The TRUTH about MEXICO's Public Healthcare System

Understanding Healthcare in Mexico: Public vs. Private Systems | Insights from a Physical Therapist
In this clip from yesterday's livestream where my Mexican wife, a seasoned physical therapist in Mexico, breaks down the nuances between the public and private healthcare systems. Gain valuable insights from her first-hand experiences, including the challenges and benefits each system presents.
🌐 Public Health Insurance vs. Private Health Insurance in Mexico
Discover the differences and considerations between public and private health insurance for residents. Understand the trade-offs in cost, quality of care, and coverage. Uncover the realities of public hospitals-overworked, resource-limited, and prioritizing complex cases.
⚕️ Orthopedic Care: A Closer Look
Explore the realm of orthopedics in both public and private hospitals. Learn how private health insurance can offer the latest surgical techniques and faster recoveries. Delve into the challenges faced by patients relying on public healthcare for orthopedic cases.
🩺 Dialysis and Critical Care: A Personal Story
Get a glimpse into a personal story involving kidney disease, dialysis, and the challenges of navigating public healthcare recommendations. Understand the complexities of treatment decisions, the limitations of public hospitals, and the potential need for private attention in critical situations.
💡 Navigating Healthcare Choices in Mexico
Learn about the considerations individuals face when choosing between public and private healthcare. Gain insights into the instances where private attention may be necessary despite the cost.
🌟 Conclusion
In this informative video, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare landscape in Mexico. Whether you're a resident or planning a visit, make informed choices about your healthcare based on the insights shared.
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ABOUT ME
I'm Jordan, an American living in Mexico with my Husky, Laska. In January of 2018 I left the US to start traveling Mexico. Since then, I've been making travel videos about my life in Mexico, travel tips, Las Vegas tips videos, and advice for those considering moving abroad.
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[@Dralctig]

As a Mexican lower-middle-class worker, I would like to explain how I handle my healthcare. If I have a simple discomfort like a flu or a stomach ache, I head to 'farmacias similares' since they are affordable (2 US dollars) and provide reasonably good attention. Plus, I avoid the long waits of a public hospital. I primarily use private healthcare services when seeking specialized yet non-urgent attention, like a dentist appointment, a pediatric check-up, or an allergist visit. Prices usually range between 20 and 40 dollars per consultation. However, in the case of a severe accident or major illness, I would undoubtedly go to a public hospital first. They have the advantage of having doctors from all specialties working together and providing full care despite their limited resources. It's worth noting that most doctors who practice in the private sector also work in the public sector. If you have medical ensurence (provided by your employer) attention at a public hospital is completely free and, despite deficiencies, includes free treatments and complete medication. Moreover, as mentioned in the video, it's cheaper to seek only complementary care in the private sector than get the complete treatment.

[@Mario_N64]

The problem in Mexico is, people go to the ER or urgent care in Mexican public hospitals for a goddamn sore throat. And they expect to be seen right away. I had a friend who went to the ER because "his tummy ached". Doctors and nurses are annoyed by this.

[@Dralctig]

@@Mario_N64 Actually. The public health care must be capable of take care that issues as well. The only problem is low budget.

[@jbw53191]

I'm in my early sixties and have lived in Mexico for 3 years now with private insurance. All my medical expenses are a fraction of what they would be in the states and much more accessible, speedy, and simplified. I get nervous when I go back to the States.

[@grega4450]

Approximately how much for private

[@ramonpreciado5204]

What place or city?

[@jluisdiaz6008]

How much do you pay for your insurance ?

[@Eric12358]

Having a public option keeps the private option more competitively priced. We need that option in the USA too!

[@NLee895]

What private insurance do you have?

