Affordable health insurance

Dear Liz,

There are two types of options - private & public health plans.

Public = IMSS & Seguro Popular

Private health plans are offered by Mexican, International & Expat health insurance companies.

Rates for private health plans are based on age & sex, not medical history.

There are no discounts for healthy individuals & no surcharges for people with pre-existing conditions.

All companies which insure individuals in Mexico will evaluate an individuals medical history, specifically their medications, surgeries & medical treatments.

There are too many plans & coverage area options to note here.

What I can tell you is that going uninsured does put your retirement savings & dream of living in Mexico at risk.

Although medications & doctors visits are relatively inexpensive, hospitalization events are NOT.

I hope you find this information useful

Melanie Lansing

Hi Liz, my wife and I had the same dilemma since IMSS had given us notice about regular checkups not covered any more.

The various researches established that private insurance is highly expensive so that option was out.

The seguro popular is actually under review by the actual government will be renamed to IMSS Bienestar, Since lot of unknow and that the actual affiliation to Seguro popular is limited to 3 years and lots of inconsistency between states that option was out. And, not knowing the effects of the merge with IMSS and ISSTE.

The decision was made to keep our affiliation with IMSS voluntary option named "Seguro para la familia". The annual cost is based on age in your case a bit more than $10000 pesos, if no preexisting conditions will cover all emergencies.

Following are a few links (news articles and IMSS site) on the subject but all in Spanish.
https://www.elsoldemexico.com.mx/doble- … 80188.htmlhttps://www.animalpolitico.com/2017/11/ … o-adultos/http://www.imss.gob.mx/derechoH/segurosalud-familia
Also this is the average costs for various items you would need to pay at IMSS if not insured, https://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?cod … 22/03/2019

Personally, we never used IMSS for major emergencies and we hope not to have to in a near future.

Adios y buen dia a todos, GyC

muchissima gracias!!!!
will check these out. abrazos.

Please be aware that Seguro Popular is not a full cover health plan.

It is not available to all temporary and permanent residents in Mexico (enrollment restrictions on certain cities apply).

Also, there are many types of medical procedures, medications, & prosthetics which are NOT included. 

Please be aware that public health plans in Mexico are currently experiencing shortages of medications and medical staff.

President Lopez Obrador has promised a new IMSS health plan for all, however like any new legislation, it first has to be written (formal bill) and then presented and approved by the Mexican congress and senate. This process as well as implementation could take many years to complete.

IMSS does have policy limitations for new applicants with pre-existing conditions.

There are also age-related restrictions for certain procedures.

Thank you but I believe we are going to buy private insurance.  Great info.

Google Translation:
MIGRATION LAW New Law published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on May 25, 2011 CURRENT TEXT Last reform published 04-21-2016 On the margin a seal with the National Shield, which says: United Mexican States.- Presidency of the Republic. FELIPE DE JESÚS CALDERÓN HINOJOSA, President of the United Mexican States, its inhabitants know: That the Honorable Congress of the Union, has served to address the following: "SECOND TITLE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MIGRANTS SINGLE CHAPTER RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS Article 6. The Mexican State shall guarantee the exercise of the rights and freedoms of foreigners recognized in the Constitution, in international treaties and conventions to which the Mexican State is a party and in the applicable legal provisions, regardless of their immigration status. Page 5 of 49 Article 7. The freedom of every person to enter, remain, transit and leave the national territory shall have the limitations established in the Constitution, international treaties and conventions to which the Mexican State is a party, this Law and other applicable legal provisions. Free transit is a right of every person and it is the duty of any authority to promote and respect it. No person will be required to prove their nationality and immigration status in the national territory, more than by the competent authority in the cases and under the circumstances established in this Law. Article 8. Migrants may access the educational services provided by the public and private sectors, regardless of their immigration status and in accordance with the applicable legal and regulatory provisions. Migrants will have the right to receive any type of medical care, provided by the public and private sectors, regardless of their [legal] immigration status, in accordance with the applicable legal and regulatory provisions. Migrants, regardless of their immigration status, will have the right to receive, free of charge and without restriction, any kind of urgent medical care that is necessary to preserve their life. In the provision of educational and medical services, no administrative act will establish restrictions greater than those generally established for Mexicans. Article 9. Judges or officers of the Civil Registry may not deny migrants, regardless of their immigration status, the authorization of the acts of marital status or the issuance of certificates relating to birth, recognition of children, marriage, divorce and death . Article 10. The Mexican State shall guarantee migrants who intend to enter the country on a regular basis or who reside in national territory with a regular immigration status, as well as those who intend to regularize their immigration status in the country, the right to the preservation of family unit. Article 11. In any case, regardless of their immigration status, migrants will have the right to the procurement and delivery of justice, respecting at all times the right to due process, as well as to submit complaints regarding human rights, in accordance with the provisions contained in the Constitution and other applicable laws. In the procedures applicable to migrant children and adolescents, their age will be taken into account and their best interests will be privileged. Article 12. Migrants, regardless of their immigration status, will have the right to recognition of their legal personality, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and international treaties and conventions to which the Mexican State is a party. Article 13. Migrants and their families who are in the territory of the United Mexican States shall have the right to be provided information about:
I. Your rights and obligations, in accordance with current legislation; II. The requirements established by the applicable legislation for..."

