My Guide to Mexico Travel Insurance

I always recommend travelers to get travel insurance for Mexico, whether you’re here for a week or a year. Here’s why.

After traveling to over 150 countries, I have had my fair share of missed flights, lost luggage, and some close shaves of medical emergencies. I’ve also seen and heard lots of other travelers’ stories and their unfortunate mishaps.

I often get asked by new travelers planning a trip to Mexico if it’s essential to get travel insurance. And my answer is always a resounding yes! I always believe that it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I have annual travel insurance, and it has helped me in many ways over the years.

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What is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is a package of protections designed to cover unexpected costs during your trip. The main types of coverage include trip cancellation and interruption, medical expenses, evacuation, baggage loss, and flight insurance. You can also add extra policies for specific needs, like identity theft or political evacuation. Most travel insurance is sold as a comprehensive package.

Different policies cover different aspects of your trip, from reimbursing you for a canceled vacation to providing medical treatment if you fall ill abroad. Companies like Safety Wing offer comprehensive policies that serve as primary coverage, covering all aspects of your trip. This can save you from out-of-pocket costs, giving you peace of mind while traveling.

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What is the Best Travel Insurance for Mexico?

Once you’ve decided what type of Mexico travel insurance you want to go for (see the “Types of Travel Insurance” section below), the next step is selecting the right insurance provider. Personally, I have been using Safety Wing for years and it has served me well. Founded by fellow nomads, it offers a deep understanding of the unique requirements of remote workers.

Unlike most policies, Safety Wing operates on a subscription-based model with auto-renewal, providing unmatched flexibility. I have an annual plan but you also have the option to pay monthly and easily start, pause, or stop coverage. So, you won’t need to pin down an end date for your travels, making it ideal for those with ever-changing plans.

Safety Wing is the most popular travel insurance company these days. They cover kids for free as long as you’ve got a plan with them. I use their Nomad Insurance plan, which covers COVID-19 as any other illness as long as it was not contracted before the coverage start date.

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How Much is Travel Insurance for Mexico?

The cost of travel insurance for Mexico can vary significantly based on a few factors. Typically, standard policies that cover emergency health care and cancellations range from 5–10% of your total trip cost. If you want coverage for non-emergency cancellations, expect prices to increase to 20–50% of the trip price.

Age is also a major factor — rates rise sharply for travelers over 50, while insurance for kids under 18 is often inexpensive and sometimes free. The specifics of your trip, such as the activities planned and the level of coverage you need, also influence the cost. The average cost of travel insurance for an eight-day trip to Mexico is around $157, based on a typical trip cost of $2,837.

However, if you’re planning on participating in adventure or extreme sports, like scuba diving or zip-lining, not all travel insurance plans automatically cover these activities. You may need to purchase an upgrade or find a policy specifically tailored to cover the adventure activities you have planned. To get an accurate estimate, it’s best to fill out a quote form, where you’ll be able to compare various plans with different coverage levels.

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Real-life Experiences Over the Years

Health insurance for Mexico travel is an absolute must, as my friend quickly discovered on a trip to Cancún. She arrived feeling nauseous, assuming it was just motion sickness from the long flight. However, her condition worsened throughout the evening, and we took her to a nearby private hospital with decent reviews.

After four hours, a private room, CT scans, and blood work that revealed nothing, the real shock came. Her husband had unknowingly signed a blank bill with initial charges of $2,500! This nightmare could have been avoided with proper health insurance for Mexico travel. It would have helped cover the unexpected and staggering medical costs.

Another friend of mine had her backpack stolen in Mexico City. In that backpack, she had a MacBook and DSLR Camera which both combined cost north of $2000. Unfortunately, she hadn’t bought any theft protection policy, so that was that.

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Types of Travel Insurance

These are the most common types of travel insurance;

Trip Cancellation Insurance

Every now and then you could be forced to cancel a trip due to something coming up or a family emergency. Travel insurance is essential if you’ve prepaid for excursions, hotel rooms, or other non-refundable costs. In cases like a storm hitting your destination, forcing you to cancel, this type of insurance can cover 100% of your non-refundable expenses.

However, if you want to cancel due to the possibility of a storm nearby (but unlikely to impact your trip), standard travel insurance won’t cover that. For more flexibility, upgrading to “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) insurance can be useful. While it costs about 50% more, CFAR allows you to cancel for any reason not covered by the base policy, offering 50% to 75% reimbursement.

Comprehensive plans often include trip interruption insurance, which can help you in case you need to cut your vacation short. For instance, if your child gets sick while you’re in Cancún, the travel insurance can cover the cost of changing flights or booking new ones. Also, it reimburses you for prepaid, non-refundable expenses for the unused portion of your trip, giving you peace of mind when life takes an unexpected turn.

