Retiring young - cautionary info

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, so this is why I plan to early retire to Europe where I can get nearly free healthcare.

Whereabouts? It's not easy in many countries to get permanent residency. People assume they can just flounce into any country and oh, won't they just be so glad to have you? No. Especially when you're going to leech on a system you haven't paid into.

Why not? We do that for those who come to the USA. Reciprocate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is making the Tricare premiums for a retired reservist under age 60 sound absolutely peachy at 1200/mo ish for two adults. Hoping they’re too much of a political third rail to ever raise much.

Because you are expected to take employer insurance under 60. Be greatful you have it. You should have done your 20 active duty like the rest of us if you expected Tricare ongoing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought we were promised a better alternative?

We did until the pols started tweaking it and finally allowing it to die on the vine. Good things require pruning and nurturing until it is mature enough to flourish. Our pols have allowed the better alternative to endure a slow painful death. Our pols won’t even allow it, that is the ACA, to be properly euthanized

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, so this is why I plan to early retire to Europe where I can get nearly free healthcare.

Whereabouts? It's not easy in many countries to get permanent residency. People assume they can just flounce into any country and oh, won't they just be so glad to have you? No. Especially when you're going to leech on a system you haven't paid into.

Portugal is widely considered one of the best EU countries for expats to retire to... and guess what! You have to provide proof of health insurance and pay for your own health insurance for at least the first 5 years. You aren't eligible to participate in their publicly-funded health care until (and unless) you become a permanent citizen which can take more than 5 years too.

I have an Irish passport - do u think I still have to wait 5 years?

1 or 2 years depending on how you establish residency.

Signed --
Irish woman who just brought her dad back to US for cataract surgery -- Irish wait time for it was 18 months or 6 months with private insurance

Yeah, so the European system is way better for young retirees, until they get too old -- at which point Medicare is better system in terms of benefits/access.

We retired mid-40’s and moved to Portugal (only on US ppts). On year 3 now, and will apply for citizenship in 2 more years. True, we cannot access the virtually free public health care system, but private comprehensive insurance for a family of 3 here is 250€/month. Wait times depend a lot on what you’re looking for. I’ve had 2 elective surgeries that cost me 15€ copay + ~200€ each and were scheduled in <1 month from first assessment appointment. Was it as luxurious as a Swiss clinic? No. But the quality of care was at least as good as anything I’ve seen in the US.

[Anonymous]

OP, how much is catastrophic insurance only or a HDHP? If you all are generally healthy I would think it would make sense to pay out of pocket unless there is a real medical emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, so this is why I plan to early retire to Europe where I can get nearly free healthcare.

Whereabouts? It's not easy in many countries to get permanent residency. People assume they can just flounce into any country and oh, won't they just be so glad to have you? No. Especially when you're going to leech on a system you haven't paid into.

Portugal is widely considered one of the best EU countries for expats to retire to... and guess what! You have to provide proof of health insurance and pay for your own health insurance for at least the first 5 years. You aren't eligible to participate in their publicly-funded health care until (and unless) you become a permanent citizen which can take more than 5 years too.

I have an Irish passport - do u think I still have to wait 5 years?

1 or 2 years depending on how you establish residency.

Signed --
Irish woman who just brought her dad back to US for cataract surgery -- Irish wait time for it was 18 months or 6 months with private insurance

Yeah, so the European system is way better for young retirees, until they get too old -- at which point Medicare is better system in terms of benefits/access.

We retired mid-40’s and moved to Portugal (only on US ppts). On year 3 now, and will apply for citizenship in 2 more years. True, we cannot access the virtually free public health care system, but private comprehensive insurance for a family of 3 here is 250€/month. Wait times depend a lot on what you’re looking for. I’ve had 2 elective surgeries that cost me 15€ copay + ~200€ each and were scheduled in <1 month from first assessment appointment. Was it as luxurious as a Swiss clinic? No. But the quality of care was at least as good as anything I’ve seen in the US.

