But that's not the case in many countries overseas. In most of the places on IL's beat, the healthcare system is stable, at the very least. In fact, quite often it is reliable, affordable, and of a quality surprisingly similar to what you get back home.
Given how important access to quality healthcare is in your retirement, it is always one of the major categories we look at when compiling our
Global Retirement Index, ranking the 24 best retirement destinations around the world across the 12 most important characteristics for overseas living (
get your free copy of the Index here).
Sean Keenan is the man in charge of crunching the numbers for the Index, and below he gives you a sneak peek at the three countries that came out on top in the "Healthcare" category for 2018.
Read on…
Declan Aylward
Managing Editor, IL Postcards
P.S. You're almost out of time if you want to claim a free copy of our
2018 Global Retirement Index. Be one of the first to find out the best retirement destinations for 2018 by putting your name on our special readers list…but you have to do it before midnight tomorrow.
All the details are here.
* * *
The 3 Best Overseas Healthcare Destinations for 2018
By Sean Keenan
Healthcare is something you should be thinking about when you're considering retiring overseas. That's why we pay attention to the healthcare situation in the countries we examine for our Global Retirement Index. Many people get nervous at the idea of going to a doctor in a foreign country, but in the retirement spots on our radar, you'll often get at least as good service as back home for a fraction of the cost.
Let's take a quick look at the countries that took our top three spots in the "Healthcare" category of 2018's Index.
Third Place
In third place, we have a country that also ranks near the top for "Healthy Living." The great weather allows retirees to enjoy an active, outdoor lifestyle every day of the year. Walking, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, tennis, and even golf will keep your body strong and your spirit young. Pat Turney, a retired nurse from Idaho, refers to her new home there as "a city with a built-in weight management program," thanks to all the walking she does.
The healthcare system in this healthy-living paradise is an ideal balance of high quality, low cost, and easy access. Word is getting out, and people are noticing that it is a great healthcare destination. Major cities have excellent large hospitals and clinics that offer routine office visits and testing, as well as complex procedures such as joint replacements, organ transplants, and cancer treatment.
And for a steal, to boot: Hip replacements that might cost $40,000 or more in the U.S. can run $8,000 here. Eight of the top 43 Latin American hospitals are located in this country's capital city, including one that is accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the world standard in hospital accreditation.
Second Place
In second place is an English-speaking, First-World nation where expat clubs have existed since the 1700s, yet still welcome new members. The living is so good here that it topped the "Entertainment and Amenities" category of the Index this year.
Many expats and visitors particularly appreciate that they can speak in English with their doctors. Combine that with cheap airfares, visits with private doctors for as little as $5 and with a specialist from just $20—and the ability to get quotes from those specialists online—and it's no surprise that medical tourism here topped the 1-million visitors mark last year.
As for procedures, when you compare surgery prices with the U.S., the benefits are obvious. A knee replacement here costs just $4,000 compared to $45,000 or more in the States, while a hip replacement can cost as little as $5,200, versus $39,000 in the U.S.
"I was arm-wrestling once and broke my upper arm," says expat Karl Hutchison. "had to have surgery, and they put rods in my arm and kept me there for two nights. For all that, including a private room, medications, everything—it cost me about $3,000."
You can find out the name of this affordable, First-World healthcare gem when you put your name on the list to receive a free copy of our
2018 Global Retirement Index.
First Place
The country that took the prize in our "Healthcare" category also came out overall as our top retirement destination of 2018.
This is a nation that decided in the 1940s to make providing healthcare for its citizens a top priority. This determination lasts today, and applies to foreign residents too. It has a residence program that requires only $1,000 a month in income from Social Security, a pension, or a similar source per couple. The major benefit: You join the national healthcare system, and get all your medical needs covered for free after your monthly payment. (You pay 5.5% to 11% of your monthly income for you and your dependent spouse. A typical expat couple today pays about $95.)
Or you can use your insurance or cash to avail of the private system.
When Texan Ron Howze needed surgery for a double hernia several years ago, he came here. "I had a PPO, which meant a co-pay of $10,000 to $14,000. And knowing insurance companies, it was probably going to be closer to $14,000," says Ron, 72. The total cost in this retirement haven was less than $7,000. The surgery, doctors' fees, and hospital stay came to $5,400. The rest covered his flight and stay in a recovery center.
Whether you go public or private, you can expect modern equipment, well-trained staff versed in the latest techniques, specialists, and overall high-quality care at a low cost. And the doctors and nurses are supportive and caring, taking the time to make sure you understand your diagnosis and treatment.
The names of all of these top-ranking locations of overseas healthcare are yours to discover in the full version of our
2018 Global Retirement Index. In it, we examine in detail the top 24 retirement havens around the world, and rank them according to 12 criteria, so that no matter what your own personal priorities are, you can use our
2018 Global Retirement Index to easily home in on the places that make sense for you and your situation, your priorities.
It is a powerful tool. And it can be yours for free. All you have to do is put your name on our special readers list before midnight tomorrow.
Get your free copy here.
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