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YOUR HEALTHCARE PLAN MAY USE MORE THAN ONE OPTION
Healthcare in Mexico includes public and private systems. Some residents pay directly for routine care, purchase insurance for larger medical expenses or combine several approaches.
Your possible options include:
Paying out of pocket for routine appointments, dental care, testing and prescriptions
Travel medical insurance for a shorter visit, trial move or seasonal stay
Private Mexican or international insurance for longer-term protection against significant medical expenses
Public healthcare, if you qualify for a program and suitable services are available where you live
The best approach depends on your age, health, location, budget, move type and comfort with risk.
Regardless of which option you consider, your plan should answer three questions:
Where would I go for routine care?
Where would I go in an emergency?
How would I pay for a large medical expense?
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RESEARCH HEALTHCARE IN ONE POSSIBLE LOCATION
Choose one of the Mexican locations from your Day 4 note AND complete three simple searches:
Search One: Private Hospitals
Search:
“private hospital in [location] Mexico”
or:
“hospital privado en [location]”
Look for:
Distance from the neighbourhoods you are considering
Emergency department availability
Medical specialties
Languages spoken
Reviews that mention billing and communication
Whether the hospital works with insurance providers
Do not rely only on reviews. Use them to identify questions, then verify important details directly with the hospital.
Search Two: Routine Medical Care
Search:
“English-speaking doctor in [location] Mexico”
or:
“médico general en [location]”
You may also look in local Facebook groups, but treat recommendations as starting points rather than verified credentials.
Search Three: Your Specific Needs
If you require ongoing care, search for the appropriate service:
Cardiologist
Oncologist
Physiotherapist
Mental-health professional
Dialysis centre
Laboratory
Dental clinic
Veterinary care for a service animal
Your regular medication
Use both English and Spanish searches when possible.
Optional Insurance Search
Search:
“health insurance for Canadian residents in Mexico”
or:
“seguro de gastos médicos mayores para extranjeros en México”
INSURANCE QUESTIONS
Before choosing a policy, I need to ask:
Does it cover the entire length of my stay?
Does it require active Canadian provincial healthcare coverage?
How are my pre-existing conditions treated?
Is there a stability period?
What deductible and co-insurance would I pay?
Does it cover hospitalization and specialist care?
Does it cover medical evacuation?
Does the insurer pay the hospital directly?
If I must pay first, how does reimbursement work?
Which hospitals are in its network?
Is care outside Mexico covered?
Are visits to Canada covered?
Can the policy be renewed as I get older?
What exclusions could affect me?
At this stage, your goal is to see what exists—not request dozens of quotes or choose a policy.
Do not post your full medical history publicly. Share personal medical information only through an insurer’s or licensed broker’s secure process.
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CREATE YOUR FIRST-DRAFT MEXICO HEALTHCARE PLAN
Today, you’ll create a simple plan for routine care, medication and emergencies.
You are not committing to a provider or buying insurance.
You are identifying what appears workable and what still needs to be verified.
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Your Steps
Open your Can I Really Move to Mexico? Notes folder.
Create a new note.
Copy and paste the prompt below into the note.
Use what you found during today’s research to complete the sections that apply to you.
Choose one healthcare question to investigate next.
COPY-AND-PASTE PROMPT
DAY 10 — MY MEXICO HEALTHCARE PLAN
The Mexican location I’m researching is:
My healthcare needs include:
☐ Occasional routine care
☐ Regular appointments
☐ Prescriptions or medical supplies
☐ Ongoing treatment
☐ Specialist care
☐ Other:A clinic or doctor I could potentially use is:
A nearby hospital with emergency care is:
For routine healthcare, I would probably:
Pay out of pocket / Use insurance / Use public care / I’m not sure yet
For a major medical expense, I would probably rely on:
Travel insurance / Private insurance / Emergency savings or credit / I’m not sure yet
The most important insurance or healthcare detail I need to verify is:
My emergency information and documents would be stored:
My next healthcare research step is:
OPTIONAL DEEPER QUESTION
What level of healthcare uncertainty are you genuinely comfortable living with?
Would you feel secure paying for routine care yourself and insuring only major events—or would you need more comprehensive coverage to feel at ease in Mexico?
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HELPFUL RESOURCES
Important Resource Note
Public-program eligibility, coverage, fees and enrolment procedures can change. Availability also differs by location.
Participants should confirm current requirements directly with IMSS, IMSS-Bienestar or the applicable local office before relying on public coverage.
Insurance should also be reviewed with a licensed provider or broker who understands coverage for foreign residents in Mexico.
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Day 10 is complete when you have:
Identified one hospital or medical facility near a possible location
Considered how you might pay for routine and major care
Listed the insurance questions that matter to you
Chosen one healthcare issue to investigate next
You do not need to purchase insurance or make a final healthcare decision today.
Tomorrow, we’ll explore pets, possessions and getting to Mexico—what would come with you, what might stay behind and what the move itself could require.