Mexico Offers Free Travel Health Insurance Program

Some 20.3 million Americans travel to Mexico yearly according to the office of travel and tourism industries. The number of visitors, however, has declined significantly compared to the prior year as a result of concerns about swine flu.

Tourism is one of Mexico’s main economic activities, representing an important income through destinations divided into beach, adventure tourism, magic towns, social tourism, business tourism and other areas that pretend to present attractive offers for national and international visitors.

According to Mexico tourism and health officials, if you are a tourist and you come down with a disease or have an accident while visiting the city, you are automatically covered by the new health insurance protection plan.

A new Mexico Tourist Assistance Card provides travelers staying in the city’s hotels free coverage for emergency medical care, hospital stays, prescription drugs, and ambulance services. Established as an effort to win back tourists afraid of contracting swine flu in the Mexican capital, officials stated they hoped to send the message that Mexico City is a secure place that will protect its visitors.

Other countries providing nationalized health care to citizens, such as France and the United Kingdom, will also treat visitors in their hospitals on an urgent care basis. But Mexico City is the first in the world to set up a system specifically to help visitors obtain medical care for problems that arise during their trip. For example, a call center will have nurses who speak multiple languages.

A modest unspecified deductible payment will be charged for some services and there are rules to prevent people from abusing Mexico City's generosity.

Written by Jesse Slome