[@TheParadiseParadox]

I was in a bus accident in 2016 near Cuernavaca. The paramedics took us to the IMSS and a woman was complaining that her daughter was giving birth and hadn't been attended I asked calmly if I'd have to wait 3 hours like that woman, sitting there with a bandage on my head. The hospital was very disorganized, but by the will of God the surgeon gave me 16 stitches and they gave me an x-ray. Turned out fine. They charged me 300 pesos My friend works as a radiologist at IMSS in Guadalajara. He says so many patients get angry saying how confusing the whole thing is. He says yeah, I know, I'm in the same boat... They calm down after that Saludos desde el rancho, que vayan con Dios

[@danman1287]

In the US, the ambulance is 1.5-2k... if u go to the emergency room by yourself it's 1.5k just getting admitted... I think almost everyone would pick imss in the states even if u had to wait. Many people without insurance will get service in the US ...whether they can afford it or not because they always stabilize people... But u will get a huge bill. The best negotiating tactic is being poor. Your credit will get dinged n u may have to file BK.. do Mexico public HC is pretty good imo

[@Mario_N64]

My mother had a really bad Colles fracture in her wrist. She had surgery in a public hospital (IMSS) right away. They put in rods and screws. Then she had extensive physiotherapy. Everything was fine. She received good attention from top notch doctors, the same doctors that work at private hospitals. It didn't cost one cent.

[@TravellingInTime2024]

There are public health clinics and hospitals in the US. They function the same way. With private insurance you get better service but you pay more. However, in the US the health system is so messed up that even with health insurance people go to Mexico for care because of the high cost and because the insurance companies find any reason to deny care and there's not much a person can do.

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

I am American and I agree!

[@grancitodos7318]

I after some years being attended by IMSS, a failure, I was being attended by the Hospital of Neurology in Mexico city, for 5 months and was almost diagnosed, but there was no genetic test to confirm the metabolic disorder. I was sent to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, not to where I should have been in the New York genetic clinic. The doctors and staff were arrogant, unaccepting of studies made in Mexico, and brainless. The cost was ridiculous, and all they did was repeat a limited number of meaningless studies made in Mexico, and came up with the same results. Years later, I spent 2 months in Guadalajara, visiting private labs and doctors, and got a diagnosis. 20 years ago, the public health system was good, short waiting time, but you had to pay, but cheap, now, the clinics are full, with trivial cases, because they don't have to pay.

[@Eric12358]

Public health clinics in the USA are for only the indigent. Ive never heard of a public health hospital in the USA. USA should have a public health insurance option with low monthly rates to compete against the private health insurance scammers.

[@deeh9563]

And you can easily wait to see someone in the ER for 3-6 hours. I’ve found through a couple of my Mexican friends that they think the US system is much better than it Is.

[@TravellingInTime2024]

@@Eric12358 I lived in LA many years ago and there was a pubic hospital, not sure if it was federally or state funded. Previously, the indigent could not get care unless they went to the emergency room. With Obamacare, some states allowed low-income individuals to become part of Medicaid. That program is not good because most doctors do not take it. When Obamacare was passed there was pressure to add a public option. However, the healthcare companies and Republicans killed it. There have always been public health clinics funded through local and federal grants. However, the system is overwhelmed and people can be on years-long waiting lists for service.

[@armandochapa9743]

