OK I am now 77 and really want to be out of this country for a while for my mental health. I have Medicare (not useful abroad) and a Medicare Supplement plan partially subsidized by my former employer and I pay nearly $300/mo. Fine for emergencies, but I have to pay then get reimbursed (which I am capable of ding). Won't fly me back to the US if necessary, but I can buy a medical evacuation policy for that though the last one I had won't cover past the age of 75. So - what do I do now for insurance?
I am hoping to spend time in Ireland. I will be visiting this summer and will try to check things out while I am there, but some of this stuff is best done on line anyway. Does anyone have any thoughts about 1) starting over alone at this age (albeit in an English speaking country which I feel is my only real option 2) how to get insured while there 3) thoughts about a good place to be in Ireland - I am thinking Cork as the east seems sunnier (such as it is) and Dublin is pretty big, though I may end up there if I cannot find a place to rent in Cork 4) places to contact locally for furnished rentals as I am not wild about airb&b and their prices, about $1500 a month is what I can afford, perhaps a bit more - but I could live in a one bedroom or a studio 5) making friends.
I don't think I want to "nomad" as the two of you are doing at this point in life and not by myself. If I were your age and had a partner - yes - great plan. too late now.
The rest of it, there are definitely answers for all that! I would suggest you post this in Senior Nomads, a Facebook group, and I bet you'll get a lot of detailed info:
Thank you for this--I was frustrated with Genki when I first tried it, but SafetyWing's reimbursement procedure is absolutely byzantine, so much so that I found myself avoiding it even when I had a relatively high bill ($181). So that's a sign! Have you gone through the touted 3-day approval process with Genki yet?
I confess I am confused by which genki policy has the three-day approval process, Explorer or Resident. I just made a claim yesterday -- VERY easy -- but a note said it could take up to four weeks. I will say, I've made four claims now (between us both), and it was always really easy and they always paid out (even one I thought they wouldn't). Meanwhile SafetyWing denied both of the claims I made -+ one of which I thought was clear. And the process was HORRIBLE. But in fairness they tell me they have revamped their claims process and it's better now.
(we have Genki Explorer, and my memory is that it is only Resident and Native that have the three-day approval, although that will come to Explorer eventually.)
Great article however, I’d like to add that in Spain, there are some differences for those who are applying for and living in the country under the non-lucrative visa program. The insurance companies and types of policies that you mentioned might not be acceptable to the Spanish authorities. They will only accept a private insurance policy with no deductibles or copays. After one year, I think they might allow you to participate in the public system (at least here in Catalonia).
Also, if you are fully retired and receiving Social Security and are not covered under a spouse’s medical plan, you will have to enroll in Medicare both Parts A and B. There are no other exceptions. It’s automatic even if you live abroad and have private insurance. I tried to explain it to the SSA but to no avail. Additionally, it’s useless abroad although I used it for lab work in the US just to keep it active. It’s worth it to bear in mind.
Thanks! That's great info to add. Honestly, anyone who emigrates to any country will find a fair bit of bureaucracy, and if it's in a different language, that's always a challenge. But I don't think there's any way around it.
Have you thought about what you're going to do once you reach the upper age limits? You noted age 70 and 73 for different plans. You also mentioned that some plans won't kick you off when you reach those age limits if you keep paying. Do you plan to have a policy and then just keep paying indefinitely? I'm asking as we prepare for our future slow travels and thinking about reaching 70 in just 12 years!
It's definitely something we think about. Although at those higher ages, the premiums also get VERY high. I still think the travel insurance-subsidized ACA policy is best (and Medicare, post-65), so perhaps we can find a company that will give us travel insurance even at that age.
Thanks for the details! My husband and I used Genki short-term travel insurance for our month-long trip to Europe, based on your recommendation and links!
Genki had an unbeatable value proposition whilst they had direct integration with the airdoctor app. Now post November 2024 that has ended and all claims need to go via the standard claim process. Which given its opaque and slow has ruined their cover for me.
