Whether you are going for a vacation or a business trip, there is no denying that traveling to Mexico can be exciting and adventurous. However, traveling can sometimes turn perilous, requiring you to seek medical help on your travels. In such a situation, how do you ensure peace of mind for yourself regarding medical bills and expenses, especially when you are visiting a foreign country?
The answer is: opting for the right travel health insurance for your travel to Mexico. Let us first examine what Mexico’s health care system is like for tourists and foreigners.
Mexico’s Health Care System
Mexico’s public health care services cover Mexican residents and legal immigrants that pay into the system. Mexico does not have any reciprocal medical care agreements with other countries of the world, which means that if you ever happen to be traveling to Mexico and find yourself in need of medical attention, you will have to pay out of your own pocket.
Travelers find that they are asked to pay at most clinics or hospitals even before consulting with a medical professional. While health care is relatively inexpensive in Mexico, tourists report that medical care costs are exorbitantly high at certain beach resorts and other tourist spots.
Therefore, it is highly advisable to get travel health insurance before traveling to Mexico to avoid landing yourself in a situation where you would have to take care of your own medical expenses. If you are traveling to Mexico, there are two main kinds of travel health insurance you can opt for.
Travel Health Insurance For Short Stays
Short vacation or business trips call for travel insurance policies that cover you for a short duration. Most of these short travel insurance policies cover you for a period between 30 and 60 days. Sometimes, your current medical insurance might cover you for this, but make sure to check with your provider in your home country before assuming that this is the case. If you are on a business trip, then your employer might cover you on their health care plan as well.
Travel Insurance For Extended Stays
Suppose you are going to Mexico for a longer duration of six months or less, for either a volunteering project or a sabbatical from work. In that case, you might want to consider something other than short-term travel health insurance.
Your best bet would be to take out a private health insurance policy that covers you in Mexico locally. It is also advisable to opt for a medical evacuation plan with your insurance provider in your home country. Such a plan will cover the expenses for a flight or any other travel mode if you face a severe medical emergency and need to be brought home for treatment.
While choosing a travel health insurance policy to Mexico, make sure your policy covers 24/7 travel assistance. Also, keep in mind that all health care facilities will ask for proof of your insurance before treating you, so make sure to have it on you wherever you go during your travels.
