Who is eligible for Medicare

Medicare is only available to legal residents of the USA who are of a certain age (or with specific medical situations).  Here are some helpful links for further research; we also recommend you talk to your insurance broker or healthcare providers about your individual situation.

• This Medicare page contains an eligibility questionnaire, and
• This page on the Medicare Interactive website describes the Medicare situation for those who live abroad; and
• This page on the Medicare website describes Medicare policies when outside of the U.S.

Access to Medicare outside of the USA

Outside of the 50 States and the District of Columbia, Medicare is only available in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

Medicare may pay for specific types of medical care in a foreign country if a foreign hospital is closer to the nearest U.S. hospital should a medical emergency arise while you’re in the U.S., or traveling through Canada between the continental U.S. and Alaska; or if you live in the U.S. and the foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition.

If you’re traveling on a ship, Medicare might pay for medically-necessary services provided the vessel is not more than 6 hours away from a U.S. port.

In all cases, Medicare drug plans don’t cover prescription drugs you may buy outside the U.S.

You can get full details about the policies and coverage here on the U.S. Medicare official website.

Alternatives to Medicare when you’re in Mexico

When you’re planning to live in Mexico and need to consider health insurance coverages, there are several options you can consider.

Mexico’s IMSS coverage

As an alternative to Medicare, some foreign residents in Mexico opt to take Mexico’s government-sponsored IMSS health coverage under an insurance program that charges based on age-brackets; typically between US$50-$70 per month for someone of retirement age.  Conditions and exclusions apply, and you must be a legal resident of Mexico to avail yourself of this coverage.

Private medical insurance

Private medical insurance is widely available in Mexico, with policies priced depending on the coverages you seek, your age, health, and medical history.

Medical evacuation insurance

If you’re only in Mexico for short periods, and you have coverages which give your healthcare options in your home country, you might consider a medical evacuation insurance plan to help you get back home in the event of medical emergency.

Discover options for healthcare coverages in Mexico

For details and descriptions of the various healthcare coverages available to foreign residents, read our article about Health and Medical Insurance Options for Mexico that includes options for short visits, extended stays, and long-term residency.

If you do not have a medical evacuation insurance plan that will bring you to your home hospital of choice and are hospitalized with a serious or critical condition, there are several things to consider:

Medical evacuation is expensive

If you’re not covered by a medical evacuation plan, the cost of a medical evacuation from Mexico to the United States or Canada may run from US$25,000 to US$60,000 for a dedicated air-ambulance to transport you from Mexico back to the US or Canada, and more if your home country is in Europe or Asia.

Hospitals and doctors may have air ambulance providers they recommend for such a transport if needed, but it is important to know exactly who is transporting you, their level of expertise, experience and if they are qualified for such a transport.

Who’s transporting you or your loved one?

The air ambulance industry is not as well regulated as people may expect.  There are FAA or similar requirements on aircraft to be maintained, nurses, medics and doctors need licenses, but the experience, the type of aircraft utilized for an evacuation, the medical equipment, and the level of care available can vary greatly and put you and your loved ones at risk if you choose the wrong provider.

Accreditation matters

Mark Jones, Vice Chairman of Air Ambulance Worldwide and industry expert explains that, “when time is of the essence during a critical medical emergency one of the key factors to ensure your care is provided by experienced flight nurses, medics and doctors and using state-of the art medically equipped aircraft is to choose either a  CAMTS of EURAMI accredited air ambulance provider.”

Less than 20% of the air ambulance companies achieve these levels of accreditation due to the rigorous inspections and standards of excellence required to ensure their patients a safe medical transport each and every time.  We recommend contacting Air Ambulance Worldwide, a EURAMI accredited provider with annual permits to transport you or a loved one should you need a medical evacuation.

Medical evacuation without coverage

If you don’t have evacuation coverage, you’ll be required make full payment upfront which can create a substantial financial burden on the patient and their loved ones to make such an arrangement during a critical time.  A highly accredited provider like Air Ambulance Worldwide has extensive experience of medical air-evacuation from Mexico and can help you mitigate these risks.

