Have you been considering retiring to the sunny, warm climate of Mexico? If you have, there is something you need to know. The INAPAM card is a benefit card that is part of a program by the Mexican government to help senior citizens to afford many things more easily. The retirement benefits that this card will provide can be used in many places in Mexico including San Miguel.

This card used to be the INSEN card and it is the card to have for retirement benefits that can save you a lot of money. They are for any legal resident of Mexico who is 60 and over. If you have the INSEN card it may still be valid but it should be traded for the INAPAM card because the old card may or may not work.

INAPAM (Instituto Nacional de las Personas Adultas Mavores) used to only be issued to citizens and those from other countries who had an FM-2 immigrant visa. The upgrade to the program now allows non-citizens who have an FM-3 to get the card. There may be some local DIF offices that will tell you in order to qualify for an INAPAM card that you must have an FM-2. If this happens, ask that they phone the federal office and inquire about the law.

There are many uses for the INAPAM card. There are shops, bus services, and many different restaurants that will save you money. Some discounts can be from 5 to 50% and there are even free admissions to some places with this card. There are museums that offer either a discount or free admission with the INAPAM card.

The INAPAM card can allow you to get a huge discount on many items that are necessities. Here are just a few of the discounts you can receive.

1) A 5 to 15% discount on many different types of stores.

2) A discount on utility bills, water for one.

3) A discount on riding the city bus – this is usually 50% off.

4) A discount on your property taxes.
5) Discounts on hotels in San Miguel, Puerto Vallarta, and Cancun.

6) Discounts on ticket to the symphony and concerts at Bellas Artes, normally from 25 to 50%.

When you think of all the money the INAPAM card can save you on items that you will be paying and things you will be doing anyway, this card is worth its weight in gold. There may be some things you have not tried yet that you may decide to do with discounts like this. There is an INAPAM website which also states there are many clinics and hospitals that are involved in this discount program as well.

There are also some dentists and eye doctors who honor these cards. If you are planning to make Mexico your home, this is definitely one card that you need to find out how to get. Go to the local DIF ( Desarrollo Intefral de la Familia) office and apply for your INAPAM card. There are so many discounts that you will be using it everyday.