By International Community Foundation

With the looming economic pressures on America’s baby boom generation brought on by rising healthcare costs and the loss of personal wealth due to the global recession, a growing number of Americans aged 50+ are now actively considering relocating outside the county to retire. Because of its close proximity to the United States and its affordability, Mexico remains the #1 destination for Americans retiring internationally.
 

According to U.S. State Department estimates, in 1999 an estimated 1 million Americans were living in Mexico on either a part-time or full-time basis, although a 2004 survey estimated that the number of Americans residing in-country at between 500,000 and 600,000. Though no reliable estimate exists for the number of American retirees now residing in Mexico, over the past decade the number of Americans has noticeably increased as measured by the rapid growth of large-scale real estate projects, particularly in Mexico’s coastal communities targeted specifically at 50+ U.S. and Canadian second homebuyers and retirees. The International Community Foundation estimates that there are likely at least 200,000 to 300,000 American retirees or second-home owners just in these coastal areas, potentially more.

As the number of retirees increases in the United States and abroad, so too does the pressure to secure adequate and affordable healthcare for them. Already, the majority of Americans residing in Mexico obtain some health care services in Mexico, particularly dental care, lower-cost prescription drugs, and routine medical exams. Download Complete Report.

Note: Established in 1990, International Community Foundation is a public charity working to foster lasting philanthropy to benefit under-served communities throughout the Americas and Asia.