With a growing number of expats living in Mexico, many have questions about medical care for foreigners. Seguro Popular offers a low-cost health care alternative to Mexican citizens and residents. Learn more about this option and explore its benefits.
What is Seguro Popular?
Seguro Popular is a public health service provided by the Federal Government. It’s available for anyone not enrolled in social security health programs or lacks access to private insurance. This service is available for both, temporary and permanent residents living in Mexico. Most significantly, the cost range goes from $0 to about $500 USD per family.
Moreover, this insurance covers 266 medical conditions, vaccines, and treatments; with services provided at their clinics throughout the country.
Requirements to enroll
- Foreigners with a temporary or permanent resident status can also apply
- The benefits cannot be provided to patients already enrolled in other social security medical systems such as ISSSTE or IMSS.
- Cover the family fee (varies from $0 to about $500 USD)
- Proof of address, no more than two months old
- Birth certificate or CURP of each member of the family
- Official identification with a photograph of the head of the family
- Members between 18 and 25 years of age, can be beneficiaries as long as they are students and have a documents to prove it. For example: grades, a letter from the university, a valid students card, etc.
- Pregnant women are viable candidates and can register at any time.
On the other hand, if the person interested in joining does not present all the complete documentation or does not comply with the requirements, he/she can affiliate temporarily for 90 days.
Seguro Popular Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
| -Â Â Â Â Â Â Affordable
-Â Â Â Â Â Â It is a backup for your private insurance -Â Â Â Â Â Â They enroll people with previous conditions
-Â Â Â Â Â Â There are clinics and hospitals all over the country -Â Â Â Â Â Â The medical consultations include free medicine |
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Service can be slow, as hospitals can be full
-      You have to go to a general doctor to be referred to a specialist -      Waiting times for specialist appointments can be long -      Sometimes it’s necessary to travel to a bigger city to get certain services -      Most staff doesn’t speak English |
Finally, Seguro Popular is an attractive option for expats living in Mexico. We would recommend it based on the low-cost and the easy enrollment process. However, it is also advisable to have a private “Gastos Mayores†insurance policy, to cover for the studies or procedures that Seguro Popular might not cover.
So, tell us, would you consider enrolling in Seguro Popular? You already joined it? We would love to hear about your experiences!
For further information about Seguro Popular, visit their website (spanish).
