Are you and your family considering giving up your health insurance back home because it is too expensive? You don’t want to be unprotected in case of an accident or major health problem that you could develop after moving to Mexico.

 There are several plans available in Mexico for Private insurance carriers. Still, if you’re only interested in coverage for significant events, and you are willing to pay as you go for check-ups and regular care. In that case, this information will help you navigate the Social Security Health Insurance for Mexico’s permanent residents.

The first thing you need to know before you read on is that if you have any pre-existing conditions like cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. You are not eligible to buy this insurance. You might be asking. How would they know? And the answer is simple, the first time you use your insurance, the doctor will be able to assess if you have any of these pre-existing conditions, and they would then cancel your insurance without a refund.

You also have to consider that most Mexicans that can afford private health care buy it and don’t use the social security system because of the waiting times and sometimes long lines to receive care. 

 Before you apply to buy the IMSS insurance, you have to have your SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

How do I get my Social Security number?

• Get your birth certificate, apostille it, and have it translated to Spanish. If you have a permanent resident card, your birth certificate doesn’t need to be translated by a certified translator, it can be a simple translation, but the apostille is necessary.
• You will also need an official ID passport, permanent resident card, your CURP (Unique Population Registry Key), and your proof of address (CFE or water supply bills). Take two copies of everything.
• Go to the Administrative Office of the IMSS delegation closest to you and take a turn (Notice: Not all IMSS buildings have these administrative offices, make sure to verify which one is the closest to your delegation)
• Give all the documents to the clerk who will check them and give you a page with your Social Security Number. 

(At the time we wrote this article, the information was that the process has to be in-person to get your Social Security Number. Therefore, you can’t obtain the SSN online, but you may apply for the insurance online.)

Now you are ready to buy your Social Security plan for you and your family. In the past, to access Insurance for Mexico’s Permanent Residents, it was necessary that enroll at least one family member to access this type of insurance called “Seguro para la Familia.” However, now you can register as an individual.

It is essential to enroll at the end of the month because the insurance will cover you starting on the month after you are enrolling. If you register later in the month, you will be paying the whole month and only use it for a couple of days. It is also vital that you renew your annual insurance 30 days before it expires every year.

How does it work?

• It is a health insurance to which any person and their family members can voluntarily join as long as: They
  • carry out the procedure through IMSS Digital or in the sub-delegations.
  • Do not have a social security scheme in another public institution.
  • Have no pre-existing diseases

• You buy it voluntarily through the celebration of an agreement with the IMSS.
• The subjects covered by this insurance are the insured and his family nucleus:
  • Spouse or common-law wife,
  • Children, father and mother of the Insurance applicant and,
  • Grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, cousins, children of the parents’ brothers and sisters of the insured subject

• You pay an annual fee that entitles you to medical services during that period (see table).
• There is a fee for each family member who joins the insurance, according to their age.
• Your coverage begins on the first day of the month immediately following your registration.
• If you want to continue with the insurance at the end of the year, you must renew it within 30 calendar days before the year’s expiration.

What rights does it grant?

• The insurance covers medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, hospital, and maternity assistance.
• In the case of maternity, care is provided during pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium.
• Some pre-existing diseases will not allow you to incorporate to IMSS, such as malignant tumors, chronic degenerative diseases (late complications of diabetes mellitus), hoarding diseases (Gaucher disease), chronic liver diseases, chronic renal failure, heart valve disease, heart failure, sequelae of ischemic heart disease (arrhythmia, angor or myocardial infarction), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with respiratory failure.
• Also, if you have chronic systemic diseases of connective tissue, addictions such as alcoholism and other drug addictions, mental disorders such as psychosis and dementias, congenital conditions, and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Human Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). In that case, you won’t be able to enroll.
• Some exclusions to the coverage include cosmetic surgery, glasses, hearing aids, and chronic conditions that require permanent therapeutic control.

On-Site

• At the sub-delegation corresponding to the insured’s address, from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 15:30 hours.
• Present official identification, Immigration card of permanent resident, translated birth certificate, CURP (Unique Population Registry Key), and proof of address, if applicable, marriage certificate, that of the family members to be incorporated.
• Provide general data and fill out a medical questionnaire.
• Cover the payment of the annual fee.

 Online

• Email
• CURP (Unique Population Registry Key)
• Social Security Number
• Enter the following address: www.imss.gob.mx/derechoH/escritorio-virtual

Costs

 Each insured’s annual fee to be covered in advance is determined depending on the applicant’s age.

Fees effective as of March 1, 2021.

 Steps for the procedure

1. Start the procedure

Verify that the address that you have registered with the IMSS is up-to-date.

2. Health questionnaire

Answer a history of illnesses. Knowing past diseases is an essential piece of information to know the current health status of you and your family.

3. Enter family data

Register the data of the relatives you want to insure. They can be wife (or) or concubine (life partner), children, father, mother, or your additional relatives, such as grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, cousins, nephews, and uncles.

4. Confirm your data

Verify that your data and that of your family are correct.

5. Receive result

Obtain the proof of the procedure and the capture lines to make the annual payment and obtain the Incorporation to the Family Health Insurance.

Medical questionnaire

diseases

 PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS:

ASTHMA OR ALLERGY

CHRONIC BLOOD ILLNESS

CANCER O TUMORS

DIABETES MELLITUS

HEART DISEASE

LIVER DISEASE

NERVOUS OR PSYCHIATRIC CHRONIC DISEASE

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

RHEUMATISM OR ARTHRITIS

TUBERCULOSIS

STOMACH ULCER

AIDS

HIV POSITIVE

 (BIRTH) DISEASES 

CHRONIC BRONCHITIS

STROKE

STRAIN OR LIMITATIONS OF MOVEMENT FOR ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS

ADDICTIVE ALCOHOLISM (FREQUENT)

ADDICTION BY TOXIC SUBSTANCES (FREQUENT)