Perhaps you’ve been dreaming about the ultimate getaway: buying a luxury home in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Activities, adventure, and natural beauty would be just footsteps from your front door. You’ll never wake up to another cold morning.
While there are many reasons to consider a home in Cabo, many people still have reservations. Among them are concerns that they might not have access to the same level of medical care they would have back home in the States.
While those are very real worries, we’re here to lay them to rest.
3 Takeaways Concerning Health Care for Americans in Cabo
These are the top three concerns we find that people have about medical care in Cabo.
1. Cost of Medical Care in Cabo
It’s no secret that healthcare costs in the United States have long been a sticking point. With charges for care soaring and insurance coverage options a constant political battleground, many Americans remain frustrated by the system.
In Cabo San Lucas, however, healthcare is far more affordable than in the United States.
A recent study reported that a single day in a hospital in the U.S. costs around $1,514 while according to the World Health Organization the healthcare costs in Mexico are less than $120. A routine doctor’s visit in the U.S. costs around $176, whereas in Mexico the cost of routine doctor visits is less than half this rate at around $40. (Allista)
As for the reasons behind the difference in price, they are complex.
Reasons may include:
- Higher malpractice insurance and legal fees for U.S. hospitals
- Prices negotiated between hospitals and insurance companies
- Fluctuating currency values in the U.S. and Mexico
Takeaway: While healthcare issues in the United States will not be easily solved, those considering luxury living in Cabo San Lucas need only know this: healthcare in the area is available at much lower rates than they would pay in the United States.
2. Training for Medical Professionals in Cabo
When something costs less money, our instincts are generally to wonder if there may be a reason why. We might assume that the less expensive product or service is of inherently lower value. Such is not necessarily the case with health care in and around Cabo San Lucas. While out-of-pocket costs for medical care may cost less money in Mexico, that does not mean the doctors or nurses are not competent or well-trained.
In fact, the opposite is most often true.
Due largely to the culture and demographics of the region, whether you’re talking about Cabo San Lucas or San Jose del Cabo, they both contain a wealth of healthcare professionals and facilities and have more recently become “magnets for top medical professionals.”
This is great news for future American expat homeowners!
Whether you visit a local hospital or a walk-in clinic, you’re likely to be seen by a doctor who not only has been trained in the United States but is also likely bilingual, comfortable in both English and Spanish.
Many rumors have portrayed Mexican hospitals in a bad light, but there is no reason to be afraid of your hospital visit in Cabo. With some of the most up to date equipment, the hospitals and doctors in Los Cabos are used to treating many different emergencies and illnesses. (All About Cabo)
While there will always be variations from facility to facility, the bottom line is this: if you’re worried that spending in time in Cabo san Lucas will mean removing yourself from access to competent medical care, that worry can be laid to rest.
Takeaway: Medical facilities in Cabo are on par with their American counterparts in terms of quality of care.
3. Availability of Medical Treatment and Care in Cabo
We have all seen movies in which the main characters are traveling, enjoying a brilliant and sun-drenched vacation, and then something goes wrong. The next thing you know, they’re running around an unfamiliar city, crying out for help in a language no one seems to understand.
While this mental picture is horrifying, and we may break out into a light sweat just thinking about it, the good news is that such a scenario is unlikely to happen to you in Cabo San Lucas.
In Cabo, you’ll have little trouble finding a well-equipped hospital or clinic that’s also well-versed in serving English-speaking expats.
- Medical Service, CSL – Dr. Grimaldo offers 24/7 medical services to both tourists and local patients. With more than fifteen years of experience in the area, he’s best known for his portable intensive care units.
- Blue Net Hospitals – Partnering with American healthcare providers such as Stanford School of Medicine and U.C. San Diego Health System, this private healthcare system offers state-of-the-art treatments across Cabo.
- H+ Hostipal – Rated one of the best hospitals in Cabo San Lucas, H+ Hospital is a private hospital network committed to providing quality 24/7 health care, complete with ambulances and a team of on-call doctors.
Of course, this list is just the tip of the iceberg.
In Cabo San Lucas, you’ll find a wide variety of medical services for your convenience, including the following:
- Hospitals
- Walk-in clinics
- Dental professionals
- Massage therapists
- Family medicine
- Physical therapy
- Dermatologists
- Spa treatments
- Pre-natal care
- Chiropractic
Takeaway: When you’re looking for treatments and care, of course, you’ll naturally want to invest the same sort of careful energy in finding the right doctor that you would at home in the States. While that can sometimes take a bit of time, the good news is that a wide variety of options are available to you around the corner from your new home in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Coastal Properties Can Help
If you’re thinking about financing a home in Cabo and would like to hear more about enjoying life in Cabo San Lucas, please feel free to contact us here at Coastal Properties of Cabo. We’d love to hear from you, answer your questions, and tell you everything you need to know.
We serve Los Cabos which includes Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, the East Cape area, including Zacatitos, and we look forward to connecting with you!
