18 July 2008 447 views 4 Comments

There is perhaps no greater concern for the retiring population in America than being able to afford medical care. The medical costs in the United States have increased so significantly that it has become a luxury many can not afford, especially if you are a senior living depending on limited life savings and the fixed income of social security. One sign of the worsening state of health care is that a medical relief organization called Remote Area Medical that was intended to air drop doctors into remote areas of the world like the Amazon jungle, are diverting their efforts to help people in the US who can not afford necessary treatments. The story of RAM helping hundreds of Americans who are uninsured or under insured was chronicled in a March edition of 60 minutes and included the sad story of a retired woman who could not pay to have her eye glass prescription updated and was left virtually blind. Hopefully you have invested well enough to never be in such as situation, however thousand dollar premiums are still enough to make most retirees cringe. This is where living in Mexico can be a great benefit.

While you may prefer the Mayo Clinic level of care, if you can settle for competent providers you will be able to save thousands by finding a quality medical facility in Mexico. Seek recommendations of your fellow expatriots, who will be able to guide you toward the better hospitals and clinics. There is a great range in quality, similar to the US where you have some of the best facilities in the world as well as places where the staff fails to notice the woman dying on the floor of the ER. Mexico probably has a greater range in quality of care than the US so it pays to conduct thorough research. Here are some options to consider to take advantage of health care in Mexico.

IMSS
Foreigners legally living in Mexico are eligible to buy health coverage in the Mexican health system: the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Foreigners can sign up for coverage for a small annual cost, generally in the hundreds, which covers basic medical care. According to International Living foreigners over 60 can purchase IMSS coverage for less than $300 a year and receive full coverage health insurance including prescription medications. Any expat with a residence visa can get IMSS coverage by signing up at an IMSS office.

Private Medical Insurance Policy
Generally medical insurance purchased in Mexico is a lot less expensive than US policies and will cover more major medical expenses than the IMSS. It also gives you access to the private hospitals, which are generally higher quality and can match the level of care found in the US.

Don’t Count on Medicare Benefits to Mexico
Unfortunately, in only extremely rare cases will Medicare cover care outside of the United States according to a University of Texas site. One possible situation where Medicare could be extended is if a beneficiary living at the border must be hospitalized and a Mexican hospital is closer to their home than a US hospital. Otherwise you will have to travel back to US facilities to be covered. With about a million Americans now living in Mexico, this policy will hopefully be reformed in the future.