Medical Coverage Insurance

Travel insurance is crucial for medical emergencies, especially since your U.S. health plan may provide little to no coverage outside the country. In Mexico, you could face unexpected health issues like mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue fever and malaria, or even traveler’s diarrhea. Medical costs in Mexico are generally lower than in the US and Europe but there’s still a strong case for securing travel insurance.

In a Mexican public hospital, a doctor’s visit might only set you back around 400 MXN ($20), and emergency care starts at just around 350 MXN ($18). However, there’s a significant gap in the quality of medical services offered here compared to public hospitals in the US or Europe.

In tourist hubs like the Riviera Maya, private hospitals like CostaMed and Hospiten offer top-tier services with English-speaking doctors, making them an ideal alternative for travelers. But their impeccable services come at a premium. Without health insurance for travel to Mexico, you may have to fork out thousands of dollars or even more to get yourself out of the scenario.

Whether it’s an overnight hospital stay or a visit to the local clinic, emergency medical coverage can help avoid hefty out-of-pocket expenses. Travel insurance plans often offer coverage amounts ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, giving you peace of mind and financial protection while abroad.

Medical Evacuation (Medevac) Insurance

Medical evacuation (medevac coverage) is essential when traveling in Mexico, especially if you’re exploring remote areas where medical facilities may be limited. If you face a serious injury or illness, it ensures you’re transported to the nearest appropriate medical facility within Mexico. Most plans also cover your transportation back to the U.S. for specialized treatment.

This can involve the use of helicopters or airplanes, which can be extremely costly without insurance. Most comprehensive plans include medevac coverage, but it’s important to select one that offers at least $250,000 to cover these potentially life-saving services, as well as repatriation in the event of death.

Theft Protection

Travel insurance is crucial in case of baggage theft and could come in handy for your Mexico trip. It could happen anywhere, perhaps you’re enjoying a meal at a food truck where it’s easy to lose track of your belongings.

If your camera or other valuables are stolen, baggage insurance within your travel insurance plan can step in to cover the loss. Simply report the theft to local law enforcement, then contact your travel insurance provider to file a claim. Please note that some plans may require home insurance to pay first.

Annual Travel Insurance

Annual travel insurance plans are useful because they provide a variety of coverages in one convenient plan that covers you for an entire year’s worth of trips. Frequent travelers, traveling academics, business travelers, and even retirees who travel often like the simplicity of having the same coverage all year long.

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How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Mexico

The type of travel insurance for Mexico trip you buy depends on many factors and it’s subjective to the type of activities you do, how long you’re traveling, etc. Here are some questions you should ask yourself first:

How often do you travel and how long are your trips?

If you travel more than three times a year, or are traveling for a year or more, you can save money by purchasing an annual trip insurance like I do.

Are you traveling independently or with a tour operator?

If you are traveling on a tour, ask the operator you are traveling with if they offer travel insurance; some of them offer policies that automatically cover all activities undertaken on your trip.

What type of activities do you usually do on your trips — outdoor adventures or cultural museums visits?

Keep in mind that most travel insurance policies do not cover outdoor activities such as biking, trekking, horse riding, or sailing. It is wise to find an activity insurance that will cover not only general travel-related incidents, but also the activities you will be participating in on the trip.

Do you travel with a lot of expensive gear and equipment?

Most travel insurance policies don’t cover valuables (or have a low limit), so you might need a separate policy to cover your cameras or other expensive gear for accidental damage and theft.

How is your health condition — any pre-existing illness?

How much you pay for the insurance plan depends on your health condition. Check to see if your regular health insurance plan covers you overseas. Sometimes you can top it up with some extra premium and get yourself covered for your trip too.

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Tips on Buying Travel Insurance for Mexico

Before you decide on a particular travel insurance plan, consider these factors:

• Check if the policy covers your destination.
• Check if the policy covers COVID-19. Many policies don’t include COVID-19 coverage and will not cover COVID-19 treatment. I advise buying specific COVID-19 travel insurance if you are in a vulnerable group.
• Ask if the policy covers your interest (be it biking or hiking) as a primary activity. Many travel policies only cover cycling as an incidental activity, not a primary one.
• Find out what the excess of the policy is. This is the amount of money you need to pay for each claim. It may be worthwhile paying a higher premium for a policy with smaller excesses.
• Check the coverage limits. Most policies have a ceiling on the value of items to be insured, especially big-ticket items like cameras and laptops.
• Find out what documentation you need to supply to file a claim.
• Be honest about any pre-existing medical conditions you may have. Lying about your health conditions may give the insurance company the right to deny your claim.
• Some credit card companies provide limited travel insurance if you purchase your flight with their card. Ask your credit card company what it covers.
• Find out if the insurance company will provide any medical or emergency assistance on the road and if so, what information you will need when seeking assistance.
• Find out if you can renew the policy while on the road.
• Always check the fine print so you will be aware of every exclusion clause the policy may have.

