In Mexico, public school students receive free health insurance through the IMSS system. Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) — This is a state social insurance system, something like «state insurance», a basic social package. The student IMSS program operates separately from compulsory employee insurance: it does not require contributions, is not dependent on the employment relationship and provides only medical services, while work insurance covers compulsory employer and employee contributions, covers a wider range of social rights and terminates upon dismissal.
Insurance is available to students at public institutions at the high school, higher education, and graduate levels. In this context, «high school» refers to the preparatoria or bachillerato programs that are part of the system of a particular state university.
The program has no age restrictions and does not establish restrictions on the list of diseases, which is typical for IMSS for employees. In other words, insurance coverage for students does not depend on the length of insurance coverage. It also includes pregnancy insurance. But student coverage only lasts as long as the student remains an official student at the public institution.
Among the Mexican educational institutions that provide students with access to free health insurance:
- National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México),
- National Polytechnic Institute (IPN, Instituto Politécnico Nacional),
- Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana),
- Open and Distance University of Mexico (UnADM, Universidad Abierta y a Distancia de México),
- University of Rosario Castellanos (Universidad Rosario Castellanos),
- Autonomous University of Mexico (UACM, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México),
- Polytechnic University of the Valley of Mexico (Universidad Politécnica del Valle de México) and other universities.
Public school students are automatically enrolled in the program if they have a Social Security number. In other words, to purchase insurance, a student must first obtain a Social Security Number (NSS). This can be done through the IMSS portal, mobile app or at the IMSS hospital by providing CURP, proof of address and email. We talked about obtaining NSS yourself in thispublications.
Once the NSS number is purchased, the number must be provided to the educational institution so that it can register the student in the IMSS system.
After the university has registered the student in the insurance system, it is necessary to contact the assigned IMSS clinic to obtain a certificate of validity of rights (Constancia de Vigencia de Derechos), confirming the right to medical care. To apply, you need proof of address, two photographs and an ID. Students will not need to provide a birth certificate, unlike insurance for employees.
In the future, when contacting the IMSS clinic, in order to access medical services, it is enough to provide the NSS or CURP number.
You can read about the possibilities of social health insurance IMSS in MexicoHere.