Last Updated on October 29, 2024 by Lohanna Reis

 

If you want to be an international student in Mexico, did you know that most schools require you to have health insurance to apply? So what are your best options if you’re just taking a short course? Or if you need a policy longer than a year? Take a look at the article below to find all the answers! 

A Health Insurance is a service that many students do not know they need, but it is very important to ensure a peaceful and safe stay abroad. In addition, you will probably need to provide proof of medical coverage to enroll in the course!

With this in mind, I have separated the best insurance options for students in Mexico, along with information on student visas, most common courses and the Mexican health system.

Check it out! 

 

Why should international students in Mexico have health insurance?

The main reason to take out health insurance is to make sure you are covered if you need any medical care in your new country of residence. 

All international students studying in Mexico must be covered by a health insurance, public or private. Many international students are eligible to participate in Mexico’s universal health care coverage, although this depends on factors such as age, country of origin and duration of their degree program.

 

 

However, this is nothing new to anyone, right? Besides this reason, there are others that I consider relevant that I will explain below. 

The right international student insurance plan for you depends on the time you will study in Mexico, whether you will need a visa (and if so, what insurance requirements you need to meet), whether you will be eligible for the national health system in Mexico, as well as your personal situation and choices.

And all this leads us to the next point… 

 

What student health insurance is required for a student visa in Mexico?

If you are in doubt, know that health insurance is mandatory to study in Mexico.

Expatriates living in Mexico can apply for health benefits in two ways: Universal Health Insurance and private health insurance.

To learn more about the types of courses you can study in Mexico and the required visas, continue reading the article after the list of the best international health insurance for international students in Mexico. 

As always, I recommend that you get a quote from all the companies I’ve listed below… it might take a bit more time, but it can help you save a lot of money that you can instead spend making the most of your time in Mexico!

 

 

The 5 Best and Cheapest Health Insurance for International Students in Mexico  

 

   1. Health insurance for international students by IMG

IMGlobal offers a variety of insurance plans for students (as well as insurance plans for expatriates in general).

They have three different insurance plans made specifically for students. But since one of them is only for students studying abroad in the United States (The Patriot Exchange Program), we will only talk about two of them here.

 

 

Plan #1: Student Health Advantage 

This program should have enough to meet all the health coverage requirements of your school (but make sure you check the minimum coverage required first!).

 

 

This specific plan covers many things that many others don’t – including mental health disorders, maternity care, and pre-existing conditions. IMG also covers COVID-19 costs like any other disease and injury that are subject to the policy’s terms and conditions.

 

Plan #2: Student Health Advantage Platinum

This plan is the same as the previous one, but offers double the maximum coverage: $1,000,000

 

What I like about IMG’s International Student Insurance:

• These plans are designed specifically for students
• They cover students of all nationalities
• They have more than 17,000 healthcare professionals for you to choose from around the world
• They have customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• They cover COVID-19 and telemedicine consultations

 

What I don’t like about IMG’s International Student Insurance:

• In some of their plans, there is a 1-year waiting period for coverage of pre-existing diseases

 

 

 

   2. International health insurance for Cigna Global students

Cigna Global, one of the world’s largest health insurers, offers plans for travelers, expats and (of course!) international students.

They offer 3 main plans: Silver, Gold and Platinum. These plans will cover you not only in Mexico but all over the world! And if you have plans to visit the United States during your stay in Mexico, you can choose to be covered there as well (although this makes your policy a bit more expensive, so it may be better to get only a short travel insurance for your visit to the US).

Here’s a table comparing your plan options:

 

 

Cigna’s plans are really flexible and allow you to add what you need (including things like dental and eye treatments or international evacuation and crisis assistance).

The company also has a flexible payment policy and offers several options such as annual, monthly and quarterly payments.