my mom is a cancer survivor twice in last 25 years in Mexico, IMSS took care of her with specialists, medication, MRI, chemoteraphies, etc. doctors always in positive attitude and giving her high hopes during treatment and asking her to keep fighting the cancer (a lot of empathy), she just got an accident a month ago with her blender and was in risk to lose her pinky finger, IMSS spent 4 hours in surgery to avoid to lose her finger, she end up losing a little piece of her fingerprint but they save her finger to be amputed. have brothers and in-laws where they have accidents like broken arms, serious lacerations and back problems and all of the were treated in IMSS or ISSTE, have friends they were into serious car accidents and IMSS saved their lifes. last 20 years I have to go to emergency in Mexico 3 times and went to public hospital ER and the 3 times they were very professional, did not hold me for hours for X rays or stitches so I have very good experiences (2 ocassions 2 white Americans treated me in those Mexican public hospitals, they were studying Medicine in Monterrey and doing social work there and 1 ocassion a doctor from Panama). I'm not saying that all the public hospitals like IMSS or ISSTE are very good, but by my experience and my family all the times they took care of us. IMSS have different medical system, it is clinicas IMSS, Hospitals IMSS, specialty hospitals IMSS, etc, etc. the clinics IMSS is mostly for regular visits or minor problems and where you grow up going to those clinics to see your pediatrician, family doctor, ginecologist, etc. hospitals IMSS is when you gonna have a programed surgery, operations or something more serious health care and they also have emergency room 24 hours where they send everybody involved in accidents, shootings, etc. and they have specialty hospitals IMSS to follow some kind of infections, broken bones, etc. (unless in Monterrey and other big cities). the problem is when people don't have any kind of insurance either to save some money or because informal jobs that no companies can enroll them so they go when they are really sick to IMSS and because they're not "derecho-ambientes" or have insurance is not priority for them. between all public health system it is IMSS, ISSTE (for all government workers state or federal), PEMEX (oil workers and families), SEDENA (for all military personnel and their families) all those cover aprox. 55% of the people in Mexico (over 60 million people) so of course never will be enough clinics, hosptials, beds, doctors or certain medications sometimes, that's why is almost impossible to have a universal healthcare for all Mexicans (over 120 millions) like Canada that only have 40 millions or Australia with only 25 millions and Mexico is not a first world to have universal healthcare like Germany, Denmark or UK. but at least they have a some how kind of accesible healthcare for more than 3/4 of its population. side note: I have private insurance in U.S for more than 35 years and believe me, all the times that I have to go to ER or my family or friends they have you waiting for hours and hours in ER with zero Empathy or sympathy, one time I went to emergency in a private hosptial with good private insurance on sunday evening with severe pain because kidney stones, I was in the waiting area 12 hours till they finally took me for X rays because they were "too busy". so here in US the hosptials ER are not the best or very functional neither.

[@avalonmist254]

After living in Mexico a year...What you say makes total sense...it's not a fault of the Public Hospital... instead it is a Reality of how in Mexico sometimes it's good and sometimes it isn't...Thank you, I will look into the Private Insurance vs Stressing an already Stressed system!

[@RodHardy]

At my age of 76 can't afford private insurance in Mexico, 7k plus a year for good coverage. You guys are young, wait till you get my age. 🤣🤣🤣

[@shawnbonsant]

So basically the public health care system in mexico is like medicare in canada and the privat side is like the american system. I really wish every country was like Mexico and gave their citizens the choice.

[@willpina]

Not exactly. In the US even with a private health care system, you get treated similarly to the Mexica public system. To borrow their example, if you have a bad stomach ache, you call your Dr and he/she will try to set up an appointment days, even weeks in advance. If you can't wait they'll recommend you go to the ER at the Hospital or an ER clinic. Then you have to wait your turn and still pay crazy prices for everything

[@paulz6491]

I’m in Canada but my brother and sister-in-law live in Washington state. Their health insurance is $900 a month not counting deductibles and co-pays and they still have to wait a long time to see specialist or get treated in hospital for non-life threatening events. Despite all the problems in the Canadian system I’ll take the wait time if it means I’m not presented with a bill that will bankrupt me……

[@paulz6491]

Thank you for a very helpful video. Your wife (I’m sorry I don’t know her name) was very articulate in her explanation and personal examples (I hope her grandfather is doing better) of the differences between the private and public health care systems.

[@carolmartin4413]

Sounds like our Vet hospitals here in 🇺🇸...shame. Money spent is services received. I assume May's insurance covers Jordan?

[@jimohalloran8083]

Thank you for the excellent information.

[@angeronalove5799]

I had brain surgery in Mexico and had an unbelievably great experience. I find the medical care here to be very good. The best in the world? No. Very good? Yes.

[@rioricojohn7455]

Also for a quick fix that we have used several times with good results is to use the Cruz Rojo (Red Cross) clinics. Very satisfied with the one we go to.

