Job Discussion Forums

[Nic]

Hi there,

I was wondering what you experienced travellers out there would suggest in terms of insurance for first time teacher/travellers in Mexico?? Health insurance? Travel insurance? I've heard that health insurance is pretty well 'not offered' with a teaching job in Mexico, and that some (teachers) don't even purchase separate health insurance as the cost of any medical treatment while down there is probably less than the long term cost of insurance??

Thoughts???

Thanks soo much,

N

[inmexico]

I think you would be best served to aquire some travel insurance. It is true that the cost of a visit to the Dr. is relatively cheap here by Canadian standards (about 15.00) if you were to require any hospitalization, you could be in for a pretty big bill. Especially if you want to be treated in a decent hospital. There are definitely 2 standards here, decent and horrible.
In the fall of 2001, two people died from broken bone injuries while waiting for treatment in a Durango hospital....this would be an example of horrible but affordable healthcare.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Compared to medical expenses in the USA, medical costs are extremely cheap, at least in the part of Mexico where I live. However, that is not a reason to be here without medical/travel insurance. If your employer doesn't provide seguro social, and most language schools in this city don't, a serious or even semi-serious injury or health problem could leave you in a real bind. If you show up at a decent hospital ER injured or with health problems needing immediate attention, the general rule is No insurance or no dinero efectivo (cash) to more than cover what needs to be done, then no obligation to help you. Even local health services at the seguro social hospital here can vary greatly depending on a number of factors. People have been known to die waiting to see a doctor at the local "public hospital." In such cases, the two hours in the waiting room probably allowed them two extra hours of life that they wouldn't have had if they'd been treated by a public hospital doctor immediately upon arrival there!

I agree with "inmexico" that there are two kinds of care: decent and horrible. For those accustomed to health care in countries like the USA and Canada, it's hard to imagine just how horrible horrible can be.

For those considering doing a stint of teaching EFL in Mexico, health/travel insurance is definitely something that should be given priority research.

Best wishes!

[Nic]

Thanks a lot for that info. I guess I will be getting on that health insurance, and making sure I know where the reputable hospitals (with English speaking doctors) are. Wow!

So, I was also wondering today - it sounds like 'you guys' just cruise around on the cash you are paid for teaching, and never really bother with a bank account of any sort (just rely on your Canadian or American home bank account to make emergency withdrawls if need be) - Soo, on that note - how often do you usually get paid as a teacher in Mexico? I'm sure that also varies a lot - but roughly.

It seems a bit strange, being used to depositing your paycheques everytime you get paid in Canada, to just keeping your 'monies' on hand like that. Just taking your cash, and 'keeping it'. I guess you just have to find a safe place to keep it in your own? . . bringing a fold up safe in my suitcase? (ha.)

It all seems very strange to me right now

thanks so much for your continued responses,

cheers,

Nic

[some waygug-in]

It depends who you work for, I supose, but I guess that most teachers get paid every quincena (every 15 days or bi-monthly). How ever you want to say it. Not all places pay in cash either. My first job there, the school opened a bank account for me and direct deposited my pay every quincena.

My second job, I was paid weekly in cash.

So it depends.

As to your question of where to keep your money, Well, I did have a small stash in my room. ( in a place I hoped nobody would ever think to look) But usually the pay was so low that I had no problems just keeping it all in my wallet.

Cheers

[inmexico]

Regarding pay, my first employer also directly deposited my cheques into an account that he opened for me. The next paid every 15th and the last day of each month - in cash. I kind of prefer the cash method myself.

[Guy Courchesne]

cheques and banking in Mexico are not the conveniences they are in Canada. You need an FM3 to open an account in most places, and the connections to banks back home are costly. Soctiabank has a big presences here, but little byway of connecting to home cheaply.

If where you worked in Mexico paid in cash, for security, you could always convert it to US traveler's checks at many banks.

[Punter]

Hi folks! First time poster, long time lurker. I found this old post re: insurance, but nothing newer. Can anyone give me any companies to research or websites to visit? I am trying to do the responsible thing. Thanks for all your helpful posts!

[moonraven]

About handling money: If you are going to be here very long, I suggest working legally (FM-3) so that you can receive benefits and also have a bank account. At one point I had 3, and that was silly--I changed employers and kept the salary deposit accounts going out of laziness. A bank account is a safer way to manage your money than carrying it around with you or hiding it under your mattress. With an FM-3, as someone else mentioned, you can open a bank account. It used to be that you didn't need that, but the rules changes about 5 years ago.

[saraswati]

Having an FM3 doesn't necessarily mean that the bank will allow you to open an account. I know a teacher who went to open a bank account but because her FM3 was a month away from expiring, the bank officers refused to open an account for UNTIL she renewed it.

My advice is that if you decide to open a bank account, you need to do so immediately after acquiring your FM3.

[moonraven]

The bank was right, in this case--if her FM-3 was a month away from expiring, the immigration law requires it to have been submitted for renewal--and that information is included inthe FM-3 booklet itself. She could have followed the law, submitted the FM-3 for renewal and shown a photocopy of the FM-3 and her form for renewing it at the bank--and probably they would have opened an account for her. Banks are a pain in the neck here, but we don't make it any easier on ourselves if we ask them to go against regulatons that we should be aware of.

[saraswati]

Hence my comment that one need to open a bank account as soon as he/she has an FM3 in hand.

I don't believe I alluded to any illegal actions.

[moonraven]

I don't believe I said anything about illegal actions. Try re-reading my post?

[saraswati]

There's no need. You alluded that the teacher shouldn't expect bank officers to go against regulation. Doing so would be illegal. What you said was understood. Even the lines in between.

Moonraven, I know who you are. I respect your intelligence but do not try and subtly attack me because I continue to work for an organization you feel treated you unjustly.

[moonraven]

I am very sorry if you feel I am attacking you in any form. As I have absolutely no idea who you are, do you really feel there is something personal about my indicating that an FM-3 can be used to open an account at any time up until 30 days before its expiration date--and that it doesn't have to be used to open a bank acount right when you get it? This forum--from my perception--is designed not only for discussion among folks who are experienced, but also to give information to people who ask for it. I am concerned about giving correct information to those folks.