 

What I like about international health insurance for Cigna Global Students:

• They answer complaints quickly (according to the company, 95% of refund requests are received in 10 days)
• The online help center provides access to a list of more than 3,000 hospitals, as well as information guides
• They partner with more than 1.65 million hospitals, doctors, clinics and specialists around the world (offering plenty of choice if you need medical care)
• They have assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to answer any of your questions

 

What I don’t like about Cigna Global’s International Student Health Insurance:

• The most basic plan does not cover prenatal and postnatal care
• They do not include coverage for outpatient consultations with specialists and doctors

 

 

   3. Now Health International

Now Health International stands as a leading force in the global insurance sector, dedicated to meeting the needs of its clients through cost-effective and efficient plans.

One notable advantage of this company is its state-of-the-art customer service, providing prompt and convenient access to information.

All Now Health plans are meticulously crafted to address and overcome the unique challenges faced by individuals living abroad, including international and exchange students across the globe.

Moreover, these plans are fully customizable, allowing for a seamless alignment with your specific requirements.

 

 

What I like about Now Health International Student Plans:

• Clear information and 24/7 customer service
• Coverage in over 190 countries and territories
• Various international insurance options and customizable plans
• Some plans offer coverage for maternity routines

 

What I don’t like about Now Health International Student Plans:

• In some procedures, Now Health works with a reimbursement system
• For plans with routine maternity coverage, you must wait a 12-month waiting period to access this benefit

 

 4. WorldTrips

HCCMIS is another provider that offers insurance for full-time students and scholarship students studying away from home (along with the usual travel insurance sales).

These are the 4 levels of student health insurance coverage they offer (they all work great for Mexico!):

 

 

 

StudentSecure Elite

• Offers the lowest franchises and the highest maximum coverage
• Waiting period of 6 months before a pre-existing condition can be covered
• Offers sports coverage for club/intercollegiate activities
• Covers personal responsibility

 

StudentSecure Select

• Waiting period of 6 months before a pre-existing condition can be covered
• Optional Crisis Response pilot for rescue, your personal belongings and crisis rates

 

StudentSecure Budget

• Coverage of pre-existing diseases begins 12 months after the purchase of insurance
• Mid-tier benefits and higher franchise (for a lower monthly fee overall)

 

StudentSecure Smart

• Lowest cost plan (with the lowest corresponding benefits)
• Highest franchises of all plans
• Does not cover club sports
• Can only cover a pre-existing condition at its acute onset

 

Here is a comparison of the 4 HCC StudentSecure plans (click to see the full chart):

 

What I like about HCCMIS StudentSecure plans:

• They offer emergency dental care (in case of an accident) up to $250 maximum per tooth and $500 maximum in the certification period
• They offer a savings plan if you pay the full amount in advance
• They are some of the most economical plans on this list

 

What I don’t like about HCCMIS StudentSecure plans:

• No coverage for pre-existing conditions on your Smart plan
• There is a 6-month waiting period for coverage of pre-existing conditions (even on your Elite plan)
• There is no coverage for vaccines unless you get the Elite plan
• There is no coverage for maternity and nursery for newborns in the Smart plan
• Your low-cost plans can have high franchises

 

 

   5. Visitor Coverage

Visitor Coverage, launched in 2006 in the U.S., is dedicated to making travel insurance selection easy by offering personalized and affordable options for tourists, students, expats, and immigrants.

Though it doesn’t sell its own insurance plans, the company acts as a middleman, connecting customers with trusted insurance providers to ensure protection in case of emergencies. Its user-friendly platform allows travelers to quickly compare and purchase the insurance that best fits their needs by entering a few basic trip details.

For international students, for example, users can input information like destination, age, and nationality. The platform then presents the best insurance options, including costs, coverage, cancellation possibilities, and extension options. Additionally, it offers ratings and detailed information on each insurance provider and their plans.

