Do many feds choose to retire abroad?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overseas coverage under FEHB varies, and requires careful choices: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/important-facts-about-overseas-coverage/

There are also potential significant investment, financial management, and tax considerations involved in expatriation. And, many countries which allow USPERS to live long-term within their borders are not countries you'd necessarily want to live in, if not compelled by financial constraints. Even then, if you're motivated by a lower cost of living in some 3rd-world country, you probably have failed to consider the full range of domestic options which can provide a much lower COL without any of the many complications of living abroad long-term.

Move to rural Arkansas, for example, and your cost of living will be very low, while your quality of life will still likely be better than it might be in many foreign locales. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability/cost-living

In other words, considerable research is required if you're not to make an impulsive and poorly considered life-changing decision.

Tell me you've never lived abroad without telling me you lived abroad.

It is HILARIOUS, absolutely laughable that anyone would prefer rural arkansas to the plethora of options outside the US. 😂😂😂

Actually, I have lived for extended periods in Europe and in Asia. Yes, I'd rather live in Zurich than in rural Arkansas. But:

People moving overseas for a low cost of living aren't looking to move to expensive countries where they will have a high quality of life. They are going to banana republics or other poorer countries with unstable politics and economies, language barriers, inefficient public services, and often an enmity towards foreigners. They will never "belong" unless they have local family. It's a pipe dream for most. If I were financially limited, I'd much prefer rural life in a Southern state to life anywhere in dozens of low-cost countries where my cost of living will be similar.

You act like there is no middle ground between Zurich and Kinshasa …

Or, just maybe, life in the rural U.S. is as low cost as you'll find in low COL foreign options, but with the advantages of living in the U.S., which are legion. Any foreign location cheaper than rural America is likely to have significant infrastructure, political, economic, social, language, and other quality of life drawbacks.

[Anonymous]

My DH was DOGE’d into “voluntary” early retirement here and it looks like we need to move because we can’t live here on one salary and his very reduced pension. It had devastated our financial future. But with the economy approaching a catastrophic crash and Trump more unhinged than ever, it looks like the EU is a good option for us.

I hold EU citizenship based on an immigrant parent and we are seriously considering me retiring early so our child will move with us and do high school in that EU country. We would qualify for universal health care there after residing there for one year, but we would have to purchase private insurance to bridge that gap.

I priced it out and the most CADILLAC family policy we would get, which includes NO copays for doctor visits, a 50 euro one time fee for a hospital stay (no matter what the length), no lab fees, and 20 massages or acupuncture sessions, would cost….drumroll….380 euros a month. For all three of us!!!!

So what we are thinking is he would switch to the cheapest insurance for him (like bare bones Kaiser or whatever the lowest is) just to keep up access to health care in retirement in case we ever move back.

The only thing that really scares me is that I wouldn’t put it past MAGA leadership to cut off federal retirees abroad from both pension and Social Security, just out of spite. Plus the falling dollar really worries us. But everything worries these days and a respite from American insanity looks really good right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overseas coverage under FEHB varies, and requires careful choices: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/important-facts-about-overseas-coverage/

There are also potential significant investment, financial management, and tax considerations involved in expatriation. And, many countries which allow USPERS to live long-term within their borders are not countries you'd necessarily want to live in, if not compelled by financial constraints. Even then, if you're motivated by a lower cost of living in some 3rd-world country, you probably have failed to consider the full range of domestic options which can provide a much lower COL without any of the many complications of living abroad long-term.

Move to rural Arkansas, for example, and your cost of living will be very low, while your quality of life will still likely be better than it might be in many foreign locales. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability/cost-living

In other words, considerable research is required if you're not to make an impulsive and poorly considered life-changing decision.

Tell me you've never lived abroad without telling me you lived abroad.

It is HILARIOUS, absolutely laughable that anyone would prefer rural arkansas to the plethora of options outside the US. 😂😂😂

Actually, I have lived for extended periods in Europe and in Asia. Yes, I'd rather live in Zurich than in rural Arkansas. But:

People moving overseas for a low cost of living aren't looking to move to expensive countries where they will have a high quality of life. They are going to banana republics or other poorer countries with unstable politics and economies, language barriers, inefficient public services, and often an enmity towards foreigners. They will never "belong" unless they have local family. It's a pipe dream for most. If I were financially limited, I'd much prefer rural life in a Southern state to life anywhere in dozens of low-cost countries where my cost of living will be similar.

