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Travel Insurance for Mexico

Travelling to Mexico for a much-needed holiday? Compare your travel insurance options with Savvy.

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, updated on September 4th, 2023       

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Compare Travel Insurance Quotes in 30 Seconds

Whether you’re planning to soak up some rays along its many beaches or explore the rich Aztec history of Mexico City, it’s always important to have peace of mind when you’re travelling to Mexico. If you’re searching for the right travel insurance cover for your next international journey, Savvy can point you in the right direction.

By comparing with us, you can find a policy which offers you the right protection, whether your flights are delayed, your luggage goes missing or you fall ill while overseas. We provide instant quotes from our partners, so you can consider their pros and cons and compare the cost of each policy. Before you take off overseas, compare your travel insurance options with Savvy today.

Do I need travel insurance for a holiday to Mexico?

You don’t necessarily ‘need’ travel insurance if you’re taking a trip to Mexico. However, it’s strongly recommended that you purchase a policy before you jet off to embrace the Mexican way of life and eat your weight in tacos and chilaquiles.

While Mexico can be a great place to spend your holiday, it also comes with its fair share of risks, which is why it’s essential to compare with Savvy and get the best travel insurance for your holiday.

If you’re looking to experience all of what Mexico has to offer, some of the incidentals to watch out for include:

  • Protests: these can occur in Mexico and are often politically motivated. You should avoid any mass public demonstrations, as these may also become violent. On top of this, it’s illegal for non-residents to participate in protests and political activity, so you could find yourself in trouble if you’re caught doing so.
  • Violent crime: criminal activity such as kidnapping, physical and sexual assaults, robbing, extortion and murder are widespread in Mexico. It is a significant risk to travel alone or when it’s dark outside of the major cities. The Australian Government’s Smartraveller site also recommends only using ATMs in public spaces and in daylight. Smartraveller also lists several areas of Mexico not to travel to due to the high risk of crime, including parts of Michoacán, Guerrero, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.
  • Natural disasters: if you’re travelling to Mexico, it’s worth considering the risk of being caught in a hurricane or earthquake. Monitor the situation in the areas you’re planning to travel to in the lead-up to your holiday.
  • Insect-borne diseases: there are several insect-borne diseases which are prevalent across Mexico, including Malaria, dengue fever and Chagas disease. The Zika virus is also a threat to those travelling in the region, particularly if you’re overseas whilst pregnant. Make sure your vaccinations are up to date before jetting off to Mexico and take precautions, such as using insect repellant.
  • Air pollution: air pollution can also cause illness, which can impact those staying in particularly high-altitude areas of the country. This is particularly important if you suffer from a respiratory or heart condition.

What’s covered by my travel insurance for my holiday to Mexico?

Depending on the policy and level of protection, travel insurance can help if you become ill or injured while travelling, lose your things, or suffer airline cancellations or delays. Some travel insurance benefits are:

  1. Overseas medical bills: medical treatment can be incredibly expensive in Mexico, as is the case for holidays in neighbouring America, so travel insurance can save you a significant amount of money if you’re hurt or sick and need treatment.
  2. Evacuation or repatriation: if you're critically ill and your insurance company's physicians say you need to return home, they'll pay for your evacuation and repatriation. This includes if you need to leave ship on a trip, which may cost up to $100,000 without insurance.
  3. Cancellation: many travel insurance carriers may refund pre-paid deposits on hotels, flights, or excursions if you cancel your trip due to a covered occurrence. Illness, injury, or a sick or dying family member are among the valid reasons for cancelling a trip.
  4. Lost, stolen or damaged bags: most insurance providers will compensate or replace lost, stolen, or damaged baggage up to an agreed claim amount, which can reach up to $15,000.
  5. Individual items: taking a phone or laptop on your overseas or domestic getaway? Many insurance plans offer sub-limits for lost, damaged, or stolen property.
  6. Travel delays: most travel insurance cover hotel, food, and other expenses if your flight is delayed longer than 24 hours. This includes delayed luggage owing to a delayed airliner. For example, some may allow you to claim up to $150 for every 12 hours your travel is delayed, up to a maximum of $3,000.
  7. Personal liability: legal issues abroad may be costly. If you're held directly accountable for damage or injury, your insurance company may pay up to $5 million.
  8. Accidental death: if you die overseas in a covered accident, your insurance company can repatriate your remains. They may pay up to $25,000 for funeral or cremation fees.
  9. Optional extras: looking for cover for scuba diving in the caves of the Yucatán Peninsula? Most travel insurance plans don't cover adventure or extreme activities automatically but offer supplementary coverage for an added premium.

However, most travel insurance companies won’t cover you for the following incidentals:

  1. Unapproved pre-existing medical conditions
  2. Lost possessions left unattended
  3. Breaking local laws and road rules
  4. Accidents caused by drug or alcohol use
  5. Travelling to a country against Australian government advice
  6. Travelling for medical tourism

What factors should I consider before buying travel insurance for a trip to Mexico? 

It might be difficult to figure out which policy provides the most beneficial coverage for your next trip to Mexico. However, by comparing with Savvy, you may be able to make the experience of searching for the perfect policy a whole lot easier.

Premium cost

It is, of course, in your best interest to keep your insurance premium costs to a minimum. To avoid overpaying for your travel insurance, it is crucial to shop around and get the best possible policy at a price that works for you.

The type of policy you need

Numerous options exist for travel insurance, whether you're looking for single-trip, annual or one-way cover, so it’s important to consider your travel requirements. For example, if you’ll be taking multiple international trips across the year, an annual policy may be more suited to you than single-trip. Take a look at your itinerary, think about how often you’ll be flying and compare it with Savvy so you can get the best insurance for your trip.

What you’re doing in Mexico

Carefully consider which insurance company provides the greatest value and level of protection if you’re looking to partake in high-risk pursuits before signing up. If you’re planning to climb a glacier at Pico de Orizaba or try out skydiving in Ixtapa, make sure you get a policy that covers you.

Claim limits

In most cases, the amount you may claim from your overseas travel insurance policy will be capped. Check if these limits are enough for your trip and the items you want to take with you by doing a side-by-side comparison of several brands with Savvy.

Inclusions and exclusions 

When searching for the best international policy for your trip to Mexico, make sure you opt for a policy that best suits your needs. Before settling on one choice, do your homework and weigh what's included and what isn't. For example, a pre-existing condition you suffer from may not be automatically included under one policy, while it could be covered by a competitor.

Types of travel insurance

Why compare travel insurance with Savvy?

Top tips for saving on your travel insurance to Mexico

Combine policies

You can get group policies from providers covering you, your partner, your extended family, and even your children or grandchildren. Most providers allow you to include up to 25 people under the same policies, which, if the costs are divided among the travellers, can save you money.

Consider increasing your excess

You can pay less for your travel insurance by increasing the excess you're willing to pay if you need to file a claim. A higher excess can help you save money in the long term, but it shouldn't be so high that it causes you financial hardship to pay it.

Only pay for what you need

There's no point paying for cover you're not going to use on your holiday. Before you purchase a policy, read the PDS and make sure you aren’t paying extra for add-ons such as rental car hire or cruise coverage if you don't have any intentions of either hiring a car or sailing across the seas.

Compare your travel insurance options

Using Savvy to help you decide lets you easily see which provider gives you the best coverage for the lowest price. You can compare policies side by side so you can weigh what's included, what's not included, the price of your premium, and any other essential factors.

Frequently asked questions about travel insurance for Mexico

Does travel insurance for Mexico cover me for COVID-19-related costs?

Yes – most travel insurance policies cover any COVID-19-related expenses, such as medical treatment while you’re in Mexico and the need to cancel your holiday if you test positive before you leave. However, cancellation due to COVID-19 isn’t usually available on basic policies. The risk of testing positive for COVID-19 is still quite high if you’re travelling to Mexico as of September 2022, so it’s best to wear a mask when possible if you’re worried about contracting the disease.

Can I take out travel insurance if I’m already in Mexico?

Yes – you can buy travel insurance if you’re already wheels up and headed to Mexico for your holiday. You’ll be afforded the exact coverage you would usually get if you purchased before departure. However, these policies have waiting periods of between 48 and 96 hours. This means that if you suffer a claimable incident inside this period, you won’t be able to make a claim.

When is the best time to buy travel insurance for Mexico?

Most people in the know will tell you the best time to purchase your travel insurance is when you know your travel dates. That allows you to be covered for the maximum amount of pre-paid bookings, such as those for hotels or tours if something unforeseen happens and you need to call off your holiday. There are also often sales on around holiday periods, such as Easter, Christmas and the End of the Financial Year, which means you could snap up a policy at a discount.

How do I make a claim on my travel insurance if I’m in Mexico?

When you do it online, claiming on your travel insurance is a pretty easy process. When you go to your insurance company's website, enter your policy number and the email address that goes with it. From there, you can do the following:

  • Fill out your claim form with plenty of detail
  • Attach any documents, such as receipts, medical evidence, or proof of purchase
  • Submit your claim

 

The majority of the time, you should hear back from your insurance company within about ten business days. It's best to quickly answer any requests for more information to avoid slowing down the process.

How much will my travel insurance to Mexico cost?

The cost of your travel insurance to Mexico will be determined by a range of interchangeable variables, including:

  • Your age
  • The length of your trip and destinations (long-term travel insurance will cost more than short-term)
  • Whether you suffer any pre-existing conditions
  • If you need optional extras
  • The insurer you’ve chosen
  • The level of cover you have purchased
  • What parts of Mexico (for example, you may not be able to receive cover if you’re travelling somewhere embroiled in violence or suffering from a natural disaster)

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Disclaimer:
We do not compare all travel insurance brands currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and does not consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.

Savvy earns a commission from our partners each time a customer buys a travel insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via their websites.

Before purchasing your policy, we recommend you refer to the provider’s PDS for any further information on the terms, inclusions and exclusions.

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