No, not if you don’t want to. Many expats live in Mexico full-time through retirement and end-of-life. That said, your personal end-of-life preferences, including access to certain medical services, may influence where in Mexico you choose to spend your final years. Larger cities, for example, tend to offer higher quality medical care. By planning ahead, we can live in Mexico long-term (and die there) with greater peace and ease.

In general, legal documents from the US are not legally binding in Mexico. If you have assets in Mexico, such as real estate, having a separate Mexican will is recommended. Read our blog post on Mexican wills to learn more.

Similarly, a Mexican advance directive can help ensure your wishes are respected in Mexico. A Mexican lawyer or notario can help you discover what legal documents you need in your particular region of Mexico.

Knowing what to do in case of an emergency in Mexico takes some planning. Your plan will vary, depending on where you live. 911 in Mexico doesn’t work universally the same way it does in the US. Start by finding out where the nearest hospital is. Make a plan that includes how you will get there if you cannot drive and who should be notified if you are incapacitated.

Assisted living and home care costs are generally much lower in Mexico than in the US. Lower cost of care is perhaps the primary reasons US citizens choose to make the move.

Affordability may also influence your choices about how to live. Affordable home health care, for example, can mean that moving to a facility at the end of life is unnecessary.

The availability and quality of services varies between regions and facilities, so do your homework and visit beforehand.

Yes, you can move to Mexico if you have a serious or terminal illness. That said, you will benefit from being well educated about the trajectory of your illness and clear about the treatment you may or may not want as your illness progresses. Before you move, research whether your preferred treatments are available, at what cost and with what provider, in the area where you’d like to live.

Both exist, although this type of care is less common than in the US. Palliative care in Mexico is increasingly available, but is more likely to be practiced in larger cities and through private providers. 

It may help to be clear about what palliative care or hospice means to you. When we get clear about our expectations, we often find the type of care we are hoping for is possible, but perhaps under a different name or with an unexpected provider.

With planning, we can make our wishes known when it comes to body disposition in Mexico. We might also designate someone to make those decisions for us. Typically, expats choose cremation because it is a simple, low-cost option. Some choose to be buried in Mexico or sent back to the US, although repatriating a body can be expensive.

In episode 4 of the How to Die in Mexico podcast, we discuss this very issue and how advance planning can prevent us from feeling pressured by Mexican funeral homes.

Medicare does not cover care in Mexico. Expats may choose to keep their paid Medicare policies so they have the option to return to the US for care or prescriptions. Some US insurance policies offer limited coverage abroad, but these are often travel policies with little application for those who live in Mexico full-time.

In Mexico, both public and private health insurance options are available. It is also common for expats to pay out-of-pocket for routine or low-cost procedures.

In larger cities and private hospitals, it is common to find doctors who speak fluent English. In smaller towns or public hospitals, it is less likely you’ll find an English-speaking doctor.

Mexico is known for quality medical care and is the most popular destination for medical tourism from the US. Facilities can vary widely, however, depending on how well-funded they are. It’s essential to research the local providers in your area, and it never hurts to try to learn Spanish.

The best way to ensure your end-of-life wishes are followed in Mexico is to discuss your preferences (early and often) with family, friends and anyone who may be in a position to make decisions for you.

For added assurance, you should have some form of Mexican advance directive and a Mexican will. Deborah Bickel describes the nuances of Mexican Advance Directives in episode 7 of the How to Die in Mexico podcast. In Mexico, it’s also common to purchase a pre-need funeral plan.

Yes and no. Many expats are familiar with Mexico’s long tradition of honoring those who have died each Novmber during Día de Muertos. An important grief ritual, the celebration of this holiday doesn’t always translate to an every-day awareness or acceptance of death. Elis Regina, a Mexican tanatologist, addresses this cultural question in Episode 8 of the How to Die in Mexico podcast.