Rural Arkansas lol hell no
If you think a red state is going to ge cheap moving forward you haven’t paid attention at all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overseas coverage under FEHB varies, and requires careful choices: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/important-facts-about-overseas-coverage/

There are also potential significant investment, financial management, and tax considerations involved in expatriation. And, many countries which allow USPERS to live long-term within their borders are not countries you'd necessarily want to live in, if not compelled by financial constraints. Even then, if you're motivated by a lower cost of living in some 3rd-world country, you probably have failed to consider the full range of domestic options which can provide a much lower COL without any of the many complications of living abroad long-term.

Move to rural Arkansas, for example, and your cost of living will be very low, while your quality of life will still likely be better than it might be in many foreign locales. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability/cost-living

In other words, considerable research is required if you're not to make an impulsive and poorly considered life-changing decision.

Tell me you've never lived abroad without telling me you lived abroad.

It is HILARIOUS, absolutely laughable that anyone would prefer rural arkansas to the plethora of options outside the US. 😂😂😂

Actually, I have lived for extended periods in Europe and in Asia. Yes, I'd rather live in Zurich than in rural Arkansas. But:

People moving overseas for a low cost of living aren't looking to move to expensive countries where they will have a high quality of life. They are going to banana republics or other poorer countries with unstable politics and economies, language barriers, inefficient public services, and often an enmity towards foreigners. They will never "belong" unless they have local family. It's a pipe dream for most. If I were financially limited, I'd much prefer rural life in a Southern state to life anywhere in dozens of low-cost countries where my cost of living will be similar.

You act like there is no middle ground between Zurich and Kinshasa …

Or, just maybe, life in the rural U.S. is as low cost as you'll find in low COL foreign options, but with the advantages of living in the U.S., which are legion. Any foreign location cheaper than rural America is likely to have significant infrastructure, political, economic, social, language, and other quality of life drawbacks.

Or just maybe you're very limited in your understanding of the world and are pretending like someone drawn to Thailand or costa rica would enjoy life in rural Arkansas - which doesn't have infra, political, economic, social and other qol drawbacks....oh wait. 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overseas coverage under FEHB varies, and requires careful choices: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/important-facts-about-overseas-coverage/

There are also potential significant investment, financial management, and tax considerations involved in expatriation. And, many countries which allow USPERS to live long-term within their borders are not countries you'd necessarily want to live in, if not compelled by financial constraints. Even then, if you're motivated by a lower cost of living in some 3rd-world country, you probably have failed to consider the full range of domestic options which can provide a much lower COL without any of the many complications of living abroad long-term.

Move to rural Arkansas, for example, and your cost of living will be very low, while your quality of life will still likely be better than it might be in many foreign locales. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability/cost-living

In other words, considerable research is required if you're not to make an impulsive and poorly considered life-changing decision.

Tell me you've never lived abroad without telling me you lived abroad.

It is HILARIOUS, absolutely laughable that anyone would prefer rural arkansas to the plethora of options outside the US. 😂😂😂

Actually, I have lived for extended periods in Europe and in Asia. Yes, I'd rather live in Zurich than in rural Arkansas. But:

People moving overseas for a low cost of living aren't looking to move to expensive countries where they will have a high quality of life. They are going to banana republics or other poorer countries with unstable politics and economies, language barriers, inefficient public services, and often an enmity towards foreigners. They will never "belong" unless they have local family. It's a pipe dream for most. If I were financially limited, I'd much prefer rural life in a Southern state to life anywhere in dozens of low-cost countries where my cost of living will be similar.

You act like there is no middle ground between Zurich and Kinshasa …

Or, just maybe, life in the rural U.S. is as low cost as you'll find in low COL foreign options, but with the advantages of living in the U.S., which are legion. Any foreign location cheaper than rural America is likely to have significant infrastructure, political, economic, social, language, and other quality of life drawbacks.

That’s your opinion, not a fact, and not a particularly informed opinion at that.

