As a foreigner living in Playa del Carmen, will I have access to public healthcare? What is it like?

We asked expats in Playa del Carmen if they have access to public healthcare in Playa del Carmen. And, if they do have access, what is it like. They wrote...

"Yes, foreigners living in Playa del Carmen have access to public healthcare. The public healthcare system in Mexico is known as the Seguro Popular, and it provides access to basic medical services such as doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications. The quality of care varies depending on the location, but overall it is considered to be of good quality. Additionally, the cost of care is much lower than in the United States, making it an attractive option for those living in Playa del Carmen," commented one expat who made the move to Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

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"As an expat, MOST people will purchase their own Expat Insurance which covers you in any PRIVATE HOSPITAL and allows you to use ANY DOCTOR you wish. Some policies can be quite expensive but others are actually very reasonably priced. For example a mother of 52 with two girls 11 and 13 pays about USD $1900 a year and the coverage INCLUDES the United States. only about $1000 EXCLUDING the United States. This is with a $1000 deductible. This is about the minimum starting point. But, the price of US coverage is just a FRACTION of what you would pay if you lived in the United States. Private insurance will typically exclude pre-existing conditions, but this is on a case-by-case basis. If you work in Mexico, you will have basic medical coverage called IMSS. All employers are required to pay into the system and it is like a socialized form of medical care for Mexico. It is BASIC because IMSS hospitals are not extravagant and will require you to produce a lot of paperwork and will also require a lot of time and patience. There is also health care for the poorest of the poor. In order to enroll you will be asked certain questions like - "is your floor dirt or tile", "do you own a tv"? If you have the means, I would recommend going Private as I can not recommend the public system or hospitals. If you are from the US, you will not be accustomed to the public hospitals and having to deal with the mountains of paperwork in Spanish. ," remarked another expat in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.