Early retiree medical insurance

Jackson4 asked . . . . Are there any early retiree expats out there? For US citizens Medicare start at 65. How are you covering your medical insurance? I am thinking of pulling the trigger by the end of this year and the one thing I am still trying to figure out is the medical coverage. My wife and I are in good health, hardly seeing a doctor. Only for annual physical exams, seasonal cough/cold and allergies. I would appreciate greatly any feedback, comments. -

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Well you have several choices "Wing it" or  "Buy Coverage".  I took early ss (62) I left a job where I had company medical insurance, so I bought a policy for about $350 (I was single) a month about 20 years ago. Once I was eligible for Medicare I dropped the policy.

At 62 I quit my job and followed my dreams and moved to Las Vegas.

But remember that Medicare/Medicaid doesn't work outside of the United States.

@Jackson4

I retired at 62 and moved from Arizona to the Philippines last August.  I take medication for high blood pressure and GERD.  I don't have medical insurance here.  I just pay as I go.  So far, it has not been a problem.  I periodically think about getting health insurance here.  Even before I left the US, I had many conversations about my experiences and the experiences of others around health and dental care in the US.  I'm comfortable at this point paying for care as needed.  I wouldn't mind getting a prescription for anxiety/panic attacks, though.  LOL.  The older I get, the more anxious I get about every ache and pain, even transitory ones.  But whenever I have sought medical assessment of these developments, it has invariably been nothing to worry about.  I was just anxious.  But that is just my experience.  Everyone's situation and temperament are different.  I wish you all the best!

@Cyclone Ed

Cyclone Ed, you're right anxiety is a problem. I feel that too. Creates doubts and confusion. A friend of ours retired last May 2026. Both husband and Filipina wife are 63. They took med insurance paying over 40k in premium because the husband wanted to be sure they have good coverage. We never spent much in medical expenses but people say 'what if'. So I am considering maybe we will have some kind of reasonable coverage in the Philippines.  Thanks for your comments

Not yet an expat, still in the states, but enrolled in an ACA bronze plan in early retirement (17 years before Medicare)

@falcon3631

If and when (many budding expats never make the transition - all talk) you do relocate to the Philippines your ACA bronze insurance cover will be worthless.

10 years here (54-64).

Just pay out of pocket, no worries. Save any premium costs in your savings and 9 x out of 10 the premiums saved will cover you your Xrays, tests, doctor/dentist, visits and prescriptions. I canceled my US medical insurance 4 years ago and my saved $ in premiums easily covered what I incurred here. Since I will turn 65 in a few months I will get medicare which as pointed out above is useless here. But a trip to the US to avail is doable and thats my plan if needed.

Fyi, a visit to Guam thats close by will give you access to medicare since it’s a US territory.

I hear you vehicross big time. When we lived in Oz between paying Medicare and private health insurance used to cost us around AU 11K per year, moved here over 7 years ago and we dumped all that, put AU 50K in an investment account for just in case scenarios. We took out PhillHealth when we arrived, me P 17K and Ben P 6K per year or around AU 600 bucks.

Like you in the mean time not paying the maggots for health care in Oz we have saved around AU 80K and far better in our pocket than theirs. In the mean time the 50K shoved aside is sitting at about 65K last time I looked. The only thing we insure here is the main car with comp insurance.

We all have choices.

Cheers, Steve.

@vehicross100

Since I will turn 65 in a few months I will get medicare which as pointed out above is useless here. But a trip to the US to avail is doable and thats my plan if needed.

Indeed. Many US expats fail to keep up their contributions to Medicare part B thinking its a waste of money (about $200 a month 🧐?) but is effectively an insurance policy in itself if you need expensive medical treatment stateside.

vehicross100 said . . . . Since I will turn 65 in a few months I will get medicare which as pointed out above is useless here. But a trip to the US to avail is doable and thats my plan if needed.

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Lotus Eater replied . . . . .Indeed. Many US expats fail to keep up their contributions to Medicare part B thinking its a waste of money (about $200 a month 🧐?) but is effectively an insurance policy in itself if you need expensive medical treatment stateside.

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For those who opt out, there is serious penalties $$$ to rejoin at a later date

I am not a US citizen but recently saw a video from the excellent Dee (With Dee is the channel). She is a filipina and went into great detail about the pros and cons of medicare, including the pros of keeping medicare part B. It is certainly worth a watch.

I am also wondering if any of you guys and girls living in the Philippines have made any arrangements for your funeral and if you have discussed it with your partner if you have one.

@Cherryann01

With Dee is the channel.

I’ve heard about her channel. Some pundits refer to it as Dee with the t- - s

@Lotus Eater

She is the best of the filipina bloggers in my opinion and always researches her subject. I believe she got married earlier in the year but she is a real cutie.

@Cherryann01

So you enjoy her tutorials..

I am not a US citizen but recently saw a video from the excellent Dee (With Dee is the channel). She is a filipina and went into great detail about the pros and cons of medicare, including the pros of keeping medicare part B. It is certainly worth a watch.
I am also wondering if any of you guys and girls living in the Philippines have made any arrangements for your funeral and if you have discussed it with your partner if you have one. - @Cherryann01

Valid points all CA. PhilHealth and self insure the rest.

As for a final resting place, in our wills and respect each others wishes, Both of us want to be well BBQed, my ashes scattered on the ocean out front of our home, Ben wants to go into the family crypt and being 30 years older I will probably go first.

Cheers, Steve.

bigpearl said . . . . I am not a US citizen but recently saw a video from the excellent Dee (With Dee is the channel). She is a filipina and went into great detail about the pros and cons of medicare, including the pros of keeping medicare part B. It is certainly worth a watch.I am also wondering if any of you guys and girls living in the Philippines have made any arrangements for your funeral and if you have discussed it with your partner if you have one. - @Cherryann01Valid points all CA. PhilHealth and self insure the rest.As for a final resting place, in our wills and respect each others wishes, Both of us want to be well BBQed, my ashes scattered on the ocean out front of our home, Ben wants to go into the family crypt and being 30 years older I will probably go first.

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Many years ago while living in the states my wife & I made living wills, essentially giving control to the other to make medical decisions, if one is not able to do so.

I have a $5K USD life insurance policy taken out many years ago to cover my final expense. I know it's not adequate now but at the time it was.

I've changed the beneficiary three times, first my daughter, then my wife and know my stepson.

Laws are different in each country, especially the Philippines when it comes to inheritances. I've been thinking on updating my will to cover any ambiguities caused by the Philippine rules & laws.

You don't want your estate to be divided up among people you don't know or paperwork that takes years to sort out.