Membership plans versus regulated insurance plans

It’s important to choose a Medical Evacuation Insurance Plan that is regulated, compliant and only utilizes accredited air ambulance providers. Many of the membership and assistance plans available are unregulated and may utilize non-accredited air ambulance providers leaving you little recourse and substandard care.

Medical insurance for short visits to Mexico

If you’re visiting Mexico for a short period —on a vacation or short business trip, for example— travel insurance policies which cover you for a limited time while you’re away from home should suffice.  These might be provided by your current healthcare provider—but double-check as many policies exclude or significantly limit out of country coverage.  Learn more about getting short-term emergency and medical expenses insurance coverage for your visit to Mexico.

Medical insurance for Extended Stays in Mexico

If you plan to be in Mexico for an extended stay —for longer than 90 days and less than 180 days— for example, you might take a sabbatical, a volunteer job, or plan to stay in Mexico part-time, then a short-term travel insurance policy won’t cover you as they are limited to 90-day stays in Mexico.  You can however obtain emergency & medical insurance for extended Stays in Mexico on a policy that will last for visits up to 180 calendar days, about six months.

Health insurance for foreign residents in Mexico

If you intend to apply for, or have, legal residency in Mexico, a travel insurance policy won’t be valid as these are designed for people who come to Mexico for a defined period and return to their country of residence, or travel back and forth between Mexico and another country.

Therefore, if you plan to reside in Mexico, you should consider health insurance coverages that will be valid and provide adequate care for your needs.  Here are the options:

Mexico’s IMSS medical coverage

Foreign residents (temporary or permanent) can apply for the Mexican public healthcare insurance system known an IMSS on a voluntary basis which provides access to certain doctors, clinics and hospitals in Mexico.  Some medications are also covered under this plan.

Coverage costs depend on your age; restrictions and limitations apply and, like all publicly-funded healthcare systems, patient demand is usually higher than the supply of services, so you may have to wait for care. (Note also that people who are enrolled in IMSS through an employer get priority over those who enroll voluntarily.)  This article explains the IMSS medical insurance system in Mexico.

Private medical insurance in Mexico

Most foreign residents who can afford to do so will take out a private medical insurance plan that covers their personal needs and gives them direct access to private doctors, clinics and hospitals in Mexico.

Policies are crafted to the individual situation of the person, couple, or family, and premiums depend on things like your age, term of coverage, coverages included, and the deductible you are willing to pay in the event of a claim.  Learn more about private health insurance providers in Mexico.

Medical evacuation from Mexico

If you are resident in Mexico and continue to have health coverage in your home country then you might consider a medical evacuation plan to enable you to get home for treatment and to convalesce close to your own doctors and family in the event that you experience a serious accident or health event (e.g. heart attack) while you are here.  Note that medical evacuation insurance coverages only cover evacuation costs in serious cases and so you’ll need to get routine or non-critical health matters attended to in Mexico.  Learn more about medical evacuation plans.

A consultancy with Samantha will provide you with guidance and concise recommendations about what to expect from senior care support services on offer in Puerto Vallarta—whether you’re planning ahead and considering choices for yourself (or you and your partner) or want to learn more about senior care provision services for someone else close to you.

Consult with an experienced senior care professional

Samantha is fully bilingual and has over 25 years of professional experience on matters related to social care across a wide spectrum of client groups in both public and private organizations.  She has lived in Puerto Vallarta for over 10 years and specializes in attending to the needs of people seeking senior care services there.

Her consultancy offers in-depth knowledge about senior care services on offer in Puerto Vallarta, including recommendations about in-home care services vs local residential homes, through direct experience of working with elder care centers in the Vallarta area.

Working with individuals and families of those preparing for their retirement or changes in their lifestyle or health situations, her areas of expertise include:

• senior care planning and management in private residences;
• bilingual advocate services for those navigating doctors, finances, and end-of-life planning in Puerto Vallarta; and
• providing personalized consultancy to individuals, families, hospitals, and assisted living centers.

