InternationalLiving.com

When I decided to move overseas, I made sure I would have access to excellent, affordable health care. After all, I only wanted to downsize my expenses—not lower my quality of life.

That’s why I picked Mexico. I’d heard that Mexico’s medical professionals and hospitals are first-rate, while the cost is only a fraction of what you’d pay in the U.S. I’ve lived in Mexico nearly three years now, and so far I’ve never been disappointed. My own medical care has been all that I’d hoped. Other expats I’ve spoken with report the same thing.

My first experience with Mexican health care was pretty minor. I cut my thumb while slicing vegetables, and needed stitches. At the clinic I was moved to the head of the line—I saw a doctor right away. The stitches weren’t the dissolvable kind that I was used to in the States, but otherwise the prep and treatment were similar. The other difference was the fee: less than $5. In the U.S. I probably would have had to add a couple of zeroes to that bill.

As I say, a few stitches are pretty minor. But low fees are the rule here rather than the exception. Most specialists, for instance, charge between 350 and 500 pesos ($27 to $38) for a consultation. I pay 400 pesos (about $31) to see an internist. A local gynecologist here in Campeche—whose lab equipment is cutting-edge—charges 350 pesos for a consultation, and 500 to 700 pesos ($38 to $55) for an ultrasound. The gynecologist takes her time with patients, too—no rushing.

Dental work is also cheaper. I lost part of a back tooth some months back, and the dentist said I’d need more than a filling to repair it. He took a mold of the tooth and had his lab create a replacement for the missing section. I returned the next week for a fitting. The entire cost—for both visits, the mold, and the fitting—was less than $100. (In fact, when I asked what I owed for the first visit, he waved his hand and said, “You can pay me after the fitting.”)

I’ve never had to stay overnight in a hospital here in Mexico, but some who have tell me they’ve paid under $100 a night in a first-class hospital. And there are several first-class hospital chains in Mexico, with facilities nationwide. Two prominent Mexico-owned hospital chains are Star Médica and Angeles. Hospitals in top-flight chains like these offer a wide range of specialties, high-tech lab facilities, disease-specific treatment and research centers, and the like. You’re also likely to find English-speaking doctors. Both Star Médica and the Angeles chain are expanding, by the way, with new hospitals that have recently opened or are under construction.

There’s an excellent Star Médica hospital in Mérida, for instance, less than two hours away from me. I’ve always thought it would be my hospital of choice if I needed a major procedure. But now a brand new specialties hospital here in Campeche has just opened. With this new hospital a bare five minutes from my house, I’m starting to think I may never need to go to Mérida for healthcare after all.

And that solution would be both inexpensive and very, very convenient: the kind of winning combination I came to Mexico to find.

Editor's note: Mexico is the only place in the world where you can enjoy an affordable overseas retirement, live right on the beach for pennies on the dollar, yet remain within minutes of the U.S. by car. Mexico: The Owner’s Manual shows you how…and during IL's big holiday sale, you get 20% off.