Job Discussion Forums

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

Greetings all.

I was wondering how the health insurance is for people who teach English for a living in DF. Berlitz for example. Is the monthly payments high? Would it be wise to get some type of private health ins also? I've found a good sight ( globalhealth-ins.com) which has policies that can allow one to have coverage in Mexico and the U.S. at the same time. Probably so one could go to the States if needed.
What say you?

Thanks.

John F. Very Happy

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I can't think of anything you could buy into locally for insurance...cash in hand at the hospital basically. Probably the best idea is to get something from overseas. Many US insurers cover for Mexico.

Make sure the package gives you a fairly complete listing of hospitals they deal with in Mexico, to avoid having to pay up front and getting reimbursed later. Also, have the option of evacuation coverage is good.

Alexanndra · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 28 Location: Mexico City

Hey Guy,

I was under the impression that any health insurance purchased in the US would cover accidents/illness in Mexico (or any other country) ONLY if you are travelling, not living (ie, less than 3 months or something like that). For people like you and I (an others!) who are LIVING here, I don't think we'd be covered. I looked into finding healthcare insurance that allowed you to live (not travel) any darn place you want in the world, and I only found ONE, called IHI, which operates out of Coppenhagen, and was very expensive. There are Mexican insurance companies like GNP that will give you good coverage here, and TRAVEL coverage in the US, but again, if you decide to MOVE BACK to the US, that insurance wouldn't be valid, and you'd have to reapply with an insurer there, who could accept you (or not) at its discretion. I think we're basically sc******. Hope I'm wrong though!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

You could be right...not sure on time limits for traveling. What do expats use?

Alexanndra · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 28 Location: Mexico City

There's a big name insurer in the US who will insure expats living abroad AS LONG AS they are part of a group policy, ie, they work for IBM, or some other big company with a lot of expats. I have found nothing other that IHI for "individual" global people. It's really unfortunate how little there is out there. I feel OK with Mexican health insurance as long as I'm here, but it's a little scary thinking that if I ever wanted to go back to the US, I might not be able to get insured there. Yikes.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

http://www.health-insurance-4-tefl-tesl-instructors.com/

Is a link we keep on our site. Looks like they're agents for IMG. They have a few options there however that might be of interest. No idea on prices.

Being still young and indestructible Mad

I haven't yet gotten insurance for myself. My Mexican wife has never had it either...not very wise of us.

Alexanndra · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 28 Location: Mexico City

Guy, are you guys at least in IMSS? You should have something for an emergency (you know that!).

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

joshua2004 · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 3:42 am Post subject:

My school provides 100% coverage for accidents and emergencies. ls650 is right, for doing the non-emergency situations, go to a clinic its not that expensive.

I would look for a school that provides emergency medical insurance. The chain schools like Berlitz, Harmon Hall, etc., I doubt if they provide this.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

saraswati · Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 200

The last time I stepped foot in an IMSS hospital was to give birth to my son. I had had very good pre-natal care but everything went to h... during the delivery. Never going there again!!

We only use the clinic for vaccinations.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Alexanndra · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 28 Location: Mexico City

Yeah, I heard they leave women in the hall during childbirth and basically let them have their babies on their own. My houskeeper told me that a lot of her friends prefer to hire local mid-wives and have their babies at home for that very reason. Others have told me it was fine for them, so I think it really depends on where your clinic is.

There's a card called VRIM where you can see many kinds of specialists for $150 and get 50% discount on lab tests at Laboratorios Polanco. For general care (non-emergencies) it's really worth while. The card costs about $300 per year.

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

Great information all! I went to globalhealth-ins.com. This was the sight that has plans for Americans living abroad so I'm hoping that I'll be able to use this in the case of an emergency. You all may want to check into it if you're not coimpletely satisfied with the type of insurance you currently have in DF.

John