Early retirement and health care for boaters

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by Group9

Thanks, but I'll stick with our system. But, I will admit, it takes better care of people who put some planning into their lives, than of those who don't. Kind of like life in general.

First of all, sincere congratulations for beating cancer and getting back out on the water. May you sail long and far.

This is CF, of course. Most people who have the resources to own and use a serious cruising boat will not be economically ruined by serious illness or injury. Kind of unfair to lay blame on people who lack the same resources for not "planning" their healthcare better.

"Planning" can also include the decision to make the good health of all citizens a national goal, and choosing some path to achieve this, whether it's a government-run plan, or mandates and regulation of a wholly private healthcare industry. Most prosperous countries have set such a goal.

[sailorboy1]

[QUOTE=Lake-Effect;2569053

This is CF, of course. Most people who have the resources to own and use a serious cruising boat will not be economically ruined by serious illness or injury. Kind of unfair to lay blame on people who lack the same resources for not "planning" their healthcare better.
[/QUOTE]

Well I disagree with this. Near as I can tell in the cruising community a serious illness or injury will be mostly ruined economically.

This why it would be most more productive to discuss the how's of getting health coverage for the cruiser instead of the thread drifts.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

... it would be most more productive to discuss the how's of getting health coverage for the cruiser instead of the thread drifts.

I agree.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Well I disagree with this. Near as I can tell in the cruising community a serious illness or injury will be mostly ruined economically.

This why it would be most more productive to discuss the how's of getting health coverage for the cruiser instead of the thread drifts.

I have a friend who had a heart attack from an undetected defect. The bill came to over usd$800,000. For most cruisers with decent assets this would be a cruise ending amount of debt.

I was drinking 1 dollar beers with a cruiser in El Salvador. He was in his early 50s and had crewed down on a friends boat. He had setup a boat to cruise. He had a good job but was an independent contractor, so he had no work supplied insurance. He always bought his own family insurance. His wife got cancer. After a year of treatment the insurance company said they had paid out their maximum and there would be no more coverage on his wife's cancer. This is something that occurred commonly prior to Obamacare implemented restrictions. The wife died, he had to declare bankruptcy due to the overwhelming medical bills and lost the boat.

We have medical insurance to protect our assets, not as a prepaid medical plan. Paying cash for care while traveling is not a big issue. A major accident or disease is a big deal.

Solutions for US cruisers who want to cruise as an.early retiree such as in their 50s are limited. For many an ACA exchange policy is a good choice if they qualify. With Obamacare under such assault with no alternative offered, it is really only a year ahead solution. The international medical policies tend have some very poor terms for pre-existing conditions and often unreasonable caps on payments. Basically it is tough to.get decent med insurance coverage if you are US based and cruising.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Paul L

I have a friend who had a heart attack from an undetected defect. The bill came to over usd$800,000. For most cruisers with decent assets this would be a cruise ending amount of debt.

I was drinking 1 dollar beers with a cruiser in El Salvador. He was in his early 50s and had crewed down on a friends boat. He had setup a boat to cruise. He had a good job but was an independent contractor, so he had no work supplied insurance. He always bought his own family insurance. His wife got cancer. After a year of treatment the insurance company said they had paid out their maximum and there would be no more coverage on his wife's cancer. This is something that occurred commonly prior to Obamacare implemented restrictions. The wife died, he had to declare bankruptcy due to the overwhelming medical bills and lost the boat.

We have medical insurance to protect our assets, not as a prepaid medical plan. Paying cash for care while traveling is not a big issue. A major accident or disease is a big deal.

Solutions for US cruisers who want to cruise as an.early retiree such as in their 50s are limited. For many an ACA exchange policy is a good choice if they qualify. With Obamacare under such assault with no alternative offered, it is really only a year ahead solution. The international medical policies tend have some very poor terms for pre-existing conditions and often unreasonable caps on payments. Basically it is tough to.get decent med insurance coverage if you are US based and cruising.

I also know people backrupted, and nearly so, by the US system. The solution is simple: get outta the USA!

