Are you wondering if you need travel insurance for Mexico? You’re not alone. Many people ask themselves this question, myself included. The truth is, having insurance when traveling abroad is critical and can literally be a life-saver.

We often take things for granted. We make plans and sometimes don’t foresee any events that could get in our way. Sadly, more often than not, things don’t work according to plan. We then need to make adjustments and adapt our plans, and that can be costly in many aspects.

Are you one of those people who don’t buy travel insurance? You might want to read below. I hope to shed some light on the subject. I’ll discuss why it’s important and will give you some pointers to choose a plan for your next trip. Let’s get started!

Why Do You Need Travel Insurance?

Young man seated at the airport looking at a plane taking off.

A million things could go wrong when you travel. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but it’s a fact many things can go wrong. For example, God forbid, but have you thought about what would happen if you had an accident in Mexico? What if it’s something major that requires surgery? You could end up with a costly bill.

I remember when I was in college. I traveled with some friends to Cancún. One of them tripped and hit her head on the street curb. My friend needed some stitches and ended up paying a hefty sum for the services rendered. Not to mention she had to take a taxi to get to the hospital and we know taxis in Cancún are not cheap by any means. If you don’t have travel insurance, you will have to pay out of your pocket just like my friend did.

There is a myriad of medical emergencies you could run into. You can be bitten by an animal, find yourself in a car accident, or something even worse. Imagine going into labor if you’re pregnant or having to deal with the death of one of your companions. How would you pay for such expenses?

What if you’re mugged or you lost your wallet/purse? Imagine yourself with no cash, no credit cards, and no passport in a foreign country. It could be a nightmare.

What would you do if your luggage got delayed or lost in transit? How would you replace your belongings?

Do I have your attention now?

How Much Does It Cost?

Giant golden dollar sign.

This is the million-dollar question no doubt. Unfortunately, there’s not a standard answer. It depends on your carrier. Some will give you the option to pay only for the period you will be visiting or they may give you the option to pay a monthly/yearly fee. Of course, the latter is preferable when you travel a lot.

Every carrier has different requirements and factors such as your age may affect the quote you get. But just to give you an idea, I quoted with World Nomads, one of the largest international insurance carriers. For a one-week stay in Mexico, I would have to pay either $61.43 or $98.94, depending on which plan I choose.

You may think it’s expensive, but if you consider it carefully, you could end up paying way more if something happened during your trip and you didn’t have insurance.

What Should You Look for When Shopping Around?

Hand holding a black marker checking off items on a list.

Not all insurance companies offer the same benefits or have the same requirements. There are several factors to consider before buying:

  • Are there any age restrictions? Some companies won’t insure you if you exceed a certain age.
  • Are preexisting health conditions covered?
  • Does the policy exclude any risky activities such as scuba diving or motorcycling? You might not be covered for accidents of all kinds. Make sure to read the fine print.
  • Do you have any travel protection through your credit cards? You might not need to add all coverages available to your policy. As a rule of thumb, the basic coverages you should worry about are health emergency expenses, repatriation of remains and car rental insurance. Those can be really costly.
  • What is the claim process like? Do they expect you to pay and then ask for reimbursement or do they pay upfront? Not all companies work the same way. If something bad happened, you might still have to pay and then wait to get reimbursed, thus limiting your planned budget.
  • What are the benefit limits per person or plan?
  • What are their cancellation policies?
  • In case you need to cancel your trip, how long in advance do you have to let your carrier know? Are there any invalid reasons for canceling? Some companies offer the option to cancel for any reason, but this is more expensive.
  • How much would you get reimbursed for if you canceled your trip? This is usually a percentage that varies between 50% and 75%.
  • Is it a reputable company? How long has it been in business? What kind of reviews do they get from their customers?
  • How many times a year will you be traveling? It may be more cost-effective to pay a yearly fee instead of a one-time fee.

What Are Some Benefits of Travel Insurance?

