The ACA subsidies increased during Covid are sunsetting at the end of this year, unless the government decides to fund them. This will not be happening after passage of their reconciliation bill. I will therefore fall off the cliff for subsidies in 2026. That will make coverage in the US unaffordable for me.
I also checked out the international medical policies and most/all will not cover my pre-existing conditions. And I think Safety Wing and Genki require underlying insurance coverage in your home country.
So that leaves Plan C, which is moving to another country. In this instance, France, which allows access to their healthcare plan starting at 90 days. I’ll have interim travel insurance coverage that meets France’s requirements that can then be cancelled when on the national plan.
My fingers are crossed it will all go well. Wish me luck!
Oh Vicki, I'm so sorry. Yup, it sounds like you have it about right. I will say, if your income is retirement-low, the subsidy could still be substantial, but yeah, will be 75%-100% more than what you're paying now.
But yeah, it's a shit sandwich. Healthcare in America is absolutely out of control, and I don't know what to do about that. Not sure what we will do either....
Fantastic article. Perfect timing too. I was researching options and bingo, you just broke down the insurance quagmire into something managable. Thank you so much!
Thanks for the great update on travel insurance! I was interested to read about the term-limit nature of the plans mentioned. We travel only a few weeks a year, but have been annually renewing an Emergency Assistance Plus plan believing we were covered for travel insurance — and your article made us dig into that further since you didn’t even list them. And EAP doesn’t cover health but the emergency travel and evacuation you reference. So now we are on the hunt to make sure we are covered….
Thankyou a very valuable article it helped a lot. I have used geoblue which covers you for a year for multiple trips. It's a blue cross and blue shield plan. Do you have any thoughts on that
I have two questions for you: (1) I'm sure that you, like us, are concerned about ageing out of these policies in the future. What are your plans after age 69? Or you just going to figure it out then? (2) What are your thoughts on purchasing something like Safety Wing Complete before you age out so that you can have the policy indefinitely if you keep paying? These are things I'm thinking about now as I prepare to purchase a policy.
Hi Chris: Yeah, that's the puzzler, isn't it? The problem is that's a fairly expensive policy, esp after 69, and premiums keep rising. But there ARE still "standard" travel insurance" policies after that age -- they're just the ones where you have to declare your travel time and your itinerary ahead of time. And, of course, they get increasingly expensive! But that is what we would do, I think. We'd just have to be more conscious about our planning, and probably spend a bit more time in the U.S. too.
Great analysis and laid out very well, Brent. We just worked through this (also using your past write-ups) and came to the same conclusion. We will buy Genki and at 65 & 55 will rely on Medicare and ACA bronze in Washington state when home.
This is a VERY IMPORTANT PIECE; thank you, Brent & Michael! If anyone out there is still not convinced, and needs a real-life example of WHY this is a very important piece, check out my own medical misadventure story in Switzerland from this past spring. (The moral of the story: Please learn from my mi$take and alway$, alway$ get in$urance when traveling!) https://michaeltenbrink.substack.com/p/sideways-in-switzerland
Great stuff here, Brent! My husband and I retired about a year ago, and we've been traveling almost non-stop since. Mostly without insurance. I know, I know. We're not spring chickens anymore - more like fall chickens - we need to get on this ASAP! Thanks for the nudge.
Great article, really appreciate it!! I have found by combining my Chase Sapphire Reserve included credit card insurance (must pay for anything you want covered with the card) PLUS my American employer health care PLUS an annual Travel Insured general policy (flat $94 per person a year)....gives pretty decent coverage. Only $100K in medical and medical evacuation, but I have submitted medical and trip delay claims to both Chase's Insurer and TravelInsured and they both paid quickly with standard documentation requirements. I like Genki having $1M increased coverage but at a cost of $1,500 each (€110 per month each), which is a higher insured cost percentage.
Bravo! You're ON it. I am impressed. But you can also get just (more) evacuation coverage fairly cheaply. Some companies do JUST that, unlimited, for $300.or so a year.
Thanks Brent, great idea.....I looked and my cheap $94 per year annual plan allows me to add on supplementary $400K evac coverage for a mere $25 per person per trip. You guys are awesome - keep on travelling!
Do you mean credit cards? That hasn't been my experience. I just had a claim paid out, and they didn't ask how long I'd been out of the country at all (and i've been gone eight month). Where did you hear this?
I would check the benefits manual and determine what the definition is for a covered trip. For example, I just checked Chase Sapphire Reserve, as an example. With that card, for repatriation or evacuation, trip can’t be more than 60 days. I have found that in general the limit is 60 to 90 days on credit cards for any type of medical or evacuation insurance. And so for me, this is of no value. If my departure and return are more than 90 days (typically, occasionally 60), I’m not going be covered no matter if I have traveled to one place or seven places during that period of time.
Also, new to me, when I look at the Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits from medical it stated that the trip had to be planned by a travel agent and I’ve never seen that before.
If this is a component of your medical insurance planning, make sure you check the benefits pressure for the cards that you were using so that you understand it clearly.
Ah excellent advice. Honestly, I didn't realize these cards even HAD evacuation coverage (I would never ever rely on them for that, or medical coverage -- it's just far top risky). But their cancellation, theft, or interruption coverage is a nice (minor) supplement. But always always read the fine print, yes, for sure!