I'm still a fan. They will definitely still pay directly to the provider if you set it up -- no need to file a claim at all. I've also had all my submitted claims paid promptly, with a week. 🤔
As someone who just had a Google Meet call with a Genki rep, a key note now is that Resident is all we could apply for based on age (62/64.) It does appear to be the best approach for us though as it allows any country (our multi-location next 12 months hasn't been fully charted out yet) plus the US when we're back home (IF we're back home.) I asked about AirDoctor and did a quick look on the AD website and it's a bit hard to tell who is truly available. Rep told me that list comes after you sign up. hmm.
Brent - may I ask if you're you doing all your payments/reimbursements/monthly premiums through a US bank account?
Huh - that's quite interesting. I've followed up my Genki rep call with a bunch of additional questions, and that was one of them: how exactly does one get reimbursed. I should've realized it would be tied to a portal that isn't a direct deposit to your US bank.
So that begs another question! Even though I've had a Paypal account for years, do they give you any other option? And if the exchange rate is so bad, then essentially it means you're not being fully reimbursed after all? Maybe I'm overthinking it?
Actually I just realized that I would likely be submitting bills in Euros to begin with but you may be in non EU countries. Head spinning! So your premiums are paid through a US account of some sort in USD. You might be in Mexico and have a 2,000 peso bill that you submit to Genki. They reimburse you the full 2,000 but in Euros (92 or so?) yet at the Paypal end the rate of exchange from Euro to USD is meh so you actually are losing money.
Head exploding. How far off am I? Before committing to somewhere between $12-$14,000 for the first year, I'm pretty eager to understand the process and already you've been more helpful than their sales rep.
Hi,
OK I am now 77 and really want to be out of this country for a while for my mental health. I have Medicare (not useful abroad) and a Medicare Supplement plan partially subsidized by my former employer and I pay nearly $300/mo. Fine for emergencies, but I have to pay then get reimbursed (which I am capable of ding). Won't fly me back to the US if necessary, but I can buy a medical evacuation policy for that though the last one I had won't cover past the age of 75. So - what do I do now for insurance?
I am hoping to spend time in Ireland. I will be visiting this summer and will try to check things out while I am there, but some of this stuff is best done on line anyway. Does anyone have any thoughts about 1) starting over alone at this age (albeit in an English speaking country which I feel is my only real option 2) how to get insured while there 3) thoughts about a good place to be in Ireland - I am thinking Cork as the east seems sunnier (such as it is) and Dublin is pretty big, though I may end up there if I cannot find a place to rent in Cork 4) places to contact locally for furnished rentals as I am not wild about airb&b and their prices, about $1500 a month is what I can afford, perhaps a bit more - but I could live in a one bedroom or a studio 5) making friends.
I don't think I want to "nomad" as the two of you are doing at this point in life and not by myself. If I were your age and had a partner - yes - great plan. too late now.
Oh, wow, lots to respond to! First, there are definitely insurance plans for older folks. I write about one here:
https://www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com/p/brent-and-michaels-secret-travel-442
The rest of it, there are definitely answers for all that! I would suggest you post this in Senior Nomads, a Facebook group, and I bet you'll get a lot of detailed info:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/264168881655861
Thank you for this--I was frustrated with Genki when I first tried it, but SafetyWing's reimbursement procedure is absolutely byzantine, so much so that I found myself avoiding it even when I had a relatively high bill ($181). So that's a sign! Have you gone through the touted 3-day approval process with Genki yet?
I confess I am confused by which genki policy has the three-day approval process, Explorer or Resident. I just made a claim yesterday -- VERY easy -- but a note said it could take up to four weeks. I will say, I've made four claims now (between us both), and it was always really easy and they always paid out (even one I thought they wouldn't). Meanwhile SafetyWing denied both of the claims I made -+ one of which I thought was clear. And the process was HORRIBLE. But in fairness they tell me they have revamped their claims process and it's better now.
