiting period of 10 months	It depends on the plan
Benefit for Mental Health	Hospital and Ambulatory: maximum $5,000 (for all life) to full coverage depending on plan	Hospital and Outpatient Clinic: maximum $50,000 for life	Co-payment of $250 after franchise	100% up to 60 days		Hospitaltion and Ambulatory: limit not described
Remedies prescribed in the hospitalization	$500 to total coverage depending on plan	Up to $8,000,000	Yes I		Refund total	Yes I	Yes I
Remedies prescribed in the outpatient clinic	None unless you buy the option of International Outpatient Clinic	Up to $8,000,000			Refund total	Yes I	Yes I
Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains	Full coverage	Up to $8,000,000	Yes I	Up to $25,000	Not to	Up to 10,000.00	Yes I
Accidental death and dismemberment	It depends on the plan	Clause available, limit depends on age. $75,000 for 19-29 years; $7,500 for 65-89 years.		$50,000			It depends on the plan
Dental Emergency	Total coverage	Up to $8,000,000	Optional	$1,000 per year, $200 per tooth	Yes, however you must pay an extra fee to the contracted plan	Depending on the plan, it is unlimited	Has coverage in the Diplomat Long Term and Diplomat International plans
Treatment Required on Terrorism	Up to the limit of coverage	Available clause up to a maximum of $50,000 for life			Available clause up to a maximum of $50,000 for life	Available clause up to a maximum of $50,000 for life	Yes I
Amateur Sports	Unlimited	Available clause up to $10,000	Not to	Yes I	Not to	Not to	Not to
Neonatal care
Routine nursery care of a newborn child from a covered pregnancy	$25,000 to $156,000 depending on plan	Additional deduction of $1,000, maximum $50,000 for life, wellness benefit of $200 for the first 12 months	Yes I		It depends on the plan	Depending on the plan, it may be unlimited	Depending on the plan, it may be unlimited
Child born through fertility treatment (such as IVF or surrogacy)	Only after the baby completes 90 days	Excluded	It depends on the plan		Not to	Waiting period of 10 months
Neonatal Intensive Treatment Unit	See the website for updated information	Maximum of $250,000 for the first 31 days	Not to		Not to	Up to 20,000 with 10-month waiting period
Pre-existing diseases
Period of exclusion of pre-existing condition	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any clause will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease
Pre-existing condition, grace time	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation
Pre-existing, maximum annual single coverage	Unlimited depending on plan	Up to $8,000,000	Unlimited depending on plan	Unlimited depending on plan	Refund total	Unlimited depending on plan	Unlimited depending on plan
Pre-existing, maximum single coverage for life	Unlimited depending on plan	Up to $8,000,000	Unlimited depending on plan	Unlimited depending on plan	Refund total	Unlimited depending on plan	Unlimited depending on plan

Please note: This article and table have been made for informational purposes and the information contained herein is subject to changes and updates.

1. Cigna

 First of all, Cigna. It is a company founded in the United States but has a great role in Europe. It is a great choice when it comes to international health insurance.

With more than 60 years in this area in the market, Cigna has great recognition because of their insurance and worldwide they have more than 170 million customers. My partner, Nikki, actually bought a Cigna health plan to meet the validation requirements of her residence card in Sweden.

Cigna is a company with a high diversity of plans for you to choose from, including plans specific to expats (and that work very well if you are moving to Mexico!), as well as individual and family plans).

There are individual or family plans for you that are moving to Mexico. One advantage of Cigna’s plans is that you have the possibility to add benefits to your plan according to your specific needs and the type of medical care you need coverage.

You can choose from the Silver, Platinum or Gold plan, which has coverage in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.

If you are looking for a cheaper insurance plan for Mexico, a great option is the Close Care de Cigna plan. This plan is particularly the most important that Cigna has, because the coverage is only for your country of origin and the country where you want to reside (Mexico, in this case).  

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Cigna:

• Service available 24 hours, every day of the week
• Flexibility for changes to the plans tailored to your needs
• It has coverage for COVID-19 and for PCR testing
• No need registration to make a quote
• It has a digital system to find hospitals and clinics with care near its location
• Cigna, for the most part, directly pays health providers, without the need for a reimbursement system

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Cigna:

• Some plans don’t cover maternity

2. 2. IMG

Another company with great recognition in the area of international insurance is IMG. It has about 25 years of experience and 3 subsidiaries worldwide.