Get experienced advice, local insight, and concise recommendations

Samantha’s consultancy service offers local knowledge and clear, concise recommendations about how to plan ahead, prepare for, and explore the availability of senior care services available in Puerto Vallarta.

When you’re seeking choices for senior care provision in the Puerto Vallarta area, Samantha can help you to discover and explore the options available:

When you’re planning for retirement or changes in your lifestyle in Mexico:

• Undertaking an Initial Assessment to determine your current situation.
• Advice about key matters you need to take into careful consideration.
• Guidance about realistic choices on offer in Puerto Vallarta and available service options.

When you need to talk about plans for someone close to you

• Personal consultation to discuss your situation and how you may source the help you need.
• Practical matters you need to consider as someone ages and external assistance is required.
• How to meet needs and provide support whilst respecting autonomy.
• Potential service options and practical tips on exploring potential care homes in Puerto Vallarta.

Consultancy that flexes with your needs

Samantha offers a FREE initial 15-minute conversation to talk about your situation and to determine if the consultation service is right for your needs.

Personalized consultancy is offered at US$85 per hour, with a 1-hour minimum, and time billed precisely as used after the first hour.  Samantha keeps a detailed log of the support time provided to you.

How the consulting service supports you

The service is designed to provide you with a personalized consultation that focuses on your specific circumstances and needs and provides you with a post-consultation written brief. Typically, the consultation follows this path:

Free 15-minute conversation

Samantha offers a FREE 15-minute conversation to discuss your situation and to determine if the consultancy service is right for your needs.

Your personalized consultation

If you decide to proceed with a formal consultation, Samantha will send you a payment link for the first hour of consultancy and schedule your first formal consultation call (by telephone, Zoom, or Skype, as you prefer) at a mutually convenient date and time. If your situation is urgent, a priority consultation may be accommodated, but please only request this if the need is genuinely urgent.

Gathering key information

The personal consultation will be carefully structured to talk about your current situation and future plans, answer any specific questions you have, and identify the key matters and issues related to senior care within your individual circumstances.

Guidance to help you make informed choices

The initial assessment enables Samantha to offer concise recommendations about senior care service provision in Puerto Vallarta, including how the services work, what to expect, with insights to help you interact positively and creatively with the services available.

Post-consultation

After the call, Samantha will compose a written brief of the initial assessment and her comments and recommendations. She’ll send these to you by email so that you (and your family) can use this to plan and make some informed choices; the brief also serves as a helpful reference if you need to share key information with other professionals and caregivers.

Follow-up call

After you’ve had an opportunity to read the post-consultation brief, you can optionally schedule a follow-up call with Samantha to talk through the details and answer any further questions you may have.

Make a service request now

To proceed with a service request, please complete the request form below.

Samantha will contact you personally to organize your FREE 15 minute call, with the option to proceed with a formal consultation afterward.

Mexico enjoys long daylight throughout the year

Mexico’s geographical location gives the country a privileged mix of daylight and dark, regardless of the season.  This is in contrast to countries situated further away from the equator, where daylight hours can be substantially curtailed during the winter months.

One of the reasons why so many people enjoy overwintering in Mexico is because the country offers pleasantly warm or temperate climates, and also because the daylight here remains fairly constant —thus by living here during the winter you can avoid the ‘long nights’ —and enjoy plenty of sunshine, too.

How Mexico’s daylight hours vary during the year

Mexico’s privileged daylight hours can be well illustrated by way of an example.

The table below shows the hours for sunrise and sunset on the longest and shortest days of the year —and the total daylight hours on those days— for three locations in Mexico:

• Tijuana one of Mexico’s northernmost cities, situated on the border with the US; and
• Mexico City on a similar latitude to Mérida, in the Yucatán; and
• Tapachula that is Mexico’s southernmost city on the border with Guatemala.

