Where would you retire? Would you consider becoming an 'Expat'?

[Marc]

I've spoken with a number of people over the last 10 years or so who have moved to other countries from the US. Some moved to retire where living expenses are cheaper. Some moved because of their work. I've been looking at leaving the US for cheaper living and for - well, being 55 I'm considering seriously changing my life. I've visited several 'Expat' forums and have read about places like Bali and Thailand. I have friends who live outside Guadalajara up on the lake.

I'm interested in hearing from any 'expats' - Not necessarily US Expats. Even folks who moved to the US from their home country.

[Wes Bucey]

There was a time (30 years or so ago) when I seriously considered moving to Hawaii to live on a big 100' + sailboat. I never considered changing my residence to a foreign country.

I often marvel at the life changes (and even hazards) folks go through to relocate to America. I have a large extended family living throughout the U.S. We stay in touch, but we rarely see each other except for major events (weddings & funerals) and then we reconnect as if it had only been a few weeks since we saw each other last. Only a few of them moved to their present location to retire (and then usually to be near a sibling or child who was still working.) Almost everyone else of the family who moved did so because of work (theirs or a spouse's.)

My major concerns about moving to a foreign country for retirement would be availability and quality of health care. I'm healthy, but many of my contemporaries are not and some are alive today only because of the miracle of Emergency Medical Technicians, heart surgeons, pacemakers, and donor hearts, livers, and kidneys.

I'm not sure a lower cost of living in a foreign country could offset that concern about health care.

Heck, I can go to some counties in Illinois where my family income would make us one of the wealthiest families in the county and houses the size of mine would go for 20 or 30% of what mine is worth in a north suburb of Chicago. housing cost is one of the big ticket items in most family budgets.

The downside, of course, for getting such a low housing cost is the lack of infrastructure (no world class museums, orchestras, opera, restaurants, theaters, shopping centers, etc.) A high quality hospital might be 100 miles away. Access to an international airport might be four hours driving time. Few opportunities would be available to work, except for being an author or an internet industry baron.

Arthur C. Clarke (author of 2001: A Space Odyssey and creator of Hal the evil computer) is an ex pat who has lived in Colombo, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon - name changed in 1972) since the 1950's. He managed to collaborate with Stanley Kubrick BEFORE the internet to write 2001 in the 1960's.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Wes Bucey

My major concerns about moving to a foreign country for retirement would be availability and quality of health care.

That's interesting because there have been a lot of articles recently about people in the US flying to places like the Phillipines, Thailand and India for major surgery and other 'expensive' procedures. I know one fellow who goes to the Phillipines every year for a 'complete' physical. The cost of the 'visit' is super cheap with the added aside of a short vacation.

I think you're confusing the cost of health care with the quality of health care. Your post implies that doctors and hospitals in other countries are inferior to those in the US and I disagree with that implication.

[WALLACE]

The bottom line is;
If your happy with your decision, then it's a good decision for you.
I immigrated for the UK (Scotland) to Canada and, I'm glad I did. My major consideration was employment, health care and ammeneties. These three things tend to be integral to each other regarding being available at an easy reach.
No, I never moved away from a troubled country yet, If I were to consider retiring to a non English speaking country; I would certainly consider the consequencies regarding Culture, Faith perceptions and politics. Like it or not, these things affect us.
Wallace.

[Wes Bucey]

Originally Posted by Marc

I think you're confusing the cost of health care with the quality of health care. Your post implies that doctors and hospitals in other countries are inferior to those in the US and I disagree with that implication.

In my mind, the thrust was meant to be the "instant availability and variety of available procedures."

My impression is whether you live in rural Illinois or the outer rural islands of the Philippines (Western Mindanao with its surrounding islands in the South Pacific is a densely populated, poor region. Health indicators reveal a high infant and maternal mortality, frequent tropical and infectious diseases, and low life expectancy. Health manpower is in short supply, and 70% of the population live in poorly accessible rural communities.), you have a difficult time getting access to health care for the kind of emergencies old folks like me worry about: heart attack, stroke, broken hip, etc.

Couple the accessibility problem with being separated from family members who can look out for you (or your spouse) if either of you start to get some debilitating condition like Alzheimer's and also consider the availability of treatment drugs like Aricept.

Ultimately, each person makes his own value decisions. Personally, in terms of saving money, I'd rather cut back on living expenses by moving to smaller living quarters, dining out at less expensive restaurants, watching more TV than live stage shows, buying less expensive clothing, etc. than moving to a "tropical paradise" where the nearest trauma center is hours, not minutes, away.

[Marc]

Based upon friends and family, I understand. Most of the places I have looked at aren't all that 'remote' so access to 'decent' medical facilities isn't a significant issue. But then again, I don't expect to live to 100 so.... There's no Alzenheimer's or cancer history in my family and so far no one going back to my grand parents ever broke anything or had any serious problems so I guess I'm hoping I go like my dad and most of the family - heart attack in the middle of the night and just didn't wake up.

One fellow who is a pilot based out of Hawaii just bought a house in Thailand and really loves it there. I've touched base with Paul Robere who has lived there since 1988 and may take a 'business trip' there in the near future to check out the situation.

[AllanJ]

I moved to USA in 1996 to marry an American lady. I like America very much but the only troubling thing for me is the health care system and its costs for my old age. Looking at the recent figures (in major publications) for deaths caused by wrong medications prescribed, bungled/ poor operations, mis-diagnosis and so forth plus my personal observations of the quality of care delivered to my wife's family, the cost, overbilling, double dipping and so on give me little confidence. The cost of insurance plus copay plus medications can be a staggering amount. As is often said in the USA, in its own media, "You are only one major illness away from bankruptcy". After a life time of hard work, paying taxes, and careful saving it is not a nice thought you may be cured of an illness then to enjoy the remainder of your life on skid row while your doctor orders his new Lexus.

Remove my health care concern and I would not return to Scotland.

[Craig H.]

Allen, you bring up an interesting point, but I hesitate to ask this question because of the politics that may become involved, so please folks, play nice.

My question is this: Are any of you are aware of any valid studies that compare the number of medical mistakes in socialized versus non socialized medical structures? The study would hopefully control for things like comparable income.