Insuring Your Health and Your Wallet in Puerto Vallarta

Mike Altman

By Mike Altman

Quality affordable health care by several first-tier hospitals and hundreds of excellent doctors is one of the key reasons so many Americans and Canadians choose to live in Puerto Vallarta.

Medical care in Mexico is affordable – when compared with costs in the U.S. – but it is not free and you will most likely have to pay in advance for services and seek reimbursement from your insurance carrier later.

Medical insurance is a must for travelers and expatriates but most traditional health insurance policies (including Medicare and Medicare supplements) have limited or no coverage once you leave your home country. Be sure to check with your carrier before you travel!

Emergency air evacuation (MedEvac) gives you the option to seek treatment back in familiar surroundings with family and friends around especially if your health insurance doesn’t cover you here. Rapid MedEvac from our international airport to any place in North America is another reason to choose Puerto Vallarta.

However, in addition to MedEvac, most expats choose from these basic types of insurance:

1. International policies are annual “American Style” long-term, comprehensive medical insurance policies. They come with a long list of benefits and are subject to underwriting – a review of your medical history to determine insurability.
2. Traveler’s policies are for a limited term (up to two years), offer less total coverage, but they are usually more affordable. Traveler’s policies come without underwriting at the time of purchase. You are covered no matter your age or health condition– subject to the limitations on preexisting conditions discussed below.
3. “Mexican Health Insurance”: There are a number of quality insurance programs designed for Mexico and offered by Mexican insurance companies. Like so many things here, the longer you are here the more comfortable you will become using these services.
4. Group medical insurance policies which function somewhat like HMOs in the U.S. provide coverage, but the list of acceptable providers is somewhat limited.
5. IMSS – Mexico’s public “safety net.” The most affordable solution, but difficult to qualify for especially if you are 65 or older, and the level of service is “basic.”

Preexisting conditions: Most expats are at or near retirement age and most have a medical history that includes a pre-existing condition or two. No insurance company wants to pay for conditions that you had before you signed up. They will decline coverage, or exclude the condition from your policy and/or place a time limit on the policy’s coverage for that condition. In the case of Travelers policies with no underwriting upfront, you are still responsible for conditions that were pre-existing.

Ambulance Services: You can’t dial a single emergency number here like 911 in the US so you have to do some research to pick from the several independent ambulance companies the one you want to use. Ask other expats in your building or a health care professional for help in choosing the right one for you. Then keep their telephone number on speed dial on your phone!

As with everything related to having an enjoyable stay in Puerto Vallarta, the best source for reliable “real world” information is from other expats. We have a thriving expat community here who are always eager to welcome newcomers and share their experience and hard-earned knowledge.

Mike Altman is the owner of PV Health