Disparities in healthcare access and expenditures among Indigenous population in Mexico, 2018-2022

In Mexico, Indigenous groups face persistent structural disparities in access to healthcare services, leading to high rates of preventable diseases and increased vulnerability to financial hardship associated with to out-of-pocket health expenditures. We conducted an analysis of health coverage and health-related expenditures among Indigenous population using microdata from the three cycles of National Survey of Household Income and Expenditures. These years correspond to contrasting policy and economic contexts: 2018 marks the final phase of the Seguro Popular program; 2020 reflects its termination alongside the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic; and 2022 captures the subsequent transition period marked by the restructuring of the national public healthcare system. We found that Indigenous systematically face greater barriers in accessing healthcare systems and are more likely to incur highest out-of-pocket health expenditures compared with non-Indigenous population. The evidence underscores the need for inclusive health policies that prioritize equity in accessing health care services.