Can I ask -- what are you doing for schooling -- I assume family of three means you have a child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, so this is why I plan to early retire to Europe where I can get nearly free healthcare.

Whereabouts? It's not easy in many countries to get permanent residency. People assume they can just flounce into any country and oh, won't they just be so glad to have you? No. Especially when you're going to leech on a system you haven't paid into.

Portugal is widely considered one of the best EU countries for expats to retire to... and guess what! You have to provide proof of health insurance and pay for your own health insurance for at least the first 5 years. You aren't eligible to participate in their publicly-funded health care until (and unless) you become a permanent citizen which can take more than 5 years too.

I have an Irish passport - do u think I still have to wait 5 years?

1 or 2 years depending on how you establish residency.

Signed --
Irish woman who just brought her dad back to US for cataract surgery -- Irish wait time for it was 18 months or 6 months with private insurance

Yeah, so the European system is way better for young retirees, until they get too old -- at which point Medicare is better system in terms of benefits/access.

Not so much in Ireland.

Signed --
Irish woman who's husband had a 10 month wait for tonsillectomy with private insurance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, so this is why I plan to early retire to Europe where I can get nearly free healthcare.

Whereabouts? It's not easy in many countries to get permanent residency. People assume they can just flounce into any country and oh, won't they just be so glad to have you? No. Especially when you're going to leech on a system you haven't paid into.

Portugal is widely considered one of the best EU countries for expats to retire to... and guess what! You have to provide proof of health insurance and pay for your own health insurance for at least the first 5 years. You aren't eligible to participate in their publicly-funded health care until (and unless) you become a permanent citizen which can take more than 5 years too.

I have an Irish passport - do u think I still have to wait 5 years?

1 or 2 years depending on how you establish residency.

Signed --
Irish woman who just brought her dad back to US for cataract surgery -- Irish wait time for it was 18 months or 6 months with private insurance

Yeah, so the European system is way better for young retirees, until they get too old -- at which point Medicare is better system in terms of benefits/access.

We retired mid-40’s and moved to Portugal (only on US ppts). On year 3 now, and will apply for citizenship in 2 more years. True, we cannot access the virtually free public health care system, but private comprehensive insurance for a family of 3 here is 250€/month. Wait times depend a lot on what you’re looking for. I’ve had 2 elective surgeries that cost me 15€ copay + ~200€ each and were scheduled in <1 month from first assessment appointment. Was it as luxurious as a Swiss clinic? No. But the quality of care was at least as good as anything I’ve seen in the US.

Can I ask -- what are you doing for schooling -- I assume family of three means you have a child?

Private international school. IB curriculum - costs ~12k/ year, which is still reasonable vs what we would have paid in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, so this is why I plan to early retire to Europe where I can get nearly free healthcare.

Whereabouts? It's not easy in many countries to get permanent residency. People assume they can just flounce into any country and oh, won't they just be so glad to have you? No. Especially when you're going to leech on a system you haven't paid into.

Portugal is widely considered one of the best EU countries for expats to retire to... and guess what! You have to provide proof of health insurance and pay for your own health insurance for at least the first 5 years. You aren't eligible to participate in their publicly-funded health care until (and unless) you become a permanent citizen which can take more than 5 years too.

I have an Irish passport - do u think I still have to wait 5 years?

1 or 2 years depending on how you establish residency.

Signed --
Irish woman who just brought her dad back to US for cataract surgery -- Irish wait time for it was 18 months or 6 months with private insurance

Yeah, so the European system is way better for young retirees, until they get too old -- at which point Medicare is better system in terms of benefits/access.

We retired mid-40’s and moved to Portugal (only on US ppts). On year 3 now, and will apply for citizenship in 2 more years. True, we cannot access the virtually free public health care system, but private comprehensive insurance for a family of 3 here is 250€/month. Wait times depend a lot on what you’re looking for. I’ve had 2 elective surgeries that cost me 15€ copay + ~200€ each and were scheduled in <1 month from first assessment appointment. Was it as luxurious as a Swiss clinic? No. But the quality of care was at least as good as anything I’ve seen in the US.

