If you could get complete health care coverage from qualified doctors anywhere in the country for $250 per year, would you do it?
That’s exactly the kind of health care many Americans are getting…in Mexico.
The Mexican Social Security Institute (known as IMSS in Mexico) provides a national health care plan with no deductibles and no limits that includes free exams, tests, and medications for a flat annual fee that averages about $250 per individual.
For a growing number of American expats, this makes Mexico a no-brainer as a retirement destination. Having a Mexican retiree visa qualifies you to enroll for the plan.
Mexico’s IMSS plan isn’t perfect for American users — hospitals and facilities can be “bare-bones” by U.S. standards, and it can be a challenge to find English-speaking doctors and staff. But the price is right – there are no costs besides the annual fee. And Mexican health care providers are as well trained as any in the world.
Mexico’s IMSS system is especially attractive to Americans who aren’t old enough to qualify for Medicare yet can’t afford private insurance in the U.S., either because they’re self-employed or underinsured by their current employer.
Mexico also has private hospitals, and many expats use the IMSS system as a backup plan for emergencies and catastrophic illnesses while paying out of pocket for private medical treatment. Even out of pocket prices for dental work, medical exams, and minor surgeries are far below U.S. prices, letting patients go outside the IMSS system and shop for services if they choose.
Related Artciles
