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Mexico City offers free health insurance to tourists

by Katie Hammel (RSS feed) on Aug 18th 2009 at 12:30PM

After near-hysteria over Mexico's outbreak of the H1N1 (swine) flu virus crippled the country's tourism industry and resulted in record low hotel occupancy rates, Mexico City's tourism is slowly rebounding. To help get tourism back to its pre-"aporkalypse" levels, the Mexico City Tourism Ministry is unveiling a new plan that officials hope will help convince people that it is safe to visit.

Any tourists who stay in one of Mexico City's hotels will receive free health insurance. Under the plan, tourists are covered for not only treatment of the H1N1 virus, but also for any other disease or accident they suffer from while staying in Mexico City. Prescription drugs, emergency dental care, hospital stays, and ambulance transportation are also covered. There's even assistance in case of robbery, luggage loss, or the delay or cancellation of a flight.

Mexico City normally welcomes around 7 million (international and domestic) visitors each year. When news of the H1N1 flu broke, tourists began to disappear and hotel occupancy rates plummeted, reaching as low as 5% in April, according to USA Today. Now they are around 59%, but the industry is still feeling the pinch. Officials hope that the offer of free health insurance may help sway those who were considering a trip to Mexico, but were concerned about the risk.

Gallery: Mexican Gestures: What do they mean?

[via Los Angeles Times]

Filed under: North America, Mexico, News, Travel Deals

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

jay love Aug 19th 2009 2:31PM

I would be more interested to know if they are providing free or affordable health care all around to their own citizens who stay and work in their own country?? possibly they wont be running the desert and river to come into USA illegally?

Mike Aug 20th 2009 8:40PM

WHAT? Tourists getting free health care? That's what we should do, those who cannot afford health care should go stay in Mexico City. Problem Solved.

Mike- http://www.onedollarglobeinsurance.com/

John Fagan Nov 6th 2009 6:15PM

So if I decide to go to Mexico and go to the hospital I will get free health care. Wow that really sounds great...Does it mean that if I have a major medical issue and decide to go to Mexico I will be treated...one thing to think about..

http://www.the-best-insurance.com/