A Guide to Travel Insurance for Mexico

👉 Jump to: Best Sites for Mexico Travel Insurance | Requirements | Why I Buy Insurance | Safety Tips | Methodology

Mexico does not require travel insurance for tourists to enter the country. However, I personally always insure my Mexico vacations (more on why below). In this post, I’ll share the sites I personally search to find my travel insurance.

I travel and write about Mexico a lot. So I wrote up this guide to explain how I personally approach insuring my own trips. Your mileage may vary though, so be sure to read policy terms carefully.

Disclaimers: We are not insurance brokers. This post is for informational purposes. It is not insurance advice. Links are affiliate links. Using them supports this independent blog. See our Advertising Policy.

Best Sites to Compare Quotes

Here’s the quick summary of the 5 sites examined in detail below:

TravelInsurance.com (My #1 Pick)

TravelInsurance.com is a comparison site that lets you pull quotes from hundreds (or even thousands) of insurers at once. If you really want to dig into your coverages, deductibles, exclusions, and other details of the policies — this is the site to explore all that information in depth.

I really like the filters on this site. It’s easy to narrow your search to only policies that cover COVID-19, for example. You can also use it to easily find CFAR coverage (more explanation about why you might want to do that below).

Genki (Digital Nomad Health Insurance)

Genki is a new company that I started using for my own medical insurance. They focus solely on offering travel medical insurance for digital nomads, remote workers, and other long term travelers in Mexico and elsewhere.

Importantly, this means that Genki does not sell coverages for things like trip delays, trip cancellation insurance, or theft.

Genki works on a monthly subscription model. It’s great if you’re trying the digital nomad life and need emergency travel health insurance while you are abroad. If you are a tourist looking for traditional travel insurance, it may not be what you’re looking for.

Insure My Trip (Best for Finding Insurance for Seniors)

Insure My Trip is yet another comparison site. I rank it lower because I find it a clunkier user experience than TravelInsurance.com, but it’s still one I search myself to compare policies.

One significant downside to many of the sites on this list is that most have age limits. That can be tough if you are a senior traveler to Mexico who is over the age of 65. In my experience, Insure My Trip tends to find more policies that cover the senior age group. I’ve also found that Insure My Trip may find more quotes if you have a pre-existing condition.

Aardy (Insurance Comparison Site)

The final site I personally search is Aardy, which is another insurance comparison site that will pull quotes from hundreds of insurers.

Aardy is not my favorite travel insurance comparison site, to be honest, because it’s a little clunky to use. In particular, I don’t like that you have to enter an email just to get a quote. Still, if none of the other options above work for you, you might try searching here.

Requirements in Mexico

As of 2024, there is no legal requirement to purchase travel insurance in order to visit Mexico. No one will ask you to show proof of insurance at the border, and the Mexican government does not mandate travelers to have insurance. Many travelers nonetheless choose to buy insurance.

Obviously, even though the pandemic is officially over, Covid-19 is still a big reason travelers get insured. Surveys show that many more travelers are buying insurance then before the pandemic. Many in the industry are now calling travel insurance the “must have purchase” for travel post-pandemic.

Here are popular reasons many travelers – including myself – choose to get insured:

• ✈️ Trip Cancellation Protection – if covid strikes before a trip, if an airline cancels a flight, or if Mexico locks down, trip cancellation insurance could come in handy if you purchased the trip cancellation coverage that applies to your situation.
• 🎫 Trip Interruption Benefits – even if you manage to get to Mexico, your trip could be interrupted while you are there. If it’s for a reason covered by trip interruption coverage, you’ll be glad you opted for insurance.
• 💉 Emergency Medical Coverage – a sad reality is that many travelers end up in hospitals in Mexico, only to find out that their USA medical policies won’t cover them. Emergency medical expenses can add up fast.
• 🚗 Rental Car Protection – I love driving in Mexico, but I worry about car accidents. As discussed below, they are the #1 cause of death for Americans abroad.
• 🚁 Emergency Evacuation – A scary one to think about, but if you need to get evacuated from Mexico, it could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. For this reason, I always pay attention to the medical evacuation coverage in the policy terms.
• 💻 Gear Theft Protection – Cameras, laptops, cell phones. Petty crime in Mexico is real, and all those pricey items on your Mexico packing list make tempting targets.