(Times shown take into account Mexico’s abandonment of annual clock changes.)

Enjoying long daylight on the shortest day of the year

The hours recorded in the table above for the ‘winter low’ are for December 21—the shortest day of the year in Mexico. These show that:

• In the northern-most areas of Mexico, even the shortest days of the year give more than 10 hours of daylight.
• In the southern-most areas (nearer to the equator) you can enjoy over eleven-and-a-quarter hours of daylight on the shortest day of the year.
• Mexico City (and Mérida, on a similar latitude) enjoy nearly eleven hours of daylight on the year’s shortest day, and over 12 hours of daylight on the longest day of the year.

A good balance on the longest days of the year

On or around June 21 —the longest day of the year in Mexico— you’ll enjoy between 12 and 14 hours of daylight in the peak of summer, regardless of where you’re situated in the country.

Mexico’s geographical location in relation to the equator offers a year-round equitable balance of night and day, with each month and season offering plenty of daylight every day of the year—which can be supportive to one’s moods, general health, and overall well-being.

Mexico’s light is also extraordinary

As well as offering an equitable balance of daylight and dark, when you pause to consider the quality of the light here, you come to realize that Mexico’s light is truly extraordinary.

Its quality is especially noticeable in the mountain highlands, although it’s exceptional even at lower elevations, and along the coasts.

Mexico is often said to be one of the most ‘colorful countries in the world’ and the quality of the light undoubtably contributes to the sparkling tapestry of colors on display to appreciate here.

Writers describing Mexico’s scenery often remark, for example, on the sharp and crisp ‘azure blue’ skies, especially in the central highlands.  They’ve noticed how the subtleties and hues of the light in Mexico are quite special.

The exceptional light is complemented by sensational fragrances during the rainy season as the groundwater swells and the flora blossom and bloom.

When the ground becomes parched during the dry season, dust particles rise high up into the atmosphere and contribute to the composition of the most magnificent sunsets you’ll experience anywhere.

Mexico for living and leisure

Mexico is one of the most visited countries in the world, offering beautiful beach locations, picturesque colonial mountain towns, fascinating archaeology, and an abundance of wild, natural habitats to traverse and enjoy. It also offers remarkable opportunities for living and lifestyle that you can also discover and explore here on Mexperience.

• Explore complete guides to aspects of living in Mexico
• Learn about leisure and travel opportunities in Mexico
• Read insightful articles about living and lifestyle in Mexico
• Sign-up to our free email Mexico Newsletter published monthly

We regularly talk with foreign residents who have made their home here and, while all gardens can never be rosy all of the time, we’ve gathered together the key reasons cited by people who have settled here and say they are staying for the long-term.

“We’re enjoying a better quality of life.”

It’s no secret that the cost of living is rising across most of the world—that is, homestead, food and utilities are costing more, taxes are rising, and incomes are falling when compared to real inflation.

Retirees on fixed incomes are particularly affected by this.  People are moving to places like Mexico where their fixed incomes stretch further because they’re not paying as much for the basic necessities and their incomes are not being hit by rising costs that they cannot avoid, especially property taxes.

“We’re eating better food and paying less for it.”

There is an abundance of fresh, wholesome, food available in Mexico at affordable prices.  Fresh foods are available in many countries that don’t have the climates to grow them all year long, but at a premium price in comparison to highly processed and non-fresh foods.  In Mexico, you don’t have to spend the whole paycheck eating wholesomely.  Learn more about enjoying food in Mexico, as well as markets and shopping.

“Our home living costs are lower in Mexico.”

The fees and taxes home-owners have to pay in places like the US, Canada, and Western Europe have climbed steadily over the last decade—to the point where these are now a significant line-item on personal budgets.

Rises in house and community taxes have out-stripped inflation, and maintenance costs are steep: in summary, home ownership is becoming an expensive pastime and putting a lot of pressure on people with fixed incomes, or with wages that are failing to keep up with price rises.