IMG have various types of plans for their choice, either for individual profiles or entire families. They also have a variety of plans specific to the types of travelers, such as expatriates. You will see that they have the possibility of plans with long stays of 1 year or more, but also short-term travel plans.

Their website is intuitive and easy to navigate, with filters for dates, duration of plan, destination and more, which make it easy for you to search. In addition to these filters, you can add your personal details as age and specific needs for the best coverage.

Thus, IMG will provide a detailed quote that allows a comparison of options of plans and coverages for you to have freedom and choose what is best.

Only pay attention to the details of each plan, as some do not have coverage to all age groups and not all of your plans cover the needs of Covid-19.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with IMG:

• You have the Portuguese choice on the website
• Customer service 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Flexibility in profiles and plans
• Availability of more than 17,000 doctors to support

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with IMG:

• No cover for COVID-19 depending on the plan
• No coverage for people aged 75+

3. Now Health International

Now Health International’s mission is to provide a fast, efficient and affordable service, according to its name suggests. The company focuses its efforts on establishing a solid relationship with customers, providing clear and ready-made information about the available plans, and has a dedicated support team to resolve any questions that may arise.

The plans offered by Now Health are thoroughly planned to address the daily challenges faced by those living abroad, providing high-quality guidance and healthcare around the world.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Now Health International:

• Plans customized according to individual needs.
• Clear information and excellent customer service.
• Comprehensive coverage in 194 countries and territories.
• Plans with high quality maternity routine coverage.

Disadvantages of an International Health Insurance Plan with Now Health International::

• 12-month lack required to use maternity coverage.
• Some procedures require the use of the company’s reimbursement system, which implies initial payment for the service.

4. 4. Aetna (acquired by Allianz)

Aetna is the winner of awards and leader in the area of international insurance. If you are seeking security and credibility for your insurance choice before your move to Mexico, Aetna is a good company to consider.

Although they do not have a diversity of plans, they have flexibility and allow them to add complementary coverage (such as dental care). Plans include coverage of up to $5 million, depending on the cases.

You can choose between family or individual plans, and may include coverage for repatriation and medical evacuation.

As an expatriate, I recommend the Aetna Pioneer. It has basic coverage of up to $1.75 million. Just fill out a short form on the site itself to see an exact quote and get detailed information on the available policies.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Aetna:

• Cover the motherhood
• Have app with all the information you need and easy location of services and providers
• Short, medium and long travel plans
• 24h, 7 days of the week
• Pre-vivial assistance to help with questions, such as vaccines and drugs for regular use

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Aetna:

• Low diversity of plans
• Price above average compared to other companies on this list

5. . 5. SafetyWing

SafetyWing is one of the popular and insurance-recognized companies for digital nomads, as it offers health insurance plans specific to remote workers and businesses, expatriates and digital nomads.

One of the advantages of SafetyWing is that its policies are a little more affordable and easier to understand than the others in the market. They also cover children from 2 to 10 years old if their responsible close a plan.

Each plan has a specific cost that depends on age. The cheapest plan does not cover pre-existing conditions, but has coverage of up to $250,000. But you also have the freedom to add pre-existing condition coverage to the part if you need to.

What I like the most about SafetyWing is that the company offers 30 days of free coverage in its home country every 90 days you use abroad, like in Mexico.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with SafetyWing:

• Modern website with easy access to information and intuitive
• Customer service 24 hours, every day of the week
• 30 days of free coverage in your home country for every 90 days of coverage abroad
• Has coverage of COVID-19 and treatment recommended by medical specialists

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Safety Wing:

• Plans are not as complete and tend to have lower overall coverage than some of the other options on this list.
• Site prices do not include taxes and taxes

6. . 6. Global Underwriters

Global Underwriters is another company with great recognition and high popularity when it comes to insurance. They have programs that cater to immigrants, students, digital nomads and expatriates with the aim of starting a life elsewhere in the world.

