Who Needs Long-Term Expat Health Insurance?
If you are relocating to Mexico permanently, retired in Lake Chapala or San Miguel de Allende, working remotely from Oaxaca or Puerto Vallarta, or splitting your year between North America and Mexico (three months or more annually), travel insurance will eventually fall short. Travel medical plans are built for unexpected emergencies; expat health insurance is real, comprehensive healthcare coverage that renews every year and covers ordinary life — doctors, prescriptions, wellness checks, and ongoing conditions.
The Three Approved Carriers We Match You With
1. GeoBlue Xplorer (BCBS Global Solutions) — The Expat Gold Standard
- No annual benefit limit for covered care outside the United States
- 100% preventive and primary care coverage outside the US, including recommended vaccines
- Outpatient and inpatient expenses covered 100% after deductible at contracted providers
- 24/7 TeleMD telemedicine visits with no copay
- Largest global direct-billing network — including top private hospitals across Mexico that bill GeoBlue directly
- Pre-existing condition coverage available subject to medical underwriting
- Choice of coverage that includes or excludes the United States (for visits home)
- Deductible options: $0, $1,000, $2,000, $5,000, and $10,000
2. IMG Global Medical Insurance (GMI) — Tiered Long-Term Precision
- Annually renewable international private medical insurance with Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers
- Inpatient hospitalization, surgery, and intensive care across all tiers
- Outpatient exams, physical therapy, and prescription benefits on higher tiers
- Maternity and wellness benefit riders available
- Worldwide hospital network with emergency evacuation and repatriation included
- Great fit for families and professionals needing flexible deductible/premium trade-offs
3. Trawick International — The Long-Stay Hybrid
Trawick specializes in travel medical, but their plans are extendable up to 364 days and can be renewed up to two years — an attractive bridge option for expats on temporary resident visas whose first year is transitional before buying a permanent international medical policy.
US Citizens: Medicare Stops at the Border
Many Americans moving to Mexico assume Medicare (and Medicare Supplement plans) follows them. It does not. Medicare provides no coverage outside the United States except rare border-zone circumstances. If you drop or defer Part B while living in Mexico and later return, you may face late-enrollment penalties. The smart structure most expats choose is keeping Medicare for visits home while carrying GeoBlue Xplorer (with the US coverage rider) for everything else. We walk you through every permutation so nothing falls through the cracks.
Canadians: Coordinating Around Provincial Absence Limits
Canadian provincial plans require you to reside in your home province a set number of months each year (often five to seven, depending on the province). Beyond that, you lose provincial validity — and even while valid, provincial reimbursement rates are so low that they cover barely a fraction of Mexican private hospital fees. Long-term expat health policies are not tied to provincial validity, so retirees who make Mexico their primary residence stay fully covered regardless.
What a Good Expat Policy Covers in Mexico
- Inpatient hospitalization, surgery, ICU, and private room
- Outpatient consultations, specialists, imaging, and labs
- Prescription medication
- Preventive wellness exams and vaccinations
- Emergency medical evacuation to the US or Canada if needed
- Mental health services and rehabilitation
- Optional dental, vision, and maternity modules
Costs You Can Expect
Healthy adults in their 40s often pay roughly $100–$250/month for comprehensive international medical coverage in Mexico; seniors pay more, but typically far less than Medicare Advantage-equivalent coverage in the US. Exact quotes depend on age, deductible, carrier, and US inclusion.