In Mexico, home owners enjoy low property taxes as well as lower maintenance costs due to lower material prices and labor fees for house maintenance services.

“We enjoy an extraordinary climate.”

In terms of climate, Mexico is a land of three lands.

If you enjoy a year-round temperate climate, the central highland areas are ideal; if you need to be where it’s warmer/hot beside the ocean, there’s plenty of choice and, unlike the US, coastal property is still affordable in many places across Mexico.  If you prefer cooler temperatures year-round, Mexico’s highland mountain towns could suit you.

Some foreign residents come for the winter, some stay longer or stay all year. Our guide to finding a climate to suit your lifestyle will help you to consider the choices.  As a bonus, the light here is extraordinary all year.

“We can afford healthcare in Mexico.”

Routine medical care, specialist services, and medications cost less in Mexico, and you don’t have to compromise on the quality of healthcare you receive.

As the costs and limitations of the US and other medical care systems reveal themselves, people are looking abroad for the treatments and care they need—and Mexico’s geographical closeness is as attractive as the affordability.

You can learn about options for medical health care insurance in Mexico and find lots of additional insights about healthcare and well-being here on Mexperience.

“We feel safe in Mexico.”

In a related article about finding your niche in Mexico, we wrote: “If what you’re seeing about Mexico on your TV screen scares and keeps you away now, your perceptions have been hijacked before you allowed yourself an opportunity to better understand these lands, and see what others here see: a country in transition, a country which is, by and large, less violent than those places where stones are so readily thrown from glass houses.”

Despite the anti-Mexico news flow, foreign residents living here report that they feel safe and settled in Mexico. The drug cartels are not targeting foreign residents or tourists. People who are not involved in the drug trade or other criminal activities have a very small chance of being affected by violent crime.

Resources for Living & Lifestyle in Mexico

Mexperience offers you a comprehensive online resource of information and local knowledge to help you discover Mexico, explore choices, find opportunities and plan a new life in Mexico.  Our resources include:

• Relocate to Mexico, detailed guide to help you plan and realize your move
• Insightful articles about living and lifestyle in Mexico
• An extensive selection of free guides to living and lifestyles in Mexico
• A regular Mexico Newsletter you can subscribe to for free

When you’re staying in Mexico for longer periods, our associates can help you to arrange health insurance coverage that offers you direct access to private healthcare professionals, clinics and hospitals in Mexico.

Health insurance for long term stays in Mexico

Connect to our associate who can provide a no-obligation quote for health insurance coverages when you’re staying (or planning to stay) longer-term.

We are currently reviewing our recommendations for long-term private health insurance providers.  We will recommend suitable providers here in due course.

Meanwhile, consider:

• Emergency medical coverage for Extended Stays in Mexico
• Trip insurance for Shorter Visits to Mexico
• Medical Evacuation Insurance to get you home in an emergency if have a health coverage plan in the US.
• Also read about Mexico’s public health insurance program and a summary of Health & Medical insurance options.

Cover for critical situations

Medical air evacuation isn’t for patients who are mobile and suffering from turista or sea-sickness, it’s for those who suffer catastrophic illness or accidents while away from home; primarily cardiac events, strokes, or serious vehicle accidents.

No matter where in the world you are going, from the most remote region to an urban center teeming with people, if you have a serious health issue and want to make certain that you can get from wherever you are to specific medical facilities back home as quickly as possible, you’ll need a medical evacuation plan designed to transport you to your doctors, your family, your healthcare network—and a hospital of choice in your home country.

You may have arrived at your destination aboard a commercial airline, but if you’re showing signs of serious illness, you may not be allowed to board to get back home. If you can’t get home, you may have a long convalescence period in a foreign country —away from family and friends— unless you are evacuated.

Medical evacuation coverage is far more than a private flight home

We spoke with Grant Conway of Travel MedEvac Insurance, a US-based medical evacuation insurance plan provider for travelers and foreign residents, to learn more about air medical evacuation. What we discovered is that medical evacuation is much more than a private flight.