Can I ask -- what are you doing for schooling -- I assume family of three means you have a child?

Private international school. IB curriculum - costs ~12k/ year, which is still reasonable vs what we would have paid in DC.

Would you do it again -- it's kind of what I am interested in doing -- so I am curious. Thanks!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, so this is why I plan to early retire to Europe where I can get nearly free healthcare.

Whereabouts? It's not easy in many countries to get permanent residency. People assume they can just flounce into any country and oh, won't they just be so glad to have you? No. Especially when you're going to leech on a system you haven't paid into.

Portugal is widely considered one of the best EU countries for expats to retire to... and guess what! You have to provide proof of health insurance and pay for your own health insurance for at least the first 5 years. You aren't eligible to participate in their publicly-funded health care until (and unless) you become a permanent citizen which can take more than 5 years too.

I have an Irish passport - do u think I still have to wait 5 years?

1 or 2 years depending on how you establish residency.

Signed --
Irish woman who just brought her dad back to US for cataract surgery -- Irish wait time for it was 18 months or 6 months with private insurance

Yeah, so the European system is way better for young retirees, until they get too old -- at which point Medicare is better system in terms of benefits/access.

We retired mid-40’s and moved to Portugal (only on US ppts). On year 3 now, and will apply for citizenship in 2 more years. True, we cannot access the virtually free public health care system, but private comprehensive insurance for a family of 3 here is 250€/month. Wait times depend a lot on what you’re looking for. I’ve had 2 elective surgeries that cost me 15€ copay + ~200€ each and were scheduled in <1 month from first assessment appointment. Was it as luxurious as a Swiss clinic? No. But the quality of care was at least as good as anything I’ve seen in the US.

Can I ask -- what are you doing for schooling -- I assume family of three means you have a child?

Private international school. IB curriculum - costs ~12k/ year, which is still reasonable vs what we would have paid in DC.

Would you do it again -- it's kind of what I am interested in doing -- so I am curious. Thanks!!!!!!!

In a heartbeat! I live 30m from the ocean, have met lovely people here, QOL is so much better than before. DS is prob 50-50 in whether he wants to apply to uni in the EU vs US. But we’ve saved enough for college in case of the latter, so not too worried. No regrets!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, how much is catastrophic insurance only or a HDHP? If you all are generally healthy I would think it would make sense to pay out of pocket unless there is a real medical emergency.

ACA killed off catastophic only policies for middle aged people.

[Anonymous]

Every career decision DH & I made was about health insurance, since our mid-30's (pre ACA). DH had cancer young and after recovering had to hold on to his job for dear life or it meant he was uninsurable. Same for life insurance. We have been scared re: cost and insurability our entire adult lives.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t looked into it, but my understand is that neither Medicaid nor Obamacare subsidies have asset tests. So if you can control your passive income, you can get subsidized health care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Yeah, so this is why I plan to early retire to Europe where I can get nearly free healthcare.

Whereabouts? It's not easy in many countries to get permanent residency. People assume they can just flounce into any country and oh, won't they just be so glad to have you? No. Especially when you're going to leech on a system you haven't paid into.

Why not? We do that for those who come to the USA. Reciprocate

We don't have nearly free healthcare for foreigners who flounce in, whatever nonsense Fox News addled your brain with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Devil's advocate here- why is 20k too much for health insurance? I'm sure you pay more than that in rent/mortgage.

Although I obviously think our health care system is ridiculously overpriced, inefficient and inflated. My parents were upset theirs was $1300 a month, except I'm pretty sure they use WAY more than that. My dad has had surgery yearly. They have glaucoma, diabetes, high blood pressure and a lot of pain management doctors.

This isn't $20k. This is almost $52k for a year of health insurance.

For 4 people though. Most "retired" people only are supporting 2.

It costs more the older you are, OP is in her 40s and paying for a family of four about what it would cost for two in their early sixties.