[@yestohappiness2721]

do you need to qualify for that in any way? we are starting to gather the paperwork to sign up for imss - trying to have that set up, besides private insurance since we don't know when we will be priced out of private insurance... what do you need for Cruz Roja (we are residents, we have CURP)? Or you pay out of pocket?

[@rioricojohn7455]

@@yestohappiness2721 No need to qualify. It is a walk in clinic that offer many services for a very low price.

[@pcklon2000]

In Mexico you juggle between private and public depending in your income and your needs, I have public insurance but sometimes is more convenient to use a pharmacy, and your job could also offer you a private insurance. I got a surgery recently in the best hospital (private) cover by my insurance just because the public will never do it (it was a minor issue).

[@dannypattino6441]

In USA the healty its a business in México NO more clear than that ?

[@silnymuz6670]

Thanks for the info 👍

[@edinaisaac2515]

I waited 17 hours in the emergency waiting room in the US.

[@ronaldbarba6790]

Good info guys 👍🏼 stay safe

[@osbornebay944]

She is sooooo lovely with facial expressions for something irking.......Love you folks.....

[@edwardmoran1739]

What does May’s insurance cost per month? Family I stay with in Mexico had a crisis with a nasty leg sore and to get help at public hospital, the son had to sleep in the emergency room for 3 days. So your comments are very true.

[@TangerineTravels]

About $100 USD per month

[@mrpeel3239]

I know two well-to-do Mexicans who are in their 80s, and have fled Mexico to the US for ongoing Orthopedic care (and to live as permanent residents). They went to a top Orthopedist in Mexico and said even the private, local specialist care not as competent as here in NYC.

[@colourful64able]

I find that very hard to believe.

[@mrpeel3239]

@@colourful64able Maybe they're impossible to satisfy, in any country?! 😆

[@dreamrelaxation7239]

I understand the contrast between public and private hospitals. It's an old argument that privatization is better. But the same can be said about commercial airlines vs buying a private jet. Sure I would like to own an Embraer Phenom 300 and have my personal flight attendant bring me a bottle of Champagne with my Lobster with truffle and oysters. I just can't afford that right now.

[@danman1287]

They r both young... If u r older or senior... completely different story

[@carolseitz9948]

Whoah😮 almost as bad as Canada! Many Canadians TRAVEL to Private Hospitals in Mexico for Dental and knee surgery’s or just about any part of the body! Then like to recover on a lounge chair by the pool with VIEW of the ocean 😊

[@barba9791]

Sounds exactly like Canadian health care system problems, slow and discouraging

[@Kitty666EmoGoth]

Yeah I was so impressed with the private health care when I went. I had a really bad stomach virus. When I finally started to feel better, it was after supper. In Canada, they'd NEVER give you an extra meal. In Mexico, they'd give you food whenever you need it (I mean it's extra but still! The option is there!). Also, if you call a nurse when staying overnight, the nurse came within 5 minutes. I remember in Canada it would take forever!

[@AlexPerez-jb4nw]

How much does it cost to have private insurance? thank you

[@chericarter735]

Great info! Your fiance looks so cold are yiu guys currently in Mexico?

[@luzmacias244]

Depende mi tío y mi papá los dos tienen público uno imss y el otro isste lo que importa es q teniendo diabetes tienen insulina gratis y otros medicamentos para diabéticos igual grati. Ambos jubilados y tienen por su edad y enfermedad citas programadas todo el año. Pero a veces tardan en obtener el medicamento y tienen q pagarlo ellos y eso no se los pagan pero eso no ha sido muchas veces en los casi 20 años con esa enfermedad. Pero si para un hueso roto te vas al privado.