All socialized medicine systems in Mexico are available to legal residents   -  if they qualify for IMSS - if not they qualify to join the Seguro Popular - under rights of legal immigrant residents in  the  SEGOB  -  INM 2011 Immigration Law. This includes Residente Permanentes and Residente Temporal residents.  Any state, city or hospital where Seguro Popular is denied to any legal resident is breaking this law and the federal Secretaria de Salud federal law and federal anti-discrimination law. Report them to the Secretaria de Salud administration office in the Seguro Popular hospital you are applying at. You will need the place, date, time and the employees name to report them. Take a copy of the above law with you. Even if the employee was instructed by higher ups the investigation you iniciate will reach those whom have incorporated a policy illegally in their particular sector of the federally administrated by Secretaria de Salud federal employees and federally funded Seguro Popular. IMSS also is administrated and mostly - some fee funded - funded by the federal government Secretaria de Salud and both have to follow federal laws without discrimination. Your 16 percent IVA taxes and any SAT taxes you pay fund it.

IMSS does have policy restrictions for some pre existing conditions and exclusion to enrol for some pre existing conditions! Why go apply for the IMSS when you will be rejected? Seguro Popular does not have any restrictions to enrol or waiting periods.

Excluded from enrolling in the IMSS:

People with:
Mental illness, HIV positive, drug or alcohol addictiion, advanced diabetes, kidney failure, advanced COPD, etc. and other serious pre existing illnesses exclude people from enrolling in the IMSS.

http://www.imss.gob.mx/derechoH/enferme … os-familia

IMSS Wedsite:

Excluded from enrolling people with:

"Malignant tumors. Chronically degenerative diseases such as: late complications of diabetes mellitus; hoarding diseases (gaucher disease); chronic liver diseases; chronic renal failure; cardiac valvulopathies; heart failure; sequelae of ischemic heart disease (arrhythmia, angor or myocardial infarction); Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with respiratory failure; Chronic systemic connective tissue diseases. Addictions such as alcoholism and other drug addictions. Mental disorders such as psychosis and dementias. Congenital diseases. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or Acquired Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV).

Diseases with waiting periods:

Six months:

Benign breast tumor.

Ten months:

Birth.

One year:

Lithotripsy Gynecological conditions surgery, except malignant neoplasms of the uterus, ovaries and perineal floor. Surgery of venous insufficiency and varicose veins. Sinus and nasal sinus surgery. Varicocele surgery. Hemorrhoidectomy and rectal fistula surgery and rectal prolapse. of hernias, except intervetabral disc herniation. Hallux valgus surgery. Strabismus surgery.

Two years:

Orthopedic surgery."

Lots of good knowledge presented here and much appreciated.

How do I apply for IMSS? I am told I cant get Seguro Popular in San Miguel?? no pre existing conditions, no medications....

lizdragon wrote:

How do I apply for IMSS? I am told I cant get Seguro Popular in San Miguel?? no pre existing conditions, no medications....

Hi, since you are going to SMA, you should read the info on this site and write to Sonia Diaz (free advice)

http://www.soniadiaz.mx/health-care.html

Adios y buen dia a todos, GyC.

At the time of this post, Seguro Popular is not available to temporary or permanent residents who live in San Miguel de Allende.

There is no IMSS hospital in San Miguel. There is only a small clinic.

All appointments with an IMSS doctor specialist require a referral from the clinic & then travel to an IMSS hospital in Celaya.

In my health care seminars on How to be Prepared for a Medical Emergency, I suggest that people visit the IMSS & Seguro Popular hospitals to get an idea of the level of care available.

Most of the Mexicans I know, when given the choice, would elect private care & insurance over IMSS or Seguro Popular services.

thanks- I am in touch w Sonia..

My wife & I will be in SMA around October around the 18th or 19th for 4 or 5 days.  Can we meet with you while we are there or do you live in another area?  We can be more specific about the exact dates on the 16th of October.  Nice overview.