The ACA subsidies increased during Covid are sunsetting at the end of this year, unless the government decides to fund them. This will not be happening after passage of their reconciliation bill. I will therefore fall off the cliff for subsidies in 2026. That will make coverage in the US unaffordable for me.
I also checked out the international medical policies and most/all will not cover my pre-existing conditions. And I think Safety Wing and Genki require underlying insurance coverage in your home country.
So that leaves Plan C, which is moving to another country. In this instance, France, which allows access to their healthcare plan starting at 90 days. I’ll have interim travel insurance coverage that meets France’s requirements that can then be cancelled when on the national plan.
My fingers are crossed it will all go well. Wish me luck!
Oh Vicki, I'm so sorry. Yup, it sounds like you have it about right. I will say, if your income is retirement-low, the subsidy could still be substantial, but yeah, will be 75%-100% more than what you're paying now.
But yeah, it's a shit sandwich. Healthcare in America is absolutely out of control, and I don't know what to do about that. Not sure what we will do either....
Fantastic article. Perfect timing too. I was researching options and bingo, you just broke down the insurance quagmire into something managable. Thank you so much!
Wonderful! Glad we could help.
Thanks for the great update on travel insurance! I was interested to read about the term-limit nature of the plans mentioned. We travel only a few weeks a year, but have been annually renewing an Emergency Assistance Plus plan believing we were covered for travel insurance — and your article made us dig into that further since you didn’t even list them. And EAP doesn’t cover health but the emergency travel and evacuation you reference. So now we are on the hunt to make sure we are covered….
Good deal! Yeah, those plans are evacuation only -- which is the most important piece of the puzzle! But medical is important too. Happy hunting!
Thankyou a very valuable article it helped a lot. I have used geoblue which covers you for a year for multiple trips. It's a blue cross and blue shield plan. Do you have any thoughts on that
You are very welcome!
It's been years since I've used Blue Shield, but they are certainly a reputable company! Sounds like it's been good for you.
I have two questions for you: (1) I'm sure that you, like us, are concerned about ageing out of these policies in the future. What are your plans after age 69? Or you just going to figure it out then? (2) What are your thoughts on purchasing something like Safety Wing Complete before you age out so that you can have the policy indefinitely if you keep paying? These are things I'm thinking about now as I prepare to purchase a policy.
Hi Chris: Yeah, that's the puzzler, isn't it? The problem is that's a fairly expensive policy, esp after 69, and premiums keep rising. But there ARE still "standard" travel insurance" policies after that age -- they're just the ones where you have to declare your travel time and your itinerary ahead of time. And, of course, they get increasingly expensive! But that is what we would do, I think. We'd just have to be more conscious about our planning, and probably spend a bit more time in the U.S. too.
Thanks...that's a thoughtful and helpful reply!
You're welcome!
Great analysis and laid out very well, Brent. We just worked through this (also using your past write-ups) and came to the same conclusion. We will buy Genki and at 65 & 55 will rely on Medicare and ACA bronze in Washington state when home.
Thanks, Brian! Yeah, that's a solid plan, except what we're doing. But Genki is def raising their price.
(Don't forget to use our afilliate link LOL)
I definitely will!
https://genki.world/products?with=brentandmichael
Hey! It adds up! LOL
This is a VERY IMPORTANT PIECE; thank you, Brent & Michael! If anyone out there is still not convinced, and needs a real-life example of WHY this is a very important piece, check out my own medical misadventure story in Switzerland from this past spring. (The moral of the story: Please learn from my mi$take and alway$, alway$ get in$urance when traveling!) https://michaeltenbrink.substack.com/p/sideways-in-switzerland
Thanks, Michael. I knew instantly it was kidney stones. I had one last year. But never two YIKES.
This is a fantastic, well researched article. Thank you so much for taking the time to dig into the detaills and share with all of us!
Thank you! appreciate that very much.
Great stuff here, Brent! My husband and I retired about a year ago, and we've been traveling almost non-stop since. Mostly without insurance. I know, I know. We're not spring chickens anymore - more like fall chickens - we need to get on this ASAP! Thanks for the nudge.
Haha you're welcome! Glad we could help.
Very informative. Thank you.
Appreciate that!
Just what I needed!! Thank you so much!!
You're very welcome!
Hey stranger. Lyn and I are using Berkshire Hathaway for medical and travel....Very competitive, worth a looksee in your next iteration
btw, hope to see you guys soon!
Same here my friend.
Good to know! I've used them before. 🙂
Great article, really appreciate it!! I have found by combining my Chase Sapphire Reserve included credit card insurance (must pay for anything you want covered with the card) PLUS my American employer health care PLUS an annual Travel Insured general policy (flat $94 per person a year)....gives pretty decent coverage. Only $100K in medical and medical evacuation, but I have submitted medical and trip delay claims to both Chase's Insurer and TravelInsured and they both paid quickly with standard documentation requirements. I like Genki having $1M increased coverage but at a cost of $1,500 each (€110 per month each), which is a higher insured cost percentage.
Bravo! You're ON it. I am impressed. But you can also get just (more) evacuation coverage fