After I expatriated and moved to the Caribbean, I had to confront an important issue: health care. I quickly discovered that while prices for health care services are much lower than USA (typically 50% less), the quality of care varies greatly.
In the Commonwealth of Dominica, Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH as it's known locally) provides reasonably good health care. Many of the attending physicians are from Cuba. They're well trained and provide good patient care for routine medical conditions. However for more complex procedures, locals often travel to Martinique, Guadeloupe or the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
In the Dutch "ABC" islands, a socialized insurance scheme insures basic medical care for all residents. But for specialized procedures, patients must travel abroad. Many residents from this region are sent to Venezuela for specialized procedures.
Personally, I have found superior medical care to be available in Colombia. I've received treatment at a clinic in Bogotá, where the prices are 40% of that in the USA. I speak Spanish, so it's easy for me to communicate with the staff, and the medical care and technology are superb.
Panama is also reputed to have excellent medical care, although I haven't traveled there for treatment. Among other facilities, Johns Hopkins University has a fully U.S.-accredited facility in Panama City (Hospital Punta Pacífica), with prices about half what you'd pay in the United States.
Editor's note: When you travel internationally, you may purchase travel insurance that in many cases includes coverage for medical emergencies. These policies generally require no underwriting and don't exclude pre-existing conditions. However, they generally cover only emergency care for injuries or acute illnesses suffered during the trip. They're not a substitute for permanent health insurance.
Numerous companies offer permanent international health insurance policies. Coverage varies greatly, but probably the most single most important consideration is whether the policy is renewable past age 65 with the same coverage up to that age. Less expensive policies provide only emergency hospital care in selected countries, always excluding the USA. More comprehensive policies cover both inpatient and outpatient procedures. If you live in a country without easy access to first-class medical care, you can even purchase a policy rider providing for emergency evacuation by air. Naturally, all these bells and whistles add extra costs.
It's comforting to know that when you leave the USA, you'll be able to receive quality medical care in almost every part of the world, including the Caribbean. Plus, you'll pay much less for your treatment. Just another advantage of being a "sovereign individual."
(P. T. Freeman is a pseudonym for a friend and business associate who is a former U.S. citizen.)
