Health and Safety in Mexico

Health and Safety Travel Guide

Where will you be when you wish you had it?

by Robert H Page, MD and Curtis P Page, MD. Authors of MEXICO: Health and Safety Travel Guide   

This article is based on the first-ever Health and Safety Travel Guide to Mexico. Written by a father-son team of U.S. physicians and researchers, the book Mexico: Health and Safety Travel Guide is a culmination of years of travel research in 40 popular destinations throughout Mexico.

Studies have shown that nearly 50% of all international travelers will become ill while in Mexico. The Mexico: Health and Safety Travel Guide, by Dr. Robert H. Page and Dr. Curtis P. Page, is the conscientious traveler's answer to staying healthy and addressing safety concerns while in Mexico. The lightweight, comprehensive 465-page guide is the first-of-its-kind directory of more than 180 of Mexico's finest English-speaking doctors and over 50 of the best hospitals in 40 popular destinations. Click here to buy the book.

Prepare yourself for your travels to Mexico. Visit medtogo.com for pre-travel information and overviews of Mexican health care or you can have all the information, plus the directory of hospitals and doctors, at your fingertips while traveling. To purchase a copy of the guidebook, you may also find it on the website medtogo.com.

Your Insurance Does Not Cover You

Did you know that most North American policies do not cover medical costs if you become ill or injured while in Mexico? Mexican hospitals and doctors expect cash or credit card payments in advance prior to services rendered. If you need air evacuation to the U.S. or Canada, and are not covered, you will be expected to pay between $15,000-$25,000 USD for your transportation. For these reasons MedToGo recommends that all travelers purchase an economical international health insurance policy for your stay in Mexico. MedToGo has done a thorough evaluation of many international and Mexican insurance carriers and provides contact information and recommendations for the best and most economical policies available. If you are having difficulty deciding, MedToGo recommends a travel health insurance broker with connections to the most widely accepted insurances in Mexico. 

Know the Law in Mexico

Did you know that Mexican law requires you to have a Mexican doctor or pharmacist’s prescription to legally purchase or transport pharmaceuticals in Mexico? U.S. customs may enforce a law that limits you to an amount of medicine that is deemed for “immediate need.” If strictly enforced, a one month supply is all that is allowed but in practice you are usually permitted to transport as much as a 3-month supply. In Mexico, the possession of firearms, exposed or concealed, is against the law and carries a mandatory jail sentence. In contrast to North American law, in Mexico you are considered guilty until proven innocent. If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident you will be detained until you have paid a suitable fine or until you have proven your innocence. Click here to buy the book. 

Traveling with Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

Where do you feel safe? If you have a potentially serious medical condition but still don’t want to limit your travel experience would you feel safe in Mexico? With MedToGo you will. Imagine being in Guadalajara or Cancun and you run into a health problem; wouldn’t you like to know that you have the home phone number of a reputable English-speaking doctor that you can call at any time? How do you decide where to go? Many popular destinations have good hospitals and doctors but the majority do not. Most of the best health care is located inland in Mexico City, Guadalajara or Monterrey. Wouldn’t you like to know which cities have good care? Would it influence your decision on where to vacation? Do you require any special accommodations? Call a doctor before you travel and make arrangements.

Travelers' Diarrhea (Montezuma's Revenge)

Studies have shown that up to 40% of all travelers to Mexico that stay at least one week will end up with diarrhea. We all know that most public water systems in Mexico are contaminated with harmful bacteria, but did you know that up to 70% of tabletop salsa is also contaminated? Bismuth sulfate tablets taken four times a day can prevent most cases of diarrhea, and due out in the fall of 2004 is a newly FDA-approved medication called Rifamixin (Normix) that is effective in preventing 95% of all traveler’s diarrhea. Furthermore, there are few drug interactions or harmful side effects. The drug isn’t absorbed through the intestinal tract. Find out more about how to treat and prevent traveler’s diarrhea at medtogo.com.

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