Issues with Mexican Health Care
If you travel to Mexico without health insurance coverage and you need medical treatment, you might be required to pay for the services up front. You will be asked to show proof of insurance and give the facility a credit card number before you are seen. The US State Department indicates that there have been numerous complaints from US citizens regarding inflated medical charges at health-care facilities in beach resort areas. You can avoid this problem by having health insurance that is valid for the duration of your travel in Mexico.
Your US Health Insurance and Coverage in Mexico
Your current health insurance company might offer coverage for travel to Mexico, but that doesn’t mean that you will have an easy time invoking the coverage. In many cases you will have to pay the costs up front and wait to be reimbursed. You might be covered only for a limited number of days instead of your entire trip, and also might be limited to a few clinics or facilities in the entire country. Contact your health insurance provider to understand the limits of any coverage that you do have while in Mexico. If the coverage is not sufficient, you can supplement it with a travel health insurance policy.
What to Look for in a Policy
If you have decided to purchase a travel health insurance policy for Mexico, make sure that the company has the infrastructure in place to provide you with the services you will need. For example, the company should have a toll-free number that connects you to English-speaking operators 24 hours a day. The company should help you find English-speaking medical providers near you and should be able to help coordinate any care that you need.
Considerations
When shopping for your health insurance plan for Mexico, consider including a rider for emergency medical evacuation. Should you become severely ill or injured, this coverage would pay to have you flown home or driven by ambulance to continue receiving care in America. Also note that some health insurance policies will not cover you if you engage in high-risk activities like bungee jumping or if you are injured while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.