What I like about Visitor Coverage student insurance:

• You can compare the most reliable travel insurance on the market
• It brings together detailed information from several insurance companies
• Intuitive platform
• It shows options that suit each traveler’s profile and with different prices
• Support for insured students 24/7
• More than 18 years of experience and more than 1 million customers around the world

 

What I don’t like about Visitor Coverage student insurance:

• There is no insurance from Visitor Coverage itself
• Your exchange must last at least 30 days and a maximum of 1 year
• It does not cover the following destinations: Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Mayotte, North Korea, Russia, Syria and Ukraine

 

   6. Foyer Global Health

Basic or Premium? Short or long term stay in Mexico? Alone or with family? Whatever you need, you can find a plan with Foyer Global Health that works for you.

The company has 3 different plans. Here is a quick overview of what each of these plans includes:

 

 

 

ESSENCIAL

• Consultations, surgery and anesthetics
• Therapeutic devices (such as cardiac pacemakers), if necessary, as a rescue measure
• Congenital diseases (up to a maximum of €100,000 per life)
• Does not cover maternity and childbirth

 

SPECIAL 

• Consultations, surgery and anesthetics
• Auxiliaries and therapeutic devices (such as artificial limbs and prostheses) up to €2,000
• Congenital diseases up to a maximum of €150,000 per life
• Maternity and childbirth care (up to €5,000 with a waiting period of 10 months)

   

EXCLUSIVE

• Consultations, surgery and anesthetics
• Unlimited therapeutic devices
• Congenital diseases up to a maximum of €200,000 per life
• Maternity care, childbirth care and midwifery or nursing services in the hospital (up to €20,000 with a waiting period of 10 months)

 

What I like about Foyer Global Health plans:

• All plans include consultations, surgeries and basic dental treatments
• They have 24-hour customer service by phone and email with experienced consultants, doctors and experts
• They offer evacuation and repatriation service
• They offer medical support and pre-trip advice (vaccinations, preparation of a first aid kit)

 

What I don’t like about Foyer Global Health plans:

• The most basic plan does not cover prenatal and postnatal care

 

 

 

   7. Diplomat Long Term and Diplomat International of Global Underwriters

Global Underwriters offers international health insurance plans for a wide range of travelers, including exchange students and international students abroad.

When it comes to GU plans, I recommend Diplomat Long Term and Diplomat International to international students in Mexico.

 

 

 

What I like about Global Underwriters plans:

• Your student plans have coverage for medical evacuations, emergency dentistry and repatriation of remains
• Diplomat Long Term and Diplomat International plans cover up to $1,000,000
• They offer coverage and assistance in case of lost baggage and travel disruptions
• They have customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

 

What I don’t like about Global Underwriters plans:

• The Diplomat International plan does not cover Covid-19
• The Diplomat Long Term plan does not cater to students residing in Australia and Iran, as well as in New York, Maryland, South Dakota (although this is not a problem for you if you have moved to Mexico!)
• Your plans may be a bit more expensive than the others on this list

 

2 International Health Insurance Companies that can also be used by International Students in Mexico

The two companies I will mention below do not offer health insurance specifically for students abroad. That said, they offer international health insurance that will (most likely) be accepted by your school or university as proof of coverage.

So my advice to you is to ask for a quote for these two companies below and compare it with the quote you got from the companies listed above. If you find that one of these two companies offers good coverage at a lower price than the other options, check with your Canadian school or university if they accept this type of policy.

If they do, this is a great chance to save money before venturing into your new home!

 

   – Geoblue

Geoblue is another great option if you are looking for a health insurance policy to cover you while you study in Mexico.

 

 

What I like about Geoblue’s international health insurance:

• Your plans are very adaptable and flexible, based on exactly what you need
• They have customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Some of their plans cover extras like evacuation, preventative medical appointments and maternity care
• You can add ophthalmology and dentistry services
• The Xplorer plan does not have maximum medical coverage, covers extreme sports, does not charge franchises for standard services and has no cancellation fees

 

What I don’t like about Geoblue’s international health insurance:

• They do not cater to residents of New York and Washington (although this may not be a problem if you move your official residence to Mexico)
• You have to contact an insurance broker and talk to him personally to get an exact quote (which is very annoying)

 

 

 

   – Aetna (acquired by AllianzCare)

Aetna is a recognized company in the area of health insurance.