I’d much rather live in Thailand, Malaysia or parts of Indonesia than in rural Arkansas, and all three of those countries have a lower cost of living than the USA. Thailand and Malaysia attract a good amount of medical tourism because their facilities are good and not particularly expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Overseas coverage under FEHB varies, and requires careful choices: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/important-facts-about-overseas-coverage/

There are also potential significant investment, financial management, and tax considerations involved in expatriation. And, many countries which allow USPERS to live long-term within their borders are not countries you'd necessarily want to live in, if not compelled by financial constraints. Even then, if you're motivated by a lower cost of living in some 3rd-world country, you probably have failed to consider the full range of domestic options which can provide a much lower COL without any of the many complications of living abroad long-term.

Move to rural Arkansas, for example, and your cost of living will be very low, while your quality of life will still likely be better than it might be in many foreign locales. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability/cost-living

In other words, considerable research is required if you're not to make an impulsive and poorly considered life-changing decision.

I'm dual citizen and I'm retiring to South of France, which imo, is better that rural Arkansas. We're planning to purchase private insurance there, but I also heard that some fed insurance covers abroad services. The expat finance is a complete nightmare tbh, even as a dual citizen.
Some other amazing amazing low cost retirement sites that I recommend are Spain and Italy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overseas coverage under FEHB varies, and requires careful choices: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/important-facts-about-overseas-coverage/

There are also potential significant investment, financial management, and tax considerations involved in expatriation. And, many countries which allow USPERS to live long-term within their borders are not countries you'd necessarily want to live in, if not compelled by financial constraints. Even then, if you're motivated by a lower cost of living in some 3rd-world country, you probably have failed to consider the full range of domestic options which can provide a much lower COL without any of the many complications of living abroad long-term.

Move to rural Arkansas, for example, and your cost of living will be very low, while your quality of life will still likely be better than it might be in many foreign locales. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability/cost-living

In other words, considerable research is required if you're not to make an impulsive and poorly considered life-changing decision.

I'm dual citizen and I'm retiring to South of France, which imo, is better that rural Arkansas. We're planning to purchase private insurance there, but I also heard that some fed insurance covers abroad services. The expat finance is a complete nightmare tbh, even as a dual citizen.
Some other amazing amazing low cost retirement sites that I recommend are Spain and Italy.

Can you explain what you mean about expat finance being a nightmare? I’m also a dual citizen with an EU passport and starting to seriously consider moving in the next 18 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH was DOGE’d into “voluntary” early retirement here and it looks like we need to move because we can’t live here on one salary and his very reduced pension. It had devastated our financial future. But with the economy approaching a catastrophic crash and Trump more unhinged than ever, it looks like the EU is a good option for us.

I hold EU citizenship based on an immigrant parent and we are seriously considering me retiring early so our child will move with us and do high school in that EU country. We would qualify for universal health care there after residing there for one year, but we would have to purchase private insurance to bridge that gap.

I priced it out and the most CADILLAC family policy we would get, which includes NO copays for doctor visits, a 50 euro one time fee for a hospital stay (no matter what the length), no lab fees, and 20 massages or acupuncture sessions, would cost….drumroll….380 euros a month. For all three of us!!!!

So what we are thinking is he would switch to the cheapest insurance for him (like bare bones Kaiser or whatever the lowest is) just to keep up access to health care in retirement in case we ever move back.

The only thing that really scares me is that I wouldn’t put it past MAGA leadership to cut off federal retirees abroad from both pension and Social Security, just out of spite. Plus the falling dollar really worries us. But everything worries these days and a respite from American insanity looks really good right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overseas coverage under FEHB varies, and requires careful choices: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/important-facts-about-overseas-coverage/

There are also potential significant investment, financial management, and tax considerations involved in expatriation. And, many countries which allow USPERS to live long-term within their borders are not countries you'd necessarily want to live in, if not compelled by financial constraints. Even then, if you're motivated by a lower cost of living in some 3rd-world country, you probably have failed to consider the full range of domestic options which can provide a much lower COL without any of the many complications of living abroad long-term.

Move to rural Arkansas, for example, and your cost of living will be very low, while your quality of life will still likely be better than it might be in many foreign locales. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability/cost-living

In other words, considerable research is required if you're not to make an impulsive and poorly considered life-changing decision.

