Mark R. Says:
Hello,
I loved San Miguel de Allende—I visited there and was so impressed!
But can you tell me more about healthcare facilities there? I’d hate to regularly visit Mexico City, though I love that city too.
IL Latin America Correspondent Jason Holland Says:
Hi Mark,
Thanks for checking in. I’ve lived in San Miguel de Allende for nearly five years now… and have become familiar with the medical—and dental—care available in town through my own family’s experiences and those of friends and neighbors.
Overall, those experiences have been good, with caring doctors and nurses in well-run and modern facilities for the most part.
There are three small private hospitals in town: MAC Hospital, Hospital Joya, and Medica Arcangel. Each has an emergency room and specialist care and can handle hospitalization and mostly minor surgeries.
Aside from the hospital facilities there are also attached pharmacies, diagnostic labs, and doctors’ offices. Some specialists are based at those hospitals, while others commute on a regular basis from nearby, larger cities.
There’s also a large clinic that’s part of the Mexican government’s IMSS healthcare system and a hospital that’s part of the INSABI system.
As an expat here with residency, you can join the IMSS system for a several hundred dollars a year—the exact amount depends on age.
INSABI is free but really intended for low-income Mexicans. INSABI facilities are pretty basic.
IMSS is regarded as being much better, but folks do complain about long wait times.
Private care, which is still much lower cost than the U.S., is considered the best, for sure.
You’ll also find other private medical clinics and doctor’s offices around town. Some general practitioners, others offering specialty care.
For serious issues or major surgeries, residents often head to the city of Queretaro, which is about 45 minutes away. There you have several large hospitals.
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