The amount of money you’re entitled to varies among providers and depends on what policy you get. Also, remember some coverages are optional. Some of the most common benefits offered by providers are:

  • Luggage replacement
  • Emergency medical and hospital costs
  • Financial support in case of theft or loss of valuables
  • Trip cancellation
  • Repatriation of remains
  • Personal liability

Your peace of mind should be above everything else. You don’t want to ruin your vacation because of a large unforeseen expense abroad.

What If Nothing Happens?

That’s better! Why do you want something bad to happen? Many people have this mindset when deciding whether to buy insurance or not. They think it will be a waste of money if they end up not needing it.

Accidents and other unforeseen events happen. We can never be sure about the future. Even though we take precautions, something bad can still happen. You can think your trip will go smoothly and I hope it does, but what if something bad happens? We don’t have control over everything.

It’s preferable to buy insurance thinking you won’t need it. Insurance is one of those things you buy and should hope not to use.

Conclusion

If you didn’t think travel insurance for Mexico is necessary, I sincerely hope you changed your mind after reading this. Unlike other countries, travel insurance in Mexico is not mandatory. However, that doesn’t mean you should skip it altogether.

There are many companies out there you can get quotes from. Their requirements and benefits offered can vary, so it’s important to search diligently. Ask your agent any questions you have and always make sure to read the fine print.

Insurance can be expensive, but even if you travel for a few days only, it’s something that could come in handy. You never know when you might need it. Your policy will probably cost less than what you would have to pay for not being covered. Better safe than sorry.

As always, feel free to leave your comments and opinions below. Do you agree or disagree? What would you add? See you soon!

Book your trip now!

Book your flight

The first thing you have to do is find cheap flights. But where do you find those? There are many search engines, but the one I highly recommend is Skyscanner. Here you can compare fares from all over the world and pick the one that suits you best.

Book your accommodation

The next thing you have to do is secure your lodging. Whether you prefer a hostel, a guesthouse, a B&B, or a hotel, you can find them all on Booking. You can find lodging of all kinds ranging from cheap to expensive and somewhere in between. Many people have scored good deals using it.

Another popular option is Hostelworld. This website focuses on hostels as opposed to hotels.

Book a tour

In some places, you might want to hire a tour. Not all places are equally accessible to visit by oneself. It helps enormously when you visit with a local guide who can show you around and answer any questions you might have…all in your native language. My to-go place is Viator as they offer tours of all kinds and have a presence all over the world.

Rent a car

Public transportation is usually cheaper than renting a car, but it’s sometimes more complicated and time-consuming. That’s a reality. In some cases, it’s more convenient to rent a car. My recommendation is Rentalcars.com. Here you can compare rates and choose the one that fits you best.

Book your bus tickets

You can save money by booking bus tickets online. My favorite site to do this is Busbud.

Get travel insurance

Never travel without a travel insurance policy, especially these days! Travel insurance can save your life. My recommendations are World Nomads and Insured Nomads. Both companies cover COVID-19 related incidents, which is crucial these days.

More resources

Just click on the “Plan your trip” tab at the top of this page, and you will find more resources like getting Mexican insurance for your foreign car, buying travel accessories, and learning Spanish. And, of course, don’t forget to check back often to read more tips on Mexico travel.

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12 Replies to “Travel Insurance for Mexico – Do You Need It?”

  1. I usually buy insurance when I buy a plane ticket, but I haven’t considered insurance beyond that, during my trip. That’s why your article comes in very useful to me. Especially if you are doing risky activities such as atv tours or scuba diving, but then again, not every insurance company includes those activities, do they?