For someone moving to Mexico, I recommend the Diplomat Long Term or the Diplomat International Plan. The two have full coverage and generally include everything an expatriate may need in their new home.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Global Underwriters:

• Up to $1 million of medical coverage in the two plans cited above, and $1 million in coverage in case of accidental death or dismemberment
• Customer assistance every day of the weeks, 24 hours a day
• The plans I cited have dental emergency coverage, medical evacuations and repatriation of remains

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Global Underwritres:

• Diplomat Long Term does not guarantee travelers in Iran, Afghanistan and Cuba
• Diplomat International has no coverage of COVID-19
• Global Underwriters does not serve residents of Australia, Iran, South Dakota, Maryland and New York

7. 7. Foyer Global Health

Foyer Global Health is renowned for international health insurance plans for travelers, expats, digital nomads and immigrants.

It is a company with a great diversity of plans, probably the largest you find in the market, besides being a reliable company (it is part of the largest European Foyer Group).

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Foyer Global Health:

• All plans have coverage for surgeries, consultations and dental treatments
• Online service by email or phone 24/7
• Offer support service for pre-travel preparation for vaccinations and preparation of first aid kit
• coverage available for evacuation and repatriation

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Foyer Global Health:

• Coverage limits are not clear.
• It has no support in Portuguese, only in English, French and German.

Bonus options of companies:

– GeoBlue

GeoBlue has been offering insurance plans with international health coverage for over 20 years.

But GeoBlue only allows insurance for U.S. citizens and residents. So if you’re not a U.S. citizen or resident moving to Mexico, you can skip that option.

GeoBlue has health plans for different traveler profiles, including immigrants. Xplorer Essential is the plan I recommend the most, as it is made for long-term stays with unlimited coverage.

If you are looking for a shorter plan, try the Voyager program. Just fill out a form or contact a broker to make a quote and receive more detailed information about the plans.

 Advantages of an international health insurance plan with GeoBlue:

• It has application with features such as telemedicine
• 24h/7 customer service
• Some plans have coverage for pre-existing conditions
• All plans have unlimited coverage

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with GeoBlue:

• Only available to U.S. residents or U.S. citizens
• Low flexibility of programs
• You need to submit a form or contact a broker to get information or budget of the plans

– Promo Insurance from Brazil

If you are looking for a company from Brazil to close your health insurance, Insurance Promo is an excellent option.

With 100% service in Portuguese, dealing with document bureaucracies when buying your insurance is lighter and easier, especially if you do not know other languages.

Insurance Promo, unlike the other options I mentioned, is not an insurance company, but an intermediary with other corporations and clients. So, it works as an aggregator of services, providing all the aid to simplify transactions and provide important information.

In addition, Seguros Promo is a good platform to assist in the comparison of plans available in the market in a simple and efficient way.

Just be sure to confirm that you are acquiring international travel health insurance, since they also offer travel insurance.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Insurance Promo:

• Good system for comparing companies, prices and plans
• No international payment required and negotiations are made in Portuguese

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Promo Insurance:

• Because it works as an intermediary, its prices are more than average.

Types of Mexican Visas

Below are the types of visas most used by new immigrants entering residence in Mexico

The most common visas offered by the Mexican government for expatriates are:

Work in Mexico (paid activities):

1. Visa form (front and back, on one page) with recent photograph, 3×4 color and white background).
2. Original and copy of the passport in force.
3. Authorization of the National Migration Institute “NUT” (One Number of Roads).
4. Copy of the contract of employment or letter proposed with the identification of the person signing the letter.
5. Original and copy of the documents that prove that the person has the experience, skills or knowledge to develop the activity for which he is invited (Examples of proof: Diplomas, Certificates of courses and training, Letters issued by employers, etc.).
6. Original and copy of proof of address.

For a business visa:

To obtain this visa, it is necessary to present an invitation from the Mexican company with which it will conduct business, in addition to the documents cited in the previous visa.

In a nutshell…

Here are the 7 best health insurance companies for expatriates and immigrants moving to Mexico:

1. Cigna
2. IMG
3. Now Health
4. Aetna (Allianz)
5. SafetyWing
6. Global Underwriters
7. Foyer Global Health

Finally…

Starting a life in the dream country can be a complicated decision… I hope that with this article you take many of your doubts easy this process! If you still have any questions about how to get health insurance for your move to Mexico (or about moving abroad in general), tell me in the comments area below and I will answer you!