Those are some of the most common coverages, but every policy differs, so read the terms carefully!

I personally almost always get travel insurance, primarily to protect against medical emergencies and evacuation. But not everyone necessarily needs it for Mexico (it is not a legal requirement to enter the country, after all).

So read on if you really want to dive in and figure out if it’s worth a purchase in your circumstance.

How to Find Cancel for Any Reason Coverage (CFAR) for Mexico

Travel insurance policies only cover the risks in the contract. Even the most comprehensive travel insurance plans will not cover you if you decide to cancel a trip because of fear of covid-19, an outbreak in your destination, or because of restrictions that ruin the point of your trip.

If you’re worried about these risks, you might look into what’s called “cancel for any reason” or “CFAR” coverage. Though it depends on the specific policy, you can usually make a CFAR claim for non refundable trip expenses for, well, any reason. Of course, it tends to be more significantly expensive, which is why I don’t personally use CFAR coverage.

If you do want CFAR coverage (perhaps because you have a lot of non refundable trip expenses), then note that TravelInsurance.com conveniently lets you filter your search results to include only CFAR policies. Here’s a screenshot of how to do that:

Just go to TravelInsurance.com, get a quote, then use the panel on the left hand side to narrow your search for Cancel for Any Reason policies.

Why I Get Insured & How I Compare Insurance Companies

Reason 1: Medical Coverage

The main reason I personally buy insurance is for the travel medical insurance and the evacuation coverage.

This isn’t medical or insurance advice (I’m not qualified to give that), but here’s my personal thinking on the subject:

Insurance is generally the best deal if it protects against financial exigency. For example, it is generally a bad deal over the long run to buy insurance for microwaves. If a microwave breaks you can afford to fix it. And since insurance companies build a profit margin into their premiums, you’ll be saving over the long term by just self-insuring for small risks like this.

On the other hand, a visit to a Mexican Emergency Room is probably something that I can’t afford to self-insure. It would definitely ruin my Mexico vacation, and could even result in financial ruin entirely.

The same reasoning applies if I hire a car rental in Mexico, crash it, and don’t have car rental insurance. Or if I pass away (dark, I know, but it happens) and my estate can’t afford the repatriation of remains to my family back in the United States.

Medical expenses are a serious consideration, and emergency medical coverage is still my main focus when I compare shop travel insurance coverage. That was true before the pandemic, but it’s even more so now.

Reason 2: Rental Car Crashes Are Very Common in Mexico

I LOVE driving in Mexico. A rental car gives you so much freedom, and renting a vehicle is my favorite way to explore all the many fun places to visit in Mexico.

But guess what?

Auto accidents while abroad are very common. According to the United States Department of State’s database on American deaths abroad, the most common cause for traveler deaths abroad isn’t terrorism or murder or even covid – it’s the common car crash.

That can be catastrophically expensive if you end up with a huge medical bill, liability for a car wreck, or if your family needs to repatriate your remains after a tragic incident.

That’s why you should never drink and drive in Mexico and you should always buckle up, even on vacation and even in taxis or tour buses. And it’s why travel medical insurance, repatriation of remains coverage, and car rental insurance are the three things I personally look at when comparing prices.

Safety Tips

Crime & Safety in Mexico

Mexico gets a bad rap in the news. With millions of visitors every year, it’s inevitable that bad things happen. And when they do, the media tends to grab on.

Nonetheless, it’s undeniable that gang and cartel violence have afflicted many parts of Mexico, including popular tourist destinations like Cancun and Acapulco. See our full guide to Mexico travel safety.