Tell me you've never lived abroad without telling me you lived abroad.

It is HILARIOUS, absolutely laughable that anyone would prefer rural arkansas to the plethora of options outside the US. 😂😂😂

Actually, I have lived for extended periods in Europe and in Asia. Yes, I'd rather live in Zurich than in rural Arkansas. But:

People moving overseas for a low cost of living aren't looking to move to expensive countries where they will have a high quality of life. They are going to banana republics or other poorer countries with unstable politics and economies, language barriers, inefficient public services, and often an enmity towards foreigners. They will never "belong" unless they have local family. It's a pipe dream for most. If I were financially limited, I'd much prefer rural life in a Southern state to life anywhere in dozens of low-cost countries where my cost of living will be similar.

Rural life in the US would definitely be better for you, primarily because of the unbelievable amount of judgment you have towards others outside of the US. Of course you’d never fit in those other places. I doubt you’d even fit in Arkansas, but that’s a different discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH was DOGE’d into “voluntary” early retirement here and it looks like we need to move because we can’t live here on one salary and his very reduced pension. It had devastated our financial future. But with the economy approaching a catastrophic crash and Trump more unhinged than ever, it looks like the EU is a good option for us.

I hold EU citizenship based on an immigrant parent and we are seriously considering me retiring early so our child will move with us and do high school in that EU country. We would qualify for universal health care there after residing there for one year, but we would have to purchase private insurance to bridge that gap.

I priced it out and the most CADILLAC family policy we would get, which includes NO copays for doctor visits, a 50 euro one time fee for a hospital stay (no matter what the length), no lab fees, and 20 massages or acupuncture sessions, would cost….drumroll….380 euros a month. For all three of us!!!!

So what we are thinking is he would switch to the cheapest insurance for him (like bare bones Kaiser or whatever the lowest is) just to keep up access to health care in retirement in case we ever move back.

The only thing that really scares me is that I wouldn’t put it past MAGA leadership to cut off federal retirees abroad from both pension and Social Security, just out of spite. Plus the falling dollar really worries us. But everything worries these days and a respite from American insanity looks really good right now.

You should move NOW. The US is headed in a downward spiral and it’s rapidly going to get bad here. If I had dual citizenship and a VERA I’d have left yesterday. Praying for a VERA this year so I’ll get the chance myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FSBP is an excellent health care plan that is designed to be used abroad.

True - but only certain agencies qualify for it - like State, DOD, DHS if I recall. Current member and was able to keep it after transitioning to another agency whose employees do not qualify.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overseas coverage under FEHB varies, and requires careful choices: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/important-facts-about-overseas-coverage/

There are also potential significant investment, financial management, and tax considerations involved in expatriation. And, many countries which allow USPERS to live long-term within their borders are not countries you'd necessarily want to live in, if not compelled by financial constraints. Even then, if you're motivated by a lower cost of living in some 3rd-world country, you probably have failed to consider the full range of domestic options which can provide a much lower COL without any of the many complications of living abroad long-term.

Move to rural Arkansas, for example, and your cost of living will be very low, while your quality of life will still likely be better than it might be in many foreign locales. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability/cost-living

In other words, considerable research is required if you're not to make an impulsive and poorly considered life-changing decision.

Tell me you've never lived abroad without telling me you lived abroad.

It is HILARIOUS, absolutely laughable that anyone would prefer rural arkansas to the plethora of options outside the US. 😂😂😂

Actually, I have lived for extended periods in Europe and in Asia. Yes, I'd rather live in Zurich than in rural Arkansas. But:

People moving overseas for a low cost of living aren't looking to move to expensive countries where they will have a high quality of life. They are going to banana republics or other poorer countries with unstable politics and economies, language barriers, inefficient public services, and often an enmity towards foreigners. They will never "belong" unless they have local family. It's a pipe dream for most. If I were financially limited, I'd much prefer rural life in a Southern state to life anywhere in dozens of low-cost countries where my cost of living will be similar.