[@ImigrentfromMars]

Same here in canada they say we have '' free '' hospital care but it's junk, Just had another friend dire while waiting to get seen by a specialist because he could not breath and they told him his wait time was up to a year away, He was 40 married 2 kids and he died because he couldn't see a doctor, I know people who go to the US and Mexico to get help because here it's the lowest care they can give just to send you home. The hospital here closed down floors and cut staff because they can't afford to keep them open, People here are being sent home the next day when they have a baby. I was hit by a car and the surgery to fix me was a 1 to 2 year wait so now I have a permanent limp and back pain but they told me '' Go to the US and they will fix you asap but you have to pay for it. So there was a push to get privet hospital here but that was blocked because the doctors we do have would end up going to the private sector and that would be the end of public hospitals,

[@TangerineTravels]

My mom lives in Canada and got an eye injury about a year ago. She has been blind in one eye since that injury and still hasn't been able to get surgery. They expect it to take about another 9 months until it's her turn. Of course it's nice that there are no additional out of pocket expenses but living under a system where you have to be blind for 2 years while waiting for a surgery doesn't seem like a healthcare system that should be get the very high praise that I often hear about it. And of course hers isn't the only story like that. Comparing her experience to those examples, it's seems that stories like hers are the norm.

[@TravellingInTime2024]

@@TangerineTravels There's a public system in the US called Medicaid, for low-income individuals. It's as bad as any other public health program. Money talks, and with it you can get excellent care anywhere in the world. Millionaires come to the US from other countries to get good healthcare. Those with regular insurance don't get the same care. And the public health system users get much less quality care.

[@arabellalunkes4532]

Yup. The medical care in Canada is great until you need it then it’s a different story. The medical system is so top heavy that very little funds reach the patients.

[@Icelord0518]

on the American private system you get to wait 6+ months to get an appointment with a specialist and then you get to pay thousands of dollars for the visit

[@TravellingInTime2024]

@@Icelord0518 And the insurance will send you a bill later for thousands more saying the procedure is not covered, or was performed by an out of network physician

[@1232bluejays]

thank goodness for you tube. you can pretty much diagnose your own condition.

[@CR-hq1uz]

They tried very hard to make the case that public healthcare is inferior to private, but like she said, you pay a lot more for private. Same as U.S. or most places. I've had private health insurance stateside my entire adult life and they don't cover jack, either. And the long wait times, lousy service, etc are all there with private, too.

[@JR-vs1zl]

Give a thumps up. Keep doing videos on health care and hospitals and diferrent stories. i learn so much from your videos. Thank You.

[@edhcb9359]

Friend was injured riding a mountain bike while on vacation in Mexico and had to have an emergency hip replacement. The good news: Total cost $20k. The bad news: When he returned home his doctor said the techniques used were from the 80’s and it will likely need to be redone in less than a decade. 😂

[@edferculo8887]

when I come on vacation for two months will my medicare cover my health Care in Mexico ???

[@randywilliams4325]

No . I lived in Cabo for 7 months . You can get insurance for medical evacuation.

[@jonathanjacques7250]

Nope

[@willpina]

So it's the same as the US, except you pay for private insurance and get treated like public insurance

[@TangerineTravels]

I wouldn't exactly say that, if you pay for private insurance you get treated very well in Mexico.

[@willpina]

@@TangerineTravels I meant (some) private insurance in the US is equivalent to public insurance in México

[@Myraisins1]

But what are guestimate costs of private health insurance?

[@TangerineTravels]

May, a healthy 33 year old who has been with the same company for a while, for a mid-range insurance plan pays about $100 per month. That premium will increase with age.

[@jluisdiaz6008]

100 pesos or dls ?

[@TangerineTravels]

@@jluisdiaz6008 dollars. It's paid annually and it's 20,000 pesos a year

[@anthonylunagonzalez]

In cancun . They ask 1000dollars just for an IV. For a friend of mine thats insane

[@danman1287]

What happened to laskey?

[@1232bluejays]

just try and stay healthy thats the best insurance you can have

[@dgaydos]

True. Americans and Mexicans would need "sick care" to such a lesser degree if we were to eschew ultra processed "foods" and beverages.