(we have Genki Explorer, and my memory is that it is only Resident and Native that have the three-day approval, although that will come to Explorer eventually.)
Hi Brent,
Great article however, I’d like to add that in Spain, there are some differences for those who are applying for and living in the country under the non-lucrative visa program. The insurance companies and types of policies that you mentioned might not be acceptable to the Spanish authorities. They will only accept a private insurance policy with no deductibles or copays. After one year, I think they might allow you to participate in the public system (at least here in Catalonia).
Also, if you are fully retired and receiving Social Security and are not covered under a spouse’s medical plan, you will have to enroll in Medicare both Parts A and B. There are no other exceptions. It’s automatic even if you live abroad and have private insurance. I tried to explain it to the SSA but to no avail. Additionally, it’s useless abroad although I used it for lab work in the US just to keep it active. It’s worth it to bear in mind.
Thanks! That's great info to add. Honestly, anyone who emigrates to any country will find a fair bit of bureaucracy, and if it's in a different language, that's always a challenge. But I don't think there's any way around it.
Have you thought about what you're going to do once you reach the upper age limits? You noted age 70 and 73 for different plans. You also mentioned that some plans won't kick you off when you reach those age limits if you keep paying. Do you plan to have a policy and then just keep paying indefinitely? I'm asking as we prepare for our future slow travels and thinking about reaching 70 in just 12 years!
It's definitely something we think about. Although at those higher ages, the premiums also get VERY high. I still think the travel insurance-subsidized ACA policy is best (and Medicare, post-65), so perhaps we can find a company that will give us travel insurance even at that age.
Really appreciate all of the detailed info and breakdowns provided! Thank you so much :)
You're very welcome!
Thanks for the details! My husband and I used Genki short-term travel insurance for our month-long trip to Europe, based on your recommendation and links!
You are very welcome. 🙂
Genki had an unbeatable value proposition whilst they had direct integration with the airdoctor app. Now post November 2024 that has ended and all claims need to go via the standard claim process. Which given its opaque and slow has ruined their cover for me.
I'm still a fan. They will definitely still pay directly to the provider if you set it up -- no need to file a claim at all. I've also had all my submitted claims paid promptly, with a week. 🤔
(I also loved AirDoctor)
As someone who just had a Google Meet call with a Genki rep, a key note now is that Resident is all we could apply for based on age (62/64.) It does appear to be the best approach for us though as it allows any country (our multi-location next 12 months hasn't been fully charted out yet) plus the US when we're back home (IF we're back home.) I asked about AirDoctor and did a quick look on the AD website and it's a bit hard to tell who is truly available. Rep told me that list comes after you sign up. hmm.
Brent - may I ask if you're you doing all your payments/reimbursements/monthly premiums through a US bank account?
You WANT Resident -- it's better than Native. We've been payed through Paypal (in euros), which I don't love as the exchange rate SUCKS.
Huh - that's quite interesting. I've followed up my Genki rep call with a bunch of additional questions, and that was one of them: how exactly does one get reimbursed. I should've realized it would be tied to a portal that isn't a direct deposit to your US bank.
So that begs another question! Even though I've had a Paypal account for years, do they give you any other option? And if the exchange rate is so bad, then essentially it means you're not being fully reimbursed after all? Maybe I'm overthinking it?
Actually I just realized that I would likely be submitting bills in Euros to begin with but you may be in non EU countries. Head spinning! So your premiums are paid through a US account of some sort in USD. You might be in Mexico and have a 2,000 peso bill that you submit to Genki. They reimburse you the full 2,000 but in Euros (92 or so?) yet at the Paypal end the rate of exchange from Euro to USD is meh so you actually are losing money.
Head exploding. How far off am I? Before committing to somewhere between $12-$14,000 for the first year, I'm pretty eager to understand the process and already you've been more helpful than their sales rep.