Yes, there are planes with pilots and medical personnel on standby; however, to offer a safe, reliable, and high quality bed-to-bed service—where you are taken from one hospital room via ambulance to the nearest airport, flown to your destination city abroad, with another ambulance to the hospital of your choice—it’s essential to have a highly-accredited provider who can manage the complex logistics.

With a medical evacuation plan in place, everything is taken care of for you: including consultation with all the relevant medical professionals, and fully-managed ground and air transportation in tandem with the complex logistics involved to carry out international medical repatriations.

It’s expensive and complex if you don’t have a cover plan

Although you can work directly with an air-evacuation company, the costs are high—typically in the tens of thousands of US-dollars per incident. Most people who receive a medical evacuation do so under the auspice of a medical evacuation plan from a company like Travel MedEvac insurance, that offers fully-underwritten medical evacuation insurance plans lasting from days to a whole year.

While air evacuation plans may not necessarily be considered  by some foreign residents and snowbirds who intend to receive all of their medical care in Mexico, there are some who prefer being treated in their home town, by doctors they know and trust—and near the support of family and friends as they recover. Having a medical evacuation plan can facilitate that when warranted by the circumstances.

You can learn more on our extensive guide to Medical Evacuation from Mexico—that describes in detail what a medical evacuation service is, who needs it, and how to arrange a suitable plan.

Service, qualification, and enrolment

The service is formally called Seguro de Salud Para La Familia but colloquially it’s always referred to as “el IMSS.”

Note that the information, application procedures, and all healthcare services are provided in Spanish only.  If you don’t speak Spanish, you’ll need a friend to help you, or you’ll need to hire an interpreter when you apply, and when you go for any treatment.

The IMSS healthcare service is funded by a combination of the Federal government, employer and employee payroll taxes—and individual contributions where the service is taken on an independent/voluntary basis.

There are two ways to become enrolled:

• First, anyone (Mexican national or legal foreign resident) who is formally employed in Mexico must pay their employee IMSS contributions and become enrolled in the program, regardless of any other private health insurance they might have.
• The second way is by voluntary enrollment, which is open to those not in formal employment and those who wish to enroll on a voluntary basis—for example, foreign residents who are retired in Mexico.

Non-Mexicans who wish to enroll voluntarily must have legal residency status (Residente Temporal or Residente Permanente, formerly FM3/FM2) to qualify; foreigners in Mexico with FMM visitor permits are not eligible.

Note: IMSS is not the same as the program formerly known as Seguro Popular now replaced by the INSABI program.

Annual fee for voluntary enrollment in IMSS

If you are not formally employed in Mexico you can opt to enroll in the IMSS healthcare program voluntarily and paying an annual fee.

• The fee for annual enrollment varies depending on your age.
• You can get the current rates from the table on this page.
• By way of example, a person in their 60s currently pays $18,300 pesos per year. (Equivalent to this many US dollars.)
• Therefore, a retired couple both in their 60s would pay about $37,000 Mexican pesos per year for IMSS insurance coverage in Mexico. (Equivalent to this many US dollars.)

Preexisting conditions

Some preexisting conditions are not covered and these include malignant tumors, congenital diseases, chronic degenerative diseases, addictions, mental illness, and HIV—among others.  If you have any preexisting excluded conditions, you cannot enroll into the IMSS insurance program.

Other specific preexisting conditions are covered on ‘deferment’ and these don’t preclude you for joining the program, but are subject to specific waiting periods before you can seek healthcare services within the IMSS system related to them.

You can see the list of excluded and deferred preexisting conditions on this page

Application and payment

IMSS accepts applications online, or in person at a local IMSS office.

• See this page on the IMSS website for details about application procedures and a link to the online application form.
• Read the FAQ titled, ¿Qué documentos necesito y cuáles deben ser sus características? for details about the necessary steps and documents needed to apply online, or in person.
• When your application is approved, you need to attend a local bank to pay your fee, and your IMSS membership begins the first calendar day of the following month of your application.