A good advantage of Aetna is that their plans are really flexible (you can customize based on what is needed for you), and they have very good customer service (as far as insurers are concerned).

 

 

What I like about Aetna’s international health insurance:

• They have been in the health insurance industry for 5 decades
• They offer flexible and customized plans
• They have 24-hour specialized service on seven days of the week
• Most of your plans provide coverage for emergency evacuations, cancer treatments, repatriation, and hospitalizations
• They are an insurer who has won awards such as “Health Insurer of the Year” and “Best International Private Health Insurance Provider”
• They have an app that encourages customers to maintain healthier habits with a system of points and rewards

 

What I don’t like about Aetna’s international health insurance:

• Their website is not very clear about the exact coverage of some of their plans
• They do not offer any type of travel insurance plan

 

 

 

Table comparison of the 7 best health insurance plans for international/exchange students in Mexico

 

	IMG	Cigna Global	Foyer Global Health	WorldTrips	Global Underwriters
Medical Maximum	Unlimited (for the Platinum plan)	$5,000,000	There are no limits independent of the plan	US$1,000,000 per year	$1,000,000
Mental Health Benefit	Unspecified	Unlimited for up to 90 days	Included in all plans with a 10-month waiting period	Outpatient: $50 per day max up to $500 in total	Yes
Inpatient Prescription Drugs	80% coverage out-of-network, 100% in the USA and internationally	Unspecified	Coverage available	Name-brand drugs: 50% coinsurance  Generic drugs: 100% coinsurance Special drugs: no coverage	Yes
Outpatient Prescription Drugs	50% of actual costs, 90 days maximum per dispensation	Unspecified	Unspecified	coinsurance  Generic drugs: 100% coinsurance Special drugs: no coverage	Yes
Mental Health Benefit	Inpatient and Outpatient: $5,000 lifetime maximum to paid in full depending on the plan	Inpatient and Outpatient: $50,000 lifetime maximum	None	Inpatient and Outpatient: limit not specified	Inpatient, outpatient, and therapy: limit not specific
Outpatient Prescription Drugs	None, unless you buy the International Outpatient Option	Up to $8,000,000	Full reimbursement	Yes	Yes
Repatriation of Remains	$25,000 maximum or $5,000 for cremation	Optional	Optional	$50,000 maximum or $5,000 for cremation	$13,500 maximum
Emergency Evacuation	$50,000	Optional	Optional	$10,000	Yes
Hospital room coverage	Offered up to the average semi-private room rate	Private room	Private Room	Usual	Usual
Terrorism	$50,000	Unspecified	Unspecified	$100,000	N/A
Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD & D)	Principal sum of $25,000 that is not subject to deduction	$25,000 for main policy holder, $10,000 for spouse on the plan, $5,000 for child on the plan Total limit of $250,000	Optional	$25,000 for main policy holder, $10,000 for spouse on the plan, $5,000 for child on the plan Total limit of $250,000	There is coverage
Emergency Dental	$500 per injury for the coverage period	Optional	Optional	$2,500	Yes
Maternity Care	Only covered in Platinum plan	$14,000/€11,000/£9,000 in the Platinum plan	Only available in the Special and Exclusive plans	Within the US: up to 80% coverage with a $25,000 limit within the PPO network/Outside PPO: up to 50% coverage with a $25,000 limit  Outside the United States:  Up to 80% coverage with a $25,000 limit. Benefits reduced by 25% if pregnancy is not reported within the first 90 days.	Not specified
Pre-existing condition exclusion period	Maximum limit of $1,500 with a 12-month waiting period	$14,000/€11,000/£9,000 in the Platinum plan	Coverage available	Limited of $250,000 per plan	Unspecified
Intensive Care Unit (ICU)	100% coverage after the deductible has been met	Full coverage with the Platinum plan	Coverage available	Up to $50,000	Not specified
Vaccines	Unspecified	Optional	Only in the Special and Exclusive plans	$200	Yes, but must be paid as a separate plan
Routine care for newborns	Unspecified	Optional	Only in the Special and Exclusive plans	Up to $750	Yes, but must be paid as a separate plan
Pre-existing annual maximum once covered	Unlimited depending on the plan	Up to $8,000,000	Full reimbursement	Unlimited depending on the plan	Depends on the plan
Pre-existing lifetime maximum once covered	Unlimited depending on the plan	Up to $8,000,000	Full reimbursement	Unlimited depending on the plan	Depends on the plan