You act like there is no middle ground between Zurich and Kinshasa …

Or, just maybe, life in the rural U.S. is as low cost as you'll find in low COL foreign options, but with the advantages of living in the U.S., which are legion. Any foreign location cheaper than rural America is likely to have significant infrastructure, political, economic, social, language, and other quality of life drawbacks.

lol. I don’t want to live in rural America dude. I want to live in, say, Oaxaca, and enjoy a vibrant food and art culture and go to the beach. And surprise, I speak Spanish.

If you know of a place like that in rural America I am all ears.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overseas coverage under FEHB varies, and requires careful choices: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/important-facts-about-overseas-coverage/

There are also potential significant investment, financial management, and tax considerations involved in expatriation. And, many countries which allow USPERS to live long-term within their borders are not countries you'd necessarily want to live in, if not compelled by financial constraints. Even then, if you're motivated by a lower cost of living in some 3rd-world country, you probably have failed to consider the full range of domestic options which can provide a much lower COL without any of the many complications of living abroad long-term.

Move to rural Arkansas, for example, and your cost of living will be very low, while your quality of life will still likely be better than it might be in many foreign locales. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability/cost-living

In other words, considerable research is required if you're not to make an impulsive and poorly considered life-changing decision.

Tell me you've never lived abroad without telling me you lived abroad.

It is HILARIOUS, absolutely laughable that anyone would prefer rural arkansas to the plethora of options outside the US. 😂😂😂

Actually, I have lived for extended periods in Europe and in Asia. Yes, I'd rather live in Zurich than in rural Arkansas. But:

People moving overseas for a low cost of living aren't looking to move to expensive countries where they will have a high quality of life. They are going to banana republics or other poorer countries with unstable politics and economies, language barriers, inefficient public services, and often an enmity towards foreigners. They will never "belong" unless they have local family. It's a pipe dream for most. If I were financially limited, I'd much prefer rural life in a Southern state to life anywhere in dozens of low-cost countries where my cost of living will be similar.

You act like there is no middle ground between Zurich and Kinshasa …

Or, just maybe, life in the rural U.S. is as low cost as you'll find in low COL foreign options, but with the advantages of living in the U.S., which are legion. Any foreign location cheaper than rural America is likely to have significant infrastructure, political, economic, social, language, and other quality of life drawbacks.

That’s your opinion, not a fact, and not a particularly informed opinion at that.

I’d much rather live in Thailand, Malaysia or parts of Indonesia than in rural Arkansas, and all three of those countries have a lower cost of living than the USA. Thailand and Malaysia attract a good amount of medical tourism because their facilities are good and not particularly expensive.

NP, but I have lived in both a rural Southern state (albeit in a medium-sized city in that state) and in Europe. Love Europe as a travel destination, and it might be fun to try to live there for say six months some time, but I'd also prefer a rural US state long-term. One, it's much cheaper to live well in the US; I don't particularly want to live long-term in some 900 ft^2 apartment in Paris. Two, we have things like dishwashers and functional clothes dryers and cars/garages in the US which I enjoy having and which can be difficult to get in Europe. Three, with apologies to the self-hating Americans, I'll bet on the US over Europe over the long-run any time, even when accounting for the highly suboptimal set of folks currently running things. And I have no interest in living in Asia, for reasons including language barriers. Obviously different people may have different preferences, and that's fine. But really, grow up with the "the US is doomed" stuff...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overseas coverage under FEHB varies, and requires careful choices: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/important-facts-about-overseas-coverage/

There are also potential significant investment, financial management, and tax considerations involved in expatriation. And, many countries which allow USPERS to live long-term within their borders are not countries you'd necessarily want to live in, if not compelled by financial constraints. Even then, if you're motivated by a lower cost of living in some 3rd-world country, you probably have failed to consider the full range of domestic options which can provide a much lower COL without any of the many complications of living abroad long-term.

Move to rural Arkansas, for example, and your cost of living will be very low, while your quality of life will still likely be better than it might be in many foreign locales. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability/cost-living

In other words, considerable research is required if you're not to make an impulsive and poorly considered life-changing decision.

Tell me you've never lived abroad without telling me you lived abroad.