And always check the US State Department and UK FCDO sites for info on the latest travel warnings for Mexico.

You can also read our guides to safety in Tulum, safety in Playa del Carmen, and safety in Mexico City.

Mexico’s 2-Tier Medical System

Mexico effectively has two medical care systems: the public one and a private one for those with their own health insurance.

The Mexican public healthcare system can be quite affordable and you may be eligible for public medical insurance if you are planning to retire in Mexico on a resident visa. Read more info here.

If you’re just visiting Mexico, be aware that, while healthcare costs are generally cheaper in Mexico, for serious incidents the cost of healthcare can still be very expensive.

Renting a Car in Mexico

Car rental companies typically offer full coverage policies that you can buy separately if you just need coverage for your rental.

See my full guide to renting a car in Mexico for more information.

Extreme Sports in Mexico

Many of the best things to do in Mexico – like scuba diving in Cabo San Lucas, parasailing in Puerto Vallarta, or ATVing in Playa del Carmen – are classified as extreme sports for insurance coverage purposes.

When I plan to participate in these, I always look for a comprehensive plan covering these specifically (if it’s not explicitly covered, it’s usually excluded).

👉 Read Next: Check out my top Mexico travel tips to know before you go.

Know Your Embassy Locations

When traveling in any foreign country, it’s always a good idea to have contact information for your nearest embassy or consulate.

Here are the locations of the US embassy in Mexico City and the consulates around the country:

• Mexico City US Embassy – Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, CDMX (+52 55 5080 2000)
• Ciudad Juarez US Consulate – Paseo de la Victoria #3650, Fracc. Partido Senecú, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahau, Mexico, C.P. 32543 (+52 656 227 3000)
• Guadalajara US Consulate – Av. Manuel Acuña 3410, Monraz, 44670 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico (+52 333 111 7800)
• Hermosillo US Consulate – Blvd. Juan Navarrete 291, Raquet Club, 83204 Hermosillo, Son., Mexico (+52 662 689 6206)
• Matamoros US Consulate – Calle Constitución No. 1, Colonia Jardín, Matamoros, Tamaulipas 87330 (+52 868-812-4402)
• Merida US Consulate – Calle 60 No. 338-K x 29 y 31, Col. Alcala Martin Merida, Yucatan, Mexico 97050 (+52 999-942-5700)
• Monterrey US Consulate – Ave. Alfonso Reyes #150, Col. Valle del Poniente, Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon, Mexico 66196 (+51 81 8047 3100)
• Nogales US Consulate – Av Kalamata 99, Colonia Jardines de, Kalitea, 85066 Heroica Nogales, Son., Mexico (+52 631 689 1030)
• Nuevo Laredo US Consulate – Paseo Colon 1901, Colonia Madero, Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas 88360 (+52 867 714 0512)
• Tijuana US Consulate – Paseo de las Culturas s/n, Mesa de Otay, Delegación Centenario C.P. 22425, Tijuana Baja California (+52 664 977 2000)

Locations of the British embassies can be found here, and Canadians can find their embassy here.

Why Trust Us & Our Methodology

About Nate Hake: I’m a travel blogger, recovering lawyer, and full-time world traveler for over half a decade. I visit Mexico several times per year to review the newest hotels in Tulum, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, and around the country. I’m proud that my site Travel Lemming is among the most popular Mexico travel blogs on the Internet. Helping travelers enjoy Mexico is what I do for a living now. It’s so much more fun than legal work.

Methodology: While this list is subjective, it is based on personal experience. I have personally traveled to Mexico dozens of times and bought many policies from companies on this list. Mexico isn’t all that different than other countries, so I focus my efforts on assessing the factors I believe matter most: transparency, ease of use, and customer reviews from policyholders who have had to actually file a claim.

***

Anytime I travel abroad, I assess my risk tolerance and almost always decide insurance is worth it. Ultimately, whether or not to insure your trip is really up to you though.

I hope you enjoy visiting Mexico. Be sure to stay safe!