[@paulz6491]

True but staff still happens like traffic accidents or just getting old……

[@ramonpreciado5204]

I had an emergency on October 2023, in a private Hospital or clinic they where asking from $250K to $350k pesos, did not have that can of moneys with me, so i was taken to a Public Hospital (Hospital Civil MORELIA Michoacan) it was a nightmare, TWO weeks in there, and my hearth was failing, deteriorating with a clogged artery they where waiting for someone to approve all the treatments, whaaaat? !!!! I had to fly in pain to San Diego Ca, Medicare accepted the emergency treatment , next day Scrips Hospital took care of my hearth , but with the consequences for life. Due to the lack of humanity in the Mexican Doctors. (Nurses are terrible in that Hospital)

[@danman1287]

U should have gone to the states if u had medicare...you r the dope... Medicare is taxpayer gift to u. How much would u have to pay in US without medicare... 200k USD to 500k USD???

[@Mario_N64]

Then stay in the States. Easy.

[@paulz6491]

I’m sorry you went through this. Its so important to take out travel insurance when travelling. At least they took you to a hospital. In the Philippines without health insurance they will simply not treat you unless you leave a deposit and prove that you can pay…….

[@danman1287]

@@paulz6491 travel insurance doesn't cover that... Lmao.

[@paulz6491]

@@danman1287 My brother had heart problems overseas and his travel/health insurance covered it but ok.

[@user-ih9tb8km5k]

You said your wife is a physical therapist she should get license in usa she can make a lot of money hear or own her own practice incase you guys want to come hear

[@rovvt1284]

columbia or panama

[@1232bluejays]

mexico public system sounds like canada

[@AlexRCarlson]

Sounds like the USA, pay to play.

[@HuatulcoGuy]

I am retired and live in Mexico. All I can afford is IMSS. But now I am scared if I am in serious medical trouble. 🤕

[@Mario_N64]

If you have a serious emergency, you will be treated right away. With good attention.

[@HuatulcoGuy]

@@Mario_N64 Good to know! Thank you Mario! 👍

[@acemamaohiyo]

Public Healthcare in Mexico sounds like healthcare in general in the U.S. Nurse in NY here... our ER wait time can be 10 hours and be held in a hallway..

[@jonathanjacques7250]

Sounds like the VA system.

[@navad3038]

Healt care system was in the hands of a few politics from the right wing and so the entire sistem was in the border of colapse now whit this admin things are getting better but take note that the politics that were involved in this they keep triying to get the bussines back so it gonna take some time to get in a nice condition but will get there...

[@A1ien7]

Sounds like you never used the public health system in the United States. It's even worst

[@gringo848]

us system,, you get an affirmative action doctor or a doctor from some country you cant find on the map. In mexico you get a doctor from from a system biased on merit. Never mind the price, the mexican system is safer and better.

[@danman1287]

Stupid gringo lol.. clown ... affirmative action? Lol

[@DrAJ_LatinAmerica]

Sorry but even at the best private hospitals get busy and there are times the person has to wait. For the absolute best service for non emergency items, pay cash. Cash gets you home visits : ) In all places in the world, Cash is King, US dollars. Plus, critically important is getting to know your doctor, lawyer, account, security services,... on a personal basis is best.

[@TangerineTravels]

I'm sure there's the occasional time when they get really busy because that's how it is with any business. Sometimes you don't have a lot of customers and then other times you get a quick rush of customers. With that said, the only time I've ever seen a busy private hospital in Mexico was at the peak of covid cases when many were lining up to get testing. Whereas with public hospitals, almost literally every time I drive by they appear to be very busy and there are often lines out the door.

[@DrAJ_LatinAmerica]

@@TangerineTravels Yes the public system is a mess. Sad but true. People get what they pay for.

[@frankornelaz8234]

The bottom line. It’s all about money. So sad

[@risingradiance9142]

Ive noticed you guys wearing more and more expensive clothes. Whats the secret?

[@ara5823]

well, I hate to be the one to inform you, but that that pretty much goes for most countries in the world ain’t nothing new