    I think that travel insurance is important. Even if nothing happens – and great if nothing happens, what a relief! – at least you have the knowledge that you are taken care of, just in case. The next time I travel I will add insurance to my whole trip, not just the place ride. Anything can happen. My little dog was recently bitten by a brown recluse spider, and the wound got ugly … It could have been fatal, but she made it, and now she is doing fine. People have also been bitten by that spider, and it is very painful … and can be dangerous. So, yes, you convinced me 🙂 

    1. Hi, Christine,

      It’s always a smart idea to buy insurance. Answering your question, yes, we can always find a provider that covers risky activities. It’s just a matter of searching, although the premium might be a little elevated.

      You said it right…if nothing happens, it’s a relief. Better safe than sorry. Sometimes we prefer to save a few dollars, but we don’t think of what could go wrong. We could end up paying way more if something happens.

      Feel free to reach out with any questions you have. Thanks for commenting.

  2. I must admit, I never quite thought of travel insurance in the context that you’ve carefully outlined. This opens my eyes to a different perspective and more so how beneficial it can actually be in the event of an unexpected occurrence. I’m truly grateful for bringing this into full understanding. I’ll definitely make provisions for insurance on my next trip to Mexico. Thanks 

    1. Hi, Leo,

      Glad to be of assistance.

      We often take things for granted. We just plan our trip and think everything will be alright. Hopefully, it will be, but something could go wrong. It’s better to be prepared. Thanks for dropping by.

  3. Hi,

    I’m glad I found your website today as I was looking to find some information whether I need travel insurance for Mexico or not.

    I’m planning a trip to Mexico this year and I like to check this topic with time, I love Mexico and I’ve visit it a few times, but it’s better that I have everything I need, so I can focus on enjoy the visit without the worries if something comes up during the visit.

    I see you cover many things about a travel insurance can cover, I never thought about that, I used to think insurance travel was only for accidents or if I get sick, but I see many good points to get one in time.

    I will get the suggestions you share on your article, thanks so much for putting this article together to help many!

    1. Hi, Alejandra,

      Where in Mexico are you going if you don’t mind my asking? 

      Yes, travel insurance covers way more things than just accidents or sickness. You can add/delete some coverages and just get the ones you need. Better safe than sorry.

      Let me know if I can be of further assistance. Thanks for commenting.

  4. Wow😍! This is fun to read, Sincerely this is really educative and full of vital informations about the necessity of travel insurance. Indeed, You never know when you might need it. Another amazing thing I found out about travel insurance in your article is that the payments depends on your carrier. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Hi, Evagreene,

      Glad you liked it.

      Getting travel insurance is pretty straightforward. Of course, the process can vary depending on the carrier you select. Make sure to ask any questions you have when quoting. Travel insurance is always a good idea when traveling.

  5. I fully agree with you that travel insurance is essential, specially if you are travelling to a country or area that is completely outside your normal zone. To me the crucial part is the medical cover, which can be prohibitively expensive, for even the smallest mishap if you don’t have cover. 

    I would be curious to know which other parts of the world you cover apart from Mexico? I often travel from Italy to Australia and South Africa. Would those countries be covered?

    1. Hi, LineCowley,

      Medical expenses can be costly. God forbid, but imagine needing surgery or something similar in another country. Travel insurance can give you peace of mind.

      Answering your question, this blog focuses exclusively on travel to Mexico, but I might open a different blog in the future and cover other countries. Stay tuned. 🙂

  6. As the saying goes “It’s better to be safe than sorry”. I’ve only travelled to another country once and I made sure I had insurance. I thankfully didn’t need it but, I found it really gave me some peace of mind. 

    I feel like if I were to travel without insurance I’d be scared to leave the hotel because what if something happens? I’ve heard of people having to pay thousands of dollars because they needed stitches, or simply got the flu. As you said you never know what’s going to happen so it’s better to be prepared!

    1. Totally agreed, Sam! I prefer to buy a policy even though I end up not needing it. Not having travel insurance abroad can be a costly mistake. 

      Other people can think we’re paranoid, but unexpected things can always happen. You don’t want to face an expensive bill and even worse, get into debt and all those inconveniences! If it can be prevented, much better.

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