Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 12, 2026
05:35
Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management
Published on: January 19, 2024
1.3K
Health insurance coverage in Mexico: progress, inequalities and remaining challenges towards UHC2030
Edson Serván-Mori1, Diego Cerecero-García1,2, Sergio Meneses-Navarro1
1Center for Health Systems Research, The National Institute of Public Health, Avenida Universidad 655, Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
Health Research Policy and Systems
|October 31, 2025
Summary
Mexico achieved significant health coverage gains by 2015, but dismantling Seguro Popular and the pandemic caused sharp increases in uninsured rates by 2023. Rebuilding universal health coverage (UHC) requires addressing inequalities and restoring public trust.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Policy
- Health Economics
Background:
- Universal health coverage (UHC) depends on institutional capacity, equity, political will, and public trust.
- Mexico's health system has faced chronic public confidence issues, impacting UHC progress.
- The study contextualizes Mexico's health coverage trajectory within UHC2030 goals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive, disaggregated, and longitudinal assessment of health insurance coverage in Mexico from 2000 to 2023.
- To identify achievements and setbacks in Mexico's journey toward universal health coverage.
- To analyze coverage trends in the context of major policy reforms and disruptions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized nationally representative data from Mexico's National Household Income and Expenditure Survey (ENIGH) (2000-2022, with 2023 projections).
- Classified households into mutually exclusive health insurance categories based on institutional affiliation.
- Analyzed national and subnational coverage trends, incorporating a distance-to-frontier metric to assess progress against historical maximums.
Main Results:
- Mexico reduced the uninsured population from 55% to 6.2% between 2000 and 2015, primarily through Seguro Popular (SP) expansion.
- Following SP's dismantling and the COVID-19 pandemic, uninsured rates surged to 29.1% by 2023, disproportionately affecting southern states and marginalized groups.
- System fragmentation and declining public trust were evident, with several states needing to more than double coverage to reach previous levels.
Conclusions:
- Health coverage gains are reversible without robust institutional foundations, political consensus, and social legitimacy.
- Sustaining UHC necessitates addressing structural inequalities, strengthening institutions, and rebuilding public trust.
- Mexico's experience underscores the need for adaptive, equity-focused institutional restructuring in low- and middle-income countries pursuing UHC.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
3.9K
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...
3.9K
01:18Introduction To Health Care Delivery System
3.7K
The healthcare system is constantly changing and complex. Various services are available from different healthcare providers, but gaining access to these services has become challenging for people with limited healthcare insurance. Uninsured people present a challenge to healthcare because they frequently postpone or forego treatment.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...
3.7K
01:30Primary Healthcare Services
1.9K
Primary care promotes wellness and prevents disease. This care includes health promotion, education, protection (such as immunizations), early disease screening, and environmental considerations. Settings providing this type of healthcare include physician offices, public health clinics, school nursing, and community health nursing.
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
In 1978, international leaders convened in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan, for what would be a pivotal event in global health. The Alma-Ata Declaration was the first to call...
1.9K
01:29Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
6.1K
The issues and trends in healthcare delivery are constantly changing. The COVID-19 pandemic is one recent issue that wreaked havoc on healthcare systems, causing a shortage of healthcare workers, high demand for medicines and supplies, and increased medical expenditure due to a lack of insurance. Other issues include rising healthcare costs and care fragmentation.
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
6.1K
01:11Secondary Healthcare System
2.0K
Secondary healthcare is offered by a specialist, generally in hospitals or clinics for patients referred by primary healthcare providers. It occurs when a person has an illness or injury that requires specific medical care. Secondary care is often referred to as acute care. Secondary care can range from uncomplicated care to repair a minor laceration or treat a strep throat infection to more complicated emergent care, such as treating a head injury sustained in an automobile accident. Whatever...
2.0K
01:26Traditional Level Of Health Care System
3.3K
The levels of care describe the services provided in the healthcare system. Accordingly, there are six levels of the traditional healthcare system in the US: preventive, primary, secondary, tertiary, restorative, and continuing healthcare. A nurse must understand how the healthcare industry organizes and provides services within these levels of care.
The preventive healthcare service includes tests for screening. Preventive health care services include identifying and reducing disease risk...
The preventive healthcare service includes tests for screening. Preventive health care services include identifying and reducing disease risk...
3.3K