Prepare Yourself For 16% Tax Added Onto Food And Medicine
The PRI got their way, and IVA the 16% National Sales Tax has been added to FOOD and MEDICINE. I have already noticed some price increases in other industries (mostly tourist oriented).
Forum Discussion
There are few misconceptions about IMSS. This is insurance funded partially by the government and partially by client (or employer) premiums.
If provided through employer, IMSS covers treatment in their IMSS hospitals only and medications in IMSS pharmacies. The closest IMSS hospital may be good or not so good. What is "not so good"? One pensioner said "it's like MASH only without incoming artillery" :)...
Now, if a gringo living there permanently and not working for Mex employer wants to get IMSS, they can, but it's called a "voluntary enrollment" and doesn't cover medications. The system malfunctions badly, and a lot of gringos got their medications covered first, and later were cut off.
Annual cost is low, $US 300 for people over 65. I think the IMSS plan is having financial difficulties now.
Seguro Popular is a different thing altogether. Any permanent resident is eligible, the fee is tied to income rather than age. Gringos on SS pension fall in the highest premium group as this is considered a high income for Mexico. They "should be" paying $500 a year, but as previously noted, they often don't. Same as IMSS, SP covers only treatment in their (i.e. public) hospitals, more numerous than IMSS, but again not all of them are good. And they don't cover a number of procedures so you have to pay or go North for Medicare. Only cheap generic medications are covered. Cost of treatment in public hospital is ridiculously low by US standards, but it still can be 10-15 grands for some surgery with a few days stay.
With either IMSS or SP you have to show proof of residency. It can be utilities bill from the campground and you may even get lucky and sneak in with only a visitor status, the system is corrupt and never worked well to begin with. But, technically, a visitor that has to ask for admission every time and is only granted max 6 months stay at a time, can not have a permanent address.
If provided through employer, IMSS covers treatment in their IMSS hospitals only and medications in IMSS pharmacies. The closest IMSS hospital may be good or not so good. What is "not so good"? One pensioner said "it's like MASH only without incoming artillery" :)...
Now, if a gringo living there permanently and not working for Mex employer wants to get IMSS, they can, but it's called a "voluntary enrollment" and doesn't cover medications. The system malfunctions badly, and a lot of gringos got their medications covered first, and later were cut off.
Annual cost is low, $US 300 for people over 65. I think the IMSS plan is having financial difficulties now.
Seguro Popular is a different thing altogether. Any permanent resident is eligible, the fee is tied to income rather than age. Gringos on SS pension fall in the highest premium group as this is considered a high income for Mexico. They "should be" paying $500 a year, but as previously noted, they often don't. Same as IMSS, SP covers only treatment in their (i.e. public) hospitals, more numerous than IMSS, but again not all of them are good. And they don't cover a number of procedures so you have to pay or go North for Medicare. Only cheap generic medications are covered. Cost of treatment in public hospital is ridiculously low by US standards, but it still can be 10-15 grands for some surgery with a few days stay.
With either IMSS or SP you have to show proof of residency. It can be utilities bill from the campground and you may even get lucky and sneak in with only a visitor status, the system is corrupt and never worked well to begin with. But, technically, a visitor that has to ask for admission every time and is only granted max 6 months stay at a time, can not have a permanent address.
