Health
and Aging while Living Overseas
The good news about health care
overseas - expensive to come by in most Western countries - is that medical
care in much of the second world can be excellent and cost a fraction of
what it might be back home.
Certainly as you grow older, you
will begin to wonder about the quality of health care, and how to make sure
that you and your loved ones have affordable access to it. Many insurance
companies already know that medical care in countries like Mexico or
Thailand can be excellent and inexpensive - and their premium rates reflect
that with much lower rates. Actually affordable.
If you are considering relocating
to your "paradise" location - do check out the health care situation.
My wife, a while back, spent two
weeks in a local "international hospital" where she received excellent
care. The full range of tests and care only cost about US$2000 for two
weeks! If I recall correctly, this is what an emergency room visit with no
inpatient care cost me more than 20 years ago in the USA!
Be aware that first class medical
care (which can create great financial hardship in many Western countries) -
can be had in many countries for as little as 1/5th to 1/20th the cost of
such services back home.
More good news is that overseas
medical care doesn't have all the legal problems that you would have back
home. Last year, I went home for Christmas and my niece suddenly came down
with a very serious life-threatening illness. She was in the ICU for
several weeks.
When I went to visit her with my
brother (her father) the nurses refused to tell him what her condition was!
What an outrage! Legal issues! [He wasn't her legal guardian - she WAS/IS
an adult!] This will never happen in other countries. Family comes first
and lawyers aren't even considered.
All the things you need back home
- living trusts, medical trusts, etc. - may not be needed in other
countries. Check to be sure - but it sure is nice to know that FAMILY comes
first - lawyers aren't even in the race.
Insurance - a Good Idea
What is really expensive is to have a serious medical
problem and no, or lousy, coverage. Yes, you will find
that some policies offered by major insurance providers
quite expensive. But there are some reasonable
alternatives. Two traditional companies that offer
"instant quotes" on line are
MultiNational Underwriters and
Good Health
.
One Good
Alternative
I'd
like to recommend the health insurance I use - Cobra
Tubbs Batten (CTB) in the UK. I selected this company
about ten years ago - after a several year search. All
the companies seemed way overpriced or provided lots of
coverage that I didn't need or didn't want.
CTB's "International Teacher's Portfolio" - covers about
what I need - for the most reasonable rates
I have ever run across. They have covered my family's
medical problems in Taiwan, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, and
Thailand with never a problem. I suspect it is the
personal service we get from their consultant - Fiona
Lavery. I am a big fan of hers!
Their coverage takes the worry out of living overseas.
You can e-mail their consultant Fiona Lavery at
h.f.lavery.t21@btinternet.com and she can e-mail you
the information and rates They don't pay me to
recommend them - not a penny - but good peace of mind is
worth pursuing. I sound like a salesman! The
insurance program - at times - has been restricted to
citizens of the UK.
Travel
Insurance
Travel Insurance is a good option if you want some
coverage only while out of the country where you are
working - as your work coverage will not cover you out
of the country, on the way to your job, or on your way
home. And, after all, one reason for choosing
Websites as a
job alternative - is so you can travel.
I feel better already - knowing that you - at the
very least - know something that you really need to know
if you are going to live overseas.
