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How coverage works here: Mexico.

A take-home sheet for people at the session. Other countries: United States · United Kingdom · Canada · Australia · New Zealand · India · Philippines · Argentina.

On your phone? Tap any address to open it. After the session: where to go next. Short address for this sheet: moraph.org/s/how-coverage-works-here/mx. Pass it on: cards to hand to someone.

Moraph for Good · Reach

How coverage works here: Mexico

Handout · moraph.org/commons/sessions/reach/how-coverage-works-here

This sheet explains how health care gets paid for, in general and where you live. It is general information, not medical advice or advice on choosing a plan.

Four ways care gets paid for

  • A public system, paid for through taxes.
  • Public programs for particular groups.
  • Insurance, through work or bought yourself.
  • Paying yourself at the point of care.

The words

  • Premium: what you pay to be covered.
  • Deductible or excess: what you pay before cover starts.
  • Co-payment or coinsurance: your share of each visit or prescription.
  • Out-of-pocket cost: anything you pay yourself.

Before you get care, ask

  • Is this covered, and is anything not?
  • Do I need a referral or a particular provider?
  • What will I pay, and does anything need approval first?

Stay safe

  • If it might be an emergency, call the emergency number first.
  • Real programs don’t cold-call to sell cover or ask for your details.
  • Check anything you’re unsure about on the official sites below.

In Mexico

  • Free public care without social security. Under the Ley General de Salud (General Health Law), everyone in Mexico without social security has the right to free public health services, medicines and related supplies when they need care. You need to be in Mexico, not be enrolled with a social security institution, and have a CURP (population registry code) or, without one, a birth certificate or another accepted document.
  • IMSS for employees. Employees, cooperative members and domestic workers must be insured with the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS, Mexican Social Security Institute). Its health insurance also covers pensioners and, on conditions in the law, the insured person’s spouse or partner and children.
  • ISSSTE for public employees. The Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE, the social security institute for public employees) covers federal government and other federal public employees, pensioners and family members named in the law, such as a spouse or partner and dependent children under 18.
  • IMSS-Bienestar. In the 23 states that have joined IMSS-Bienestar, it gives free care to people without social security, including consultations, medicines, surgery and tests. You can be seen without registering. Its phone line is 800 298 11 50.
  • Self-employed people. Independent workers can join IMSS voluntarily, for medical, hospital and pharmacy services for themselves and their beneficiaries. IMSS also offers a Seguro de Salud para la Familia (family health insurance) to people without medical insurance.

Official places to check:

General information, not advice about your own situation. Checked 22 October 2026. If an official source says something different, it is right. Free to copy and adapt. moraph.org/commons/sessions/reach/how-coverage-works-here Version of .

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