We always need a buddy in life, but this is even more important when you are living as an expat in Mexico.
The medical buddy system can, quite literally, save your life.
When you find yourself living in another country, it’s easy to forget about the possibility of accidents and medical issues that could require outside help to ensure everything goes well.
No matter how independent you are, there may come a time when you need help.
And it’s far better to have a medical buddy system in place BEFORE this happens.
A medical buddy system is an expat emergency support system that ensures you and your family are taken care of in case of a medical emergency.
Fortunately, living as an expat in Mexico means you have access to a large emergency support system consisting of other expats who are experiencing (or have already experienced) the same potential issues.
Keep reading to learn more about the importance of the medical buddy system for expats in Mexico.
Why You Need a Medical Buddy System as an Expat in Mexico
Accidents happen…often when we least expect them.
Should one of these accidents happen while you are living as an expat in Mexico, you will need to be able to communicate with medical professionals, handle payments, and be able to heal at home after your care.
These are all situations that typically require the help of someone else.
It’s important to have a buddy system no matter where you live. But, in Mexico, this is even more important.
Let me explain.
Let’s say something happens in your own home and you need to be taken to the hospital for medical care.
EMTs in Mexico are not allowed to break into your home to get to you without verbal consent.
This is because EMTs cannot damage property to get into a home.
They must have consent to “break in.”
If you live by yourself, having a buddy with a key is critical. If you can make a call, call them and 911.
This is also why you need a backup buddy.
In case your main medical buddy is out of town or cannot be reached, you need someone else who can let medical professionals into your home, such as a property manager, security guy, or housekeeper (i.e., someone with the key).
The expat emergency support system model enables you to get help from your home to the hospital and have everything you need.
Let’s say you are rendered unconscious.
If you have added your medical buddy system names to your emergency contact list, once you have been identified, your expat emergency support system will be able to help with logistics.
They will be able to contact your insurance company to notify them of the accident and where you are hospitalized.
They can also help to relay your medical wishes to the doctors, as well as contact your family to let them know an emergency has taken place and make arrangements for children and pets.
One thing to take into consideration is finding a medical buddy who is fluent in Spanish.
In emergencies in Mexico, having someone who is bilingual can help communication flow and ensure proper treatment.
Or you can download Javier, your personal English-Spanish medical translator.
Designed as your digital “bilingual buddy,” Javier provides instant, accurate voice-to-text translations tailored for medical settings.
Whether you’re describing symptoms, reviewing prescriptions, or asking detailed questions about a treatment plan, Javier simplifies communicating with doctors in Mexico without relying on a third party.
See Javier in action…
Get the App for FREE!
More Reasons a Medical Buddy System Is Critical
It’s not simply getting access to medical care and communicating in Spanish when emergencies happen.
You also need help after the medical emergency is over.
If you are on your own in Mexico, who is going to help you?
The medical buddy system can help with aftercare, if necessary.
Picking up medication, helping you move around the house, providing meals, and walking dogs are just some of the ways the medical buddy system can help.
What Your Medical Buddy System Needs to Assist You
Finding your medical buddy system is just the first part of ensuring you will be taken care of in an emergency.
It’s crucial to put together a physical and/or digital folder of all your necessary personal and medical information. And make sure your medical buddy knows how to access this information.
Here are a few necessities:
- Health insurance ID card
- Health insurance policy coverage
- Credit cards and/or cash*
- General doctor’s contact information
- Insurance broker’s contact information
- Family member’s contact information
- Lawyer’s contact information
- List of medication and food allergies
- Change of clothes
- Electronics and chargers for necessary devices
With these necessities in place, your medical buddy can help by getting your insurance and broker involved, contacting your family and friends, arranging care for pets, and anything else needed to help you focus on treatment.
*NOTE – It is critical to have emergency cash on hand in a medical emergency in Mexico. No matter your insurance coverage, Mexico requires a 20,000 to 30,000 pesos deposit to start treatment. Be sure your medical buddy knows how to access your money.
How to Prepare Your Expat Emergency Support System
To have a good system in place, being prepared is key.
Here are some tips to make sure everyone is ready for an emergency:
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- Key documents. Have your key documents somewhere accessible and go over them with your support network. This can be a physical file or a digital file – whatever is easiest for you.
- Cash! Emergency cash is important to have on hand for many reasons, including Mexican hospital regulations requiring payment.
- Emergency contact list. Make sure the contact information is up to date.
- Key family members
- Insurance company and/or broker
- Family doctor
- Lawyer or notary, in Mexico and your passport country, if applicable
- Instructions for children if the other parent isn’t available. Make sure you include contact information for a caretaker. It is also wise to have an overnight bag prepared with medications for your children just in case of emergencies.
- Instructions for pet care. Include contact information for a pet sitter or boarding location. You should also include instructions on where to locate your pet’s bed, medications, and extra food.
- Chargers and batteries for necessary devices. For long hospital stays, you will want your devices to stay in touch with your family, friends, and community. Keep extra chargers in a safe place where they can easily be located by your medical buddy.
Legal Reasons Having a Medical Buddy System in Place Is a Good Idea
While we don’t want to think about it, one of the most important reasons to utilize the expat emergency support system is in case of death.
Having a support network provides peace of mind for your estate and finances should anything dire happen to you.
If someone passes away in Mexico and no one knows whom to contact, your assets will go toward finding the next of kin.
If someone passes away in the hospital without any findable beneficiaries, their property will be distributed to the Mexican government until the next of kin can be found.
If the next of kin isn’t found, someone in Mexico could end up enjoying your assets.
For instance, a doctor or lawyer could end up with a nice piece of land or a cash windfall.
With a medical buddy system in place, your lawyer will be contacted to manage the details to ensure your valuables are properly taken care of.
How to Find Your Expat Emergency Support System
The good news is that putting a medical buddy system in place isn’t hard for an expat.
There are many other expats living in Mexico in the same position as you – you all need one another!
Start by talking to your friends and community already living in Mexico!
Learn from others’ past experiences and mistakes.
Reach out to other expats in your community via gatherings and on social media platforms.
Nowadays, professional groups offering this type of service are common in expat-heavy communities, so check to see if there is a local service that can help with this type of situation.
Just make sure the people you entrust to your medical buddy system are trustworthy and reliable.
Again, make sure you build a medical buddy system – not just one buddy.