On enrollment

Upon enrollment, your coverage begins on the first calendar day of the following month of your application.

After you’re enrolled, you’ll be assigned to a local clinic, where you will go to see your doctor, go for regular check-ups, and obtain prescriptions for any medications you may need.  If you need the services of a specialist, referrals are made to IMSS medical specialists only via your assigned doctor.

Medications prescribed by your doctor can be obtained for no additional cost at the pharmacy associated with the local IMSS office.  However, not all medicines are available this way and if the medication you need is not available there, the doctor will give you a prescription to get the medicine at a private pharmacy and you will have to pay separately for this.

Speed and quality of care

There are waiting periods for non-emergency procedures, and IMSS members who get their coverage as part of their formal employment are given priority over those who enrolled independently.

The reported quality of care varies, and the experience you have will likely depend on where you are in Mexico and what the wider local demand is on health services when you’re seeking treatment. Some foreign residents report good care from IMSS, others report disappointments and shortcomings.

Limit of resources under IMSS: It’s fair to say —as with all large, publicly-funded healthcare systems world-wide— that the demand for services usually exceeds the supply of resources available and compromises must therefore be made.

Hospital treatment under IMSS: If you are interned in a public hospital in Mexico, your family and friends will be expected to provide support and bring amenities to you while you are admitted. This is something that is quite different to private healthcare coverage, where everything covered is ‘laid-on’ (and billed to the account). Ask your assigned IMSS doctor about this if a treatment or operation you are undergoing will require your hospitalization.

Mexico has long been going smoke-free in public places, but at the same time alternatives such as patches and nicotine gum disappeared from pharmacies. While in the U.S. and Europe those products are readily available, in Mexico it became impossible even to order them online.

This coincided with the emergence of vaping, which had the advantage of not filling up the area with smoke or leaving a stale smell on fingers, clothes and breath. Vaping products have been banned by the Mexican government on health grounds.

One new non-vaping nicotine option appearing at convenience stores —being sold under the brand name “ZYN”— are nicotine pouches that you put under your upper or lower lip and keep there for a while, absorbing the nicotine through the mouth. Some people may prefer gum or lozenges, but when there’s nothing else you take what you can get. They are priced about the same as a packet of cigarettes.

ZYN is made by a Swedish subsidiary of the tobacco giant Philip Morris and is part of the company’s shift toward smoke-free products, which have become popular for reasons such as those mentioned above. Information about them in Mexico, along with the  different presentations and risks (smokers may be shocked to know that nicotine is addictive), is available here.

Another option is Velo, made by British American Tobacco, which has a similar product, and similarly priced, also available in convenience stores in Mexico.

Without delving too deeply into confessions of a smoker, it might be well to warn those about to celebrate that nothing is necessarily permanent.

In 2024, a congressional committee approved a proposed constitutional ban on electronic cigarettes and vaping that was passed and is now in the process of becoming law. Meanwhile, notices have been posted in customs halls and some travelers are having vaping products confiscated when their personal items are examined.

Apparently, “but I thought they wanted people to stop smoking,” doesn’t carry a great deal of weight.

Mexico’s mountainous terrains

Elevations of 5,000 to 7,000 feet above sea level are not unusual for cities in Mexico’s colonial heartland as well as those in the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas.  Mexico City and Guadalajara are also cities situated at elevation.

If you plan to experience the Monarch Butterflies you’ll also need to adjust to the higher elevations in the forested mountains where these butterflies gather to overwinter in Mexico; and if you’re visiting higher elevation areas in Mexico’s Copper Canyon you’ll also need to take time to adjust.

Adjusting to being at higher elevations

Many people who arrive in Mexico tend to come from places situated much closer to sea-level —perhaps a few hundred feet above sea-level at most— and so a visit to one of Mexico’s inland towns or cities may leave you breathless in more ways than one, until your body becomes acclimatized to thinner air.

