One of the more intimidating parts of moving to Mexico has been figuring out healthcare and health insurance.
I promise not to make this post too boring. I’ll give you the nutshell version.
We aren’t getting any younger. At the same time, we feel younger.
We’re hopeful that this season of life can be long and active, and one of the reasons we moved here was because we thought it would support that goal.
Retirement is more fun if your knees still work.
We walk a lot. We ride our e-bikes. We spend time outside. (Remember – we still don’t own a car.) Movement has become built into daily life instead of something we schedule.
This place has a way of drawing us outdoors and making activity feel enjoyable instead of obligatory.
We’re also eating differently. There are neighborhood markets everywhere with fresh produce, meats, and foods that are both affordable and abundant.
Back in the States, eating fresh often felt expensive. Here, it feels normal.
The state of Jalisco is famous for tequila and agave, but it is also a powerhouse of agriculture. Nearby Jocotepec has huge berry farms producing raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Jalisco is also Mexico’s largest producer of pork, milk, and corn.
Fresh food is everywhere. We feel good.
Judi and I also had a pretty fortunate start health-wise.
For the first fifty or sixty years of our lives we were practicing Mormons and followed the health code known as the Word of Wisdom – which meant no alcohol, tobacco, coffee, or a lot of other questionable life choices.
These days we occasionally enjoy coffee or a drink now and then, but mostly in moderation.
Thankfully, our old bodies still have some miles left in them.
For the past thirty years we also had excellent health insurance and medical care in the U.S.
Recently I became eligible for Medicare and added supplemental coverage. That’s great… if you live in the United States. Things get more complicated when you move abroad.
So this week we officially started the process of getting private Mexican insurance.
That meant: doctor appointments, lab work, EKGs, X-rays, medical history, all the things you would expect when applying for insurance.
Judi found a clinic called Chapala Med through recommendations and local Facebook groups. People told us healthcare here was good.
But honestly, we were surprised at how good.
First we met Joe, a medical technician and former U.S. Army Airborne soldier who immediately put us at ease.
Vitals.
EKGs.
Good conversation.
Then Dr. González met with us individually and gave what may have been the most complete physical exam I’ve ever had.
Then Dr. Hernandez reviewed everything and helped prepare insurance paperwork.
The whole process felt professional, thorough, and remarkably personal.
These guys spent over an hour with each of us.
Cost? About $75 per person.
Afterward we walked a few doors down for chest X-rays No appointment. In and out in under thirty minutes. Around twenty dollars each.
I honestly kept waiting for someone to tell me there had been a mistake.
We still have lab work and insurance paperwork ahead. And yes – we’ll keep our Medicare coverage back home for peace of mind. But one of our bigger worries about moving here has turned into one of our pleasant surprises.
Good care. Good people. Reasonable costs. Less stress than expected.
One of the things I’m learning in retirement is that my imagination is often much better at creating problems than real life is. Sometimes the thing you spend months worrying about turns out… better than expected.
Stay healthy.
And if not – I know a guy named Joe.
– Kent
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