Do Americans go to Mexico for medical care?

Asked by: Brice Thompson  |  Last update: April 4, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (36 votes)

Going Abroad for Medical Care
Each year, millions of US residents participate in medical tourism. Medical tourists from the United States commonly travel to Mexico and Canada, as well as countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Can US citizens get medical care in Mexico?

Foreign residents (temporary or permanent) can apply for the Mexican public healthcare insurance system known an IMSS on a voluntary basis which provides access to certain doctors, clinics and hospitals in Mexico. Some medications are also covered under this plan.

How many Americans go to Mexico for health care?

Jacob Pope, Chief Operating Officer of Medical Departures says medical departures account for about 15% of total U.S. outbound business, and sends 100,000 or more Americans each year to Mexico alone. He estimates that roughly 780,000 Americans in total went abroad for healthcare in the prepandemic year of 2019.

Why do US citizens go to Mexico for treatment?

Money matters. The biggest selling point of Mexico as a destination for those willing to travel to get medical treatment is that prices are simply lower south of the border. This is borne out by the statistics of Mexico medical travel, which show that the savings for all sorts of procedures can be huge.

Do Americans go to Mexico for surgery?

Hundreds of thousands of Americans are crossing the border into Mexico each year to receive a wide range of treatments, including medical services, dental care and cosmetic surgery, experts in what has become known as "medical tourism" say.

Millions Of Americans Fleeing To Mexico For Better Healthcare

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Does Mexico have better doctors than the US?

According to the latest health ranking prepared by specialists of the British medical journal The Lancet, Mexico ranks 48th out of 188 countries for the best health professionals worldwide. This list includes nations from virtually the entire planet.

Are Mexican hospitals good?

The majority of Mexican hospitals are excellent and are staffed by highly trained and often English-speaking doctors. However, some nursing and care staff might not speak English. Mexico has achieved universal health coverage and its public healthcare is used by most Mexican residents.

What happens if I need to go to the hospital in Mexico?

If it's an emergency, you can call 911—same as in the United States. Ambulances in Mexico are typically private companies, and you may even have several ambulances arrive to try and compete for your business. Be warned that you may have to pay for them on arrival, privately owned ambulances aren't free.

Should I go to Mexico for healthcare?

Mexico is one of the top 6 countries with the best healthcare in the world.

Do Americans go to Mexico for dental?

Mexico treats more than one million cross-border dental patients every year. The country is a go-to dental destination for Americans. However, dental tourism in Mexico has both good and bad sides.

Do people go to Mexico for surgery?

Many patients choose surgery in Mexico because of the lower costs of surgery in the country. Compared to US prices, patients can save considerably on surgical procedures.

Is Mexico's healthcare system better than the US?

A study published this year in The Lancet found that Mexico's Healthcare Access and Quality Index rating rose from 49.2 in 1990 to 62.6 in 2015. This 100-point scale is a measure of citizens' access to quality healthcare.

Do Americans get free healthcare in Mexico?

In fact, the quality and lower cost of Mexican healthcare have resulted in many US citizens, especially those who don't have insurance, travelling to Mexico for cheaper treatment. Mexico has universal healthcare, meaning its citizens and residents are entitled to free healthcare coverage.

What happens if you have a medical emergency in Mexico?

You should head to the nearest hospital or clinic if you experience a medical emergency. If you're in a rural area, go to the closest town and find the local police station or hospital.

Can I see a doctor in Mexico?

Mexico has many fine doctors and many also speak good English. If you are in need of an English-speaking doctor in Mexico you may contact your local consulate as they usually keep a list of local doctors at hand.

Can I go to Mexico for medical reasons?

Medical tourists from the United States commonly travel to Mexico and Canada, as well as countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. People may travel to another country to get health care for many reasons, including: Cost: To get treatment or a procedure that may be cheaper in another country.

Do you have to pay for hospital in Mexico?

Translating Your Medical Bill

One thing you probably won't think about if you're looking into medical care in Mexico is your hospital bill. Especially if you specifically chose a place because you found an English speaking doctor. Expect the hospital to give you a bill in Spanish.

Is Medicare good in Mexico?

The simple answer is no. Medicare is only available to citizens and permanent residents of the USA who are residing in the USA. Some exceptions when Medicare may cover your expenses in a foreign country include; If you have a medical emergency and the foreign hospital is closer than the nearest US hospital.

Is medical tourism safe in Mexico?

It is absolutely safe to travel to Mexico. The country receives more than one million medical tourists every year, and many more millions of leisure tourists from all over the world, who enjoy safe, incident-free travel.

Are there American hospitals in Mexico?

In Mexico City, you'll find Hospital Médica Sur and two campuses of The American British Cowdray Medical Center—the Observatorio campus and the Santa Fe campus. All these hospitals offer you first-class medical care in Mexico, and they've met standards that compare with what you know back home.

Where does Mexico rank in health care?

On an international scale, Mexico is ranked at 61 in the WHO's league table of countries for the performance of its health care system.

Is it safe to retire in Mexico?

One of the best places in the world to retire is Mexico

Mexico boasts a great quality of life, natural beauty, modern infrastructure, and safety. You should also consider retirement in Mexico because it offers you proximity to the United States, which in turn gives you more flexibility in making your retirement move.

Are Mexican hospitals expensive?

While the cost of medical care in Mexico is generally much lower than the U.S., private hospital care can still be expensive, especially compared with the public healthcare options. One or two hospital stays may make you wish you had joined IMSS or INSABI as your backup plan.

What city in Mexico has the best medical care?

In alliance with the German market and consumer data company Statista, the magazine ranked hospitals in 27 countries for its World's Best Hospitals 2022 index. Médica Sur, located in the borough of Tlalpan, ranked No. 1 in Mexico with a score of 94.37.