Worldwide Medical Insurance / Comparison Chart*

Part of the table courtesy of Tokio Marine HCC

*Note: this table is just for informational purposes and subject to change. It was accurate as of the time we wrote it here, but please check each company’s individual website for updated info.

 

What types of courses can foreign students apply for in Mexico and how?

The higher education system in Mexico is similar to that of the US and Europe, being one of the best in the world.

Mexico has more than 60 institutions among the QS Latin America University Rankings and 14 institutions among the QS World University Rankings, being the second country in Latin America with the most outstanding universities.

The highest ranked institute is the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), a public university with a student population of over 350,000 spread across multiple campuses across the country. The main campus, located in the University City of Mexico, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

You can apply for various types of courses such as Bachelors, Masters, MBAs or PhDs! And registration depends on the rules of each institution. You can take a look at this list of the best courses to study in Mexico and how to apply for them!

 

How to request a visa to study in Mexico?

 

To request the student visa, you will need:

1. Visa form (front and back, on one page) with recent photograph, 3×4 color and white background).

2. Original and copy of current passport.

3. Original letter of acceptance from the educational institution in Mexico with an identification copy of the person signing the letter and specifying:

The. Applicant’s full name;

B. Level, degree and area of ​​study that the applicant intends to undertake;

ç. Name of the course in which you were accepted;

d. Start and end date of the course;

and. Cost of registration for the course; and

f. Identification data of the educational institution.

4. Original and copy of bank statements for the last three months, paychecks for the last three months, or original of the letter proving that the person concerned will receive a scholarship.

NOTE: The economic solvency can be proven by the parents, as long as the student is under 25 years of age and proves the bond with the original and copy of the birth certificate.

 

In Sum…

Once again, these are the 5 best and cheapest travel insurance policies for international students in Mexico: 

1. Student Health Advantage from IMG
2. International student health insurance from Cigna Global 
3. Now Health International
4. StudentSecure from HCCMIS 
5. Foyer Global Health

 

In Conclusion…

All in all… as you prepare for your time as an international student in Mexico, make sure that health insurance is not a detail you forget.

After all, you may not be able to enroll in school without it… and you don’t want to get stuck paying out of your own pocket for medical expenses!

If you still have any questions about these travel insurance options for students in Mexico (or about moving abroad in general), let me know in the comments area below and I will be happy to help!

 

Planning your next trip?

Then don’t forget travel insurance! You don’t want to get stuck paying a ton of money and ruining your trip if you get sick or have an accident without travel insurance. Our page with The 3 Best and Cheapest Travel Insurance on the Market can help you choose the right plan and will give you some discount coupons for the biggest insurance companies!

 

 Already reserved your hotel or hostel? If not, our article with The 6 Best and Cheapest Websites to Find & Reserve Accommodation can help you out. You’ll also find some promotions and discount codes.

 

 Still haven’t booked your plane ticket and want to save big? Take a look at our page with 16 Tips to Save on Flights where you’ll also find the 4 best websites to buy your plane tickets. 

 

And finally, will you need to rent a car during your trip? Then surely our page with The 5 Best and Cheapest Websites to Compare and Rent Cars Around the World will help you choose the best rental car and find a good deal.