Mexico City, for example, is not only 7,200 feet above sea level (that’s about a mile and-a-half up in the sky), it’s situated in a valley surrounded by mountains and flanked by two volcanoes.  The mix of altitude, heat, and smog can become quite uncomfortable at times, and may leave you feeling exhausted after what may have seemed a normal day’s activity back home.

Mexico’s provinces do not suffer the smog that metropolises like Mexico City, Los Angeles, and Tokyo have come to inherit, but the altitude and the heat during summer months may cause you to feel more tired than usual if you are not already accustomed to higher elevation where you live.

Common symptoms felt by people adjusting to higher elevation include:

• Headaches
• Fatigue or lethargy
• Dizziness or nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Sleeplessness
• Shortness of breath

Advantages of living at elevation in Mexico

Elevation does bring with it some distinct advantages, too.

Being high up keeps the climate at more temperate levels, especially in comparison to the sultry, sweltering heat at the coasts in the high summer months.   During the fall and winter months, the mornings and evenings can be quite cool —even chilly in some places— which creates a welcome contrast to the warmer days and hotter summers.

Tips to help you acclimatize at high elevation

Getting acclimatized to elevation takes some time, and your body will usually adjust surprisingly quickly to the change of altitude given the right amount of rest and hydration.  Here are some practical tips:

Take it easy at first

Don’t plan too much activity for your first few days.  Give your body time to acclimatize to the change in altitude and lower oxygen levels.  Take a short nap in the afternoon if you like, or at least rest a while.

Drink plenty of fresh water

Two liters a day is recommended; keep drinking little and often all day. Staying thoroughly hydrated is really important at high elevations; even if you don’t feel thirsty.

Stay protected from too much sun

Wear a sun-hat and use protective sun lotion, even in the fall and winter months when the temperatures are lower. Keep your skin protected from excess sun even on overcast days as UV rays can penetrate cloud cover.

Moderate your alcohol intake

Wine, beer, and liquor will go to your head faster and the effects will last longer when you are drinking alcohol in places with high elevation; alcohol also dehydrates you, so you may want to consider scaling-back your normal consumption rates and supplementing your alcohol intake with additional fresh water.

Keeping well and staying healthy in Mexico

Within a few days, most people find that their body has acclimatized to higher elevation and the side-effects diminish. It is, however, important to continue to keep yourself well hydrated and watch your alcohol intake even after you have acclimatized.

For more practical information about keeping well and staying healthy in Mexico, read our Mexico Travel Health Guide – it’s packed full with tips and local knowledge.

Two decades have nearly passed since Mexico enacted a new law to crack down on the use of tobacco, securing smoke-free public spaces and buildings everywhere, and generating widespread awareness among smokers of the rights of non-smokers to be free from the toxic clouds exhaled by the users of the stuff when shopping, eating out, or waiting for a bus.

What it hasn’t achieved is to cut down on the number of smokers in the country, according to some reports.  Whether that’s because not enough has been done to discourage smoking, or because people who smoke don’t really care to quit, is anybody’s guess.

Props to help those who do want to give up —including nicotine patches, nicotine gum, lozenges, etc.— disappeared from drugstores across the country a while ago, although a form of nicotine lozenges have been making a comeback.

Imports of electronic cigarettes (vaping devices) have been outlawed by presidential decree, citing World Health Organization data concerning the practice. Notices have since have been posted in customs halls and some travelers are having vaping products confiscated when their personal items are examined.

The ban on the —highly profitable, by the way— sale of loose cigarettes has been widely ignored.  These are still openly available on thousands of street stalls, at markets, outside Metro stations, at traffic lights.  In some districts where health inspectors have shown up to admonish vendors in breach of the ban, the sale stopped for a while and then resumed surreptitiously among trusted customers. But if the prohibition was aimed at keeping cigarettes out of the hands of minors, it could be said to have worked.  At least you’d be hard pressed to find vendors selling tobacco to the under-aged, and this is true of local shops as well.