[Raggedglory]

You're absolutely correct there are no free lunches.
However when we all through tax dollars into the pot as time goes by it takes care of all and costs no one a loss of home or undue suffering.
Furthermore, the canadian medical system/care as good or better than any other country in my humble opinion.
I have paid all my life rarely using the system but as i now am getting older i know i may need it as have others.
I do not in the least regret paying extra for others all my eorking life.

[forgeahead]

Originally Posted by taxwizz

I live in Canada, and here health care is FREE.
I think that the USA is the only country in the First World that does not provide free public health care to help cure people.

But you have a great military.

“Free” is relative when one considers tax rates!

[Mike OReilly]

All I know is, if I were an American, I could not afford to live the life I’m living.

[Augi]

Originally Posted by forgeahead

“Free” is relative when one considers tax rates!

Yes. The USA is the only major, first world country that does not provide free basic health care.

And the total cost of USA health care is about double of Canada, Germany or the UK with less good results most ways you look at it.

My wife and I live in Guatemala one of the poorest countries in the world. The public health care is far from perfect but almost every little town has a community health center where anyone can get care almost for free. If some one is seriously ill care (although not perfect), is available for free or almost free.

The private health care is excellent in Guatemala at a fraction of the cost of the first world. As a result very good, comprehensive, private health insurance is very inexpensive. Any kind of treatment / procedure is available except for the most complicated or newest treatments. I prefer getting treated in Guatemala. The doctors are excellent and are more like doctors in the USA 50 years ago in terms of the personal attention they provide.

[sailorboy1]

I'm American and 58 and my wife is 57. We pay $20.17/mo for health insurance. People such read the thread, learn the systems, take the needed actions, and stop whining.

And no I'm not going to explain it again as its already ben posted numerous times.

[hpeer]

First I haven’t read through this long thread so apologies if I’m covering old ground.

We are over 65 and in good health. We have Medicare but that counts for squat as we are out of the states about 10 months a year. We made a decision to buy an international policy that would cover us outside the USA, I think we are allowed 2 months visit per year. Not sure how that is counted. Anyway once we looked at the premiums we went for the Gold plan with low deductables and high maximums. I think it’s under $3,000/year.

We are splitting our time between the Carribean and Canada.

The one time my wife had to go to a hospital for an infection, in Grenada, their was no fee at all, just the cost of the prescription.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by hpeer

First I haven’t read through this long thread so apologies if I’m covering old ground.

We are over 65 and in good health. We have Medicare but that counts for squat as we are out of the states about 10 months a year. We made a decision to buy an international policy that would cover us outside the USA, I think we are allowed 2 months visit per year. Not sure how that is counted. Anyway once we looked at the premiums we went for the Gold plan with low deductables and high maximums. I think it’s under $3,000/year.

We are splitting our time between the Carribean and Canada.

The one time my wife had to go to a hospital for an infection, in Grenada, their was no fee at all, just the cost of the prescription.

I don't agree with your dismissal of Medicare. It is insuring against financial ruin if you get some long term, super expensive disease. Something that might leave your partner with nothing. You don't really need insurance to pay for the occasional med costs, especially overseas where it is generally low cost. It's those 3/4 million dollar bills that are far too common that needs insuring against.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Paul L

I don't agree with your dismissal of Medicare. It is insuring against financial ruin if you get some long term, super expensive disease. Something that might leave your partner with nothing. You don't really need insurance to pay for the occasional med costs, especially overseas where it is generally low cost. It's those 3/4 million dollar bills that are far too common that needs insuring against.

I gotta say Paul; those 3/4 million dollar bills are only “far too common” in the USA. No where else in the developed, or even developing, world is it common to be financial destroyed by an ailment or accident. Most other functioning societies recognize that healthcare is a basic right of citizenship.

[hpeer]

Who is dismissing Medicare?

If we get sick and come back it’s here.

It’s NOT there if we have a problem in another country.

[Group9]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I gotta say Paul; those 3/4 million dollar bills are only “far too common” in the USA. No where else in the developed, or even developing, world is it common to be financial destroyed by an ailment or accident. Most other functioning societies recognize that healthcare is a basic right of citizenship.

I would rather have a nice boat than guaranteed health care.
Why is that not a right?