$1000 a YR Health Insurance in Mexico

Health is quality of life, and health insurance is a massive factor in budget, feeling safe.  Many of my friends and visitors in the spa and tours ask me because they have plans, ideas, dreams of living in Mexico.  Looking for options in life and adding color and details to the Baja life. 

Cost and quality. 

When I arrived in Baja, when through my cancer ordeal, I first had a high deductible with the marketplace, Eventually as I built a life here, and transitioned to full-time resident, I dropped that coverage. 

Now my health insurance currently as a full-time resident is through a private private insurerer, AXA.  

Costs of My Ensenada Health Insurance 

In 2023 I paid $850usd a year for my age/ risk category: 45, healthy non-smoker, and cancer survivor.  It includes travel coverage that covers me while I run errands in US, but I do not have US based insurance. In understand my policy has about a $2,500 deductible.  

So this is a high-deductible policy (depending how you measure high).

16,700 was $845 at january 2023 exchange rates.

And next year 2024 look like it will be $1,175.

I am not pushing this product, but just sharing what has worked for me.  Compared to what I read others are paying,

Since I treat it like a high deductible, I don’t go looking for reimbursement for my gym, prescriptions, and daily stuff.  From a financial security and independence perspective, I have  the insurance to prevent catastrophic punches in my budget and life that would cause serious life bummer or bankruptcy.  

So far the insurance has worked great for me for the last 5 years I have been covered.  The local emergency room at Velmar hospital has dealt with my emergencies, about half have been covered by the insurance, and others were out of pocket and affordable.   

For example, when I crashed my cool blue Honda Element two years ago breaking my left collar bone and right forearm, they covered most of the emergency room bills and the surgery to put the metal bar in my clavicle.  

Related to costs, Velmar also treated my tumor 10 years ago at a cost that worked for me. Back when I had the cancerous testicle removed in 2009 when I had been living in Baja just a year. At the time I thought I was waiting for my next economic consulting contract to take me away to Colombia or Peru.

I was on US high deductible and the cost with the deductible, copay and such was about 5k.  The UCSD doc who gave me the second opinion and exact same recommendation - remove the testicle - said the procedure was simple, and the same for 20 years and the Docs in Ensenada do it fine.   

When I checked local cost, the total cost was about 5k, same as my out of pocket in US. It was the same here total cash at Ensenada’s Velmar Hospital. Since I was living near Ensenada at the time and didn’t want to cross border for the procedure. and I had it done here and paid out of pocket. No problems as it was an just an 7 hour in and out visit.  I didn’t even spend the night.  

Quality of My Ensenada Health Care

People wonder about the quality of medical care here in Ensenada and generally in Mexico.  That deserves another blog, and my experience has been fine.  With my collar bone, it healed up so I have 100% use, pain-free.  The screws are getting pushed out of the plate, so I really should have the metal bar removed.  I scheduled it and got insurance coverage okayed.  I got distracted by life family health issues, so that medical procedure is waiting.  I haven’t had my collarbone broken in the US, so don’t know what that would be like.  I got good treatment, I am healthy. So, works for me. 

I have not bought into the national system, although I understand that is an option for permanent residents.  And Mexico does offer health services workers with a variety of government-run hospitals.  I am by no means an expert on those. 

My one experience was when I was ill and a girlfriend took me in.  I think I got to jump the line a bit because she knew a nurse.  Overall, I don’t remember it as terrible, just a substantial wait, and limited resources for the many people they need to serve.  So, that system is not my choice.

So my default service it to the local private hospitals.  The best I understand it, many medical professionals work through the national system as part of their service and loan repayment, then strike out to a private hospital or independent office.  Functionally, I show us with my credit card and get care.  And my experience has been great care by bilingual medical professionals. At a cash cost that I can handle.

So, my experience is that as a permanent resident, I can access good quality health care and affordable high-deductible health insurance here in Ensenada. 

Please comment with your questions, and encourage me to blog more about expat life here!