It is HILARIOUS, absolutely laughable that anyone would prefer rural arkansas to the plethora of options outside the US. 😂😂😂

Actually, I have lived for extended periods in Europe and in Asia. Yes, I'd rather live in Zurich than in rural Arkansas. But:

People moving overseas for a low cost of living aren't looking to move to expensive countries where they will have a high quality of life. They are going to banana republics or other poorer countries with unstable politics and economies, language barriers, inefficient public services, and often an enmity towards foreigners. They will never "belong" unless they have local family. It's a pipe dream for most. If I were financially limited, I'd much prefer rural life in a Southern state to life anywhere in dozens of low-cost countries where my cost of living will be similar.

You act like there is no middle ground between Zurich and Kinshasa …

Or, just maybe, life in the rural U.S. is as low cost as you'll find in low COL foreign options, but with the advantages of living in the U.S., which are legion. Any foreign location cheaper than rural America is likely to have significant infrastructure, political, economic, social, language, and other quality of life drawbacks.

That’s your opinion, not a fact, and not a particularly informed opinion at that.

I’d much rather live in Thailand, Malaysia or parts of Indonesia than in rural Arkansas, and all three of those countries have a lower cost of living than the USA. Thailand and Malaysia attract a good amount of medical tourism because their facilities are good and not particularly expensive.

NP, but I have lived in both a rural Southern state (albeit in a medium-sized city in that state) and in Europe. Love Europe as a travel destination, and it might be fun to try to live there for say six months some time, but I'd also prefer a rural US state long-term. One, it's much cheaper to live well in the US; I don't particularly want to live long-term in some 900 ft^2 apartment in Paris. Two, we have things like dishwashers and functional clothes dryers and cars/garages in the US which I enjoy having and which can be difficult to get in Europe. Three, with apologies to the self-hating Americans, I'll bet on the US over Europe over the long-run any time, even when accounting for the highly suboptimal set of folks currently running things. And I have no interest in living in Asia, for reasons including language barriers. Obviously different people may have different preferences, and that's fine. But really, grow up with the "the US is doomed" stuff...

European here. My family back home has a dishwasher and a dryer and their apartment is around 1200 sf, which is the size of the rancher homes that are all over the DMV. They both have cars.
An item that is not addressed in your push for rural America is the complete lack of health care. Good luck having a stroke, there's no adequate hospital within 50+ miles. Most places have a traveling cardiologist who goes to rural areas once a month if that. There a huge push to increase the number of doctors in rural areas, but with very little success. You need to be within 30 min of a comprehensive stroke center for the best chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overseas coverage under FEHB varies, and requires careful choices: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/important-facts-about-overseas-coverage/

There are also potential significant investment, financial management, and tax considerations involved in expatriation. And, many countries which allow USPERS to live long-term within their borders are not countries you'd necessarily want to live in, if not compelled by financial constraints. Even then, if you're motivated by a lower cost of living in some 3rd-world country, you probably have failed to consider the full range of domestic options which can provide a much lower COL without any of the many complications of living abroad long-term.

Move to rural Arkansas, for example, and your cost of living will be very low, while your quality of life will still likely be better than it might be in many foreign locales. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/opportunity/affordability/cost-living

In other words, considerable research is required if you're not to make an impulsive and poorly considered life-changing decision.

Tell me you've never lived abroad without telling me you lived abroad.

It is HILARIOUS, absolutely laughable that anyone would prefer rural arkansas to the plethora of options outside the US. 😂😂😂

Actually, I have lived for extended periods in Europe and in Asia. Yes, I'd rather live in Zurich than in rural Arkansas. But:

People moving overseas for a low cost of living aren't looking to move to expensive countries where they will have a high quality of life. They are going to banana republics or other poorer countries with unstable politics and economies, language barriers, inefficient public services, and often an enmity towards foreigners. They will never "belong" unless they have local family. It's a pipe dream for most. If I were financially limited, I'd much prefer rural life in a Southern state to life anywhere in dozens of low-cost countries where my cost of living will be similar.

You act like there is no middle ground between Zurich and Kinshasa …

Or, just maybe, life in the rural U.S. is as low cost as you'll find in low COL foreign options, but with the advantages of living in the U.S., which are legion. Any foreign location cheaper than rural America is likely to have significant infrastructure, political, economic, social, language, and other quality of life drawbacks.

If you want to live in rural Arkansas and see the current government as stable, maybe you aren't really the person to ask.