When buying insurance, make sure they cover these items:

• Medical treatment, hospital transportation, and repatriation if you fall ill or injure yourself.
• Monetary compensation for trip cancellation in the event of an emergency.
• Coverage for loss or theft of valuables, documents, money, and baggage, and repatriation of remains in the case of fatal incidents.

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Specialists in Activity Insurance

As I mentioned earlier, most travel insurance policies do not cover outdoor activities such as biking, trekking, horse riding, or sailing. It is wise to find an activity insurance that will cover the activities you will be participating in on the trip.

If you do a particular sport/activity regularly or if you’re going on an activity-centric trip (like a bike tour or trekking trip), you should get activity insurance that covers your interest as a primary activity. Many travel policies only cover cycling as an incidental activity, not a primary one.

Here’s a short list of specialists in activity insurance:

• Sports Cover for active holidays
• Top Notch Cover can cover activities with extra premiums
• Snowcard for covering winter sports for UK residents
• Dive Assure for scuba divers

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Why Do You Need Travel Insurance for Mexico?

Traveling to Mexico can bring with it certain risks and inconveniences that you just can’t avoid at times. Flight delays, loss of baggage, and unpredictable flight cancellations — these are just common nuances of travel. Mexico travel insurance makes sure you get compensated for your time and money.

But what if you face something more sinister than losing your luggage? What if you get a fracture while on a hike? Or have your little one fall sick? Or suffer from altitude sickness and need medical evacuation? These things can happen and have happened to several of my friends. Here’s how insurance for Mexico travel can be a lifesaver;

Violence and Crime

It’s no secret that Mexican authorities have been battling drug cartels for years. The US Department of State warns that violent crime, theft, and kidnapping are prevalent across Mexico. While these incidents are rare in tourist hotspots, the unfortunate reality is that cartel-related violence can sometimes spill into these areas.

Comprehensive travel insurance offers vital protection in these unpredictable situations, covering medical emergencies, emergency evacuations, and repatriation in the event of injury or death. This coverage provides peace of mind, ensuring that if the worst happens, you’re not left dealing with overwhelming costs or logistical nightmares far from home.

Food and Waterborne Illness

Foodborne illness is one of the most common ailments for travelers in Mexico. Montezuma’s revenge (traveler’s diarrhea) was one of the most common cases for returning travelers in the UK in 2023. Since food hygiene standards are different from what you’re used to and tap water is unsafe to drink (as noted by the CDC), you’re at higher risk for stomach troubles.

Travel insurance for Mexico trip can be a lifesaver in these situations. It will cover all your hospital visits and help you recover any lost expenses if you’re forced to cut your trip short and return to your country.

Injuries While on Adventure

Mexico’s stunning landscapes and thrilling adventure sports make it a paradise for thrill-seekers. Whether you are scrambling while on a hike or want to do some watersports, things can go wrong. According to the CDC, a startling 51% of US travelers’ deaths in Mexico last year were related to injuries, with 18% due to road incidents.

Since most US health plans, including Medicare, either don’t cover you in Mexico or offer limited coverage, travel insurance becomes essential. It’s worth noting that some Mexico travel insurance policies don’t cover outdoor activities like hiking or parasailing. Please read on to find out the best insurance companies for these.

Hurricane Incidents

Mexico’s hurricane season spans from May to October, peaking during the summer months of July and October. Many travel insurance policies address hurricanes, covering expenses if you’re unable to reach your destination or if your lodgings are damaged.

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Will you get travel insurance for your Mexico trip?

Thanks for reading until the end. Hopefully, this guide has helped answer all your travel insurance for Mexico queries. Have you decided which is the best travel insurance policy for you? If you’ve found this Mexico travel insurance article useful, please let us know in the comments field below!

Please read more articles about insurance and Mexico below:

• Best Travel Insurance
• Is Mexico Safe to Travel?
• 20 Safest Cities in Mexico
• Mexico SIM Card: My Guide
• 5 Days in Mexico City
• Day of the Dead in Mexico City
• Things to do in Cozumel, Mexico
• Things to do in Valladolid, Mexico
• Moving to Mexico
• Cool things to do in Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links which means we receive a small commission if you buy policies through these links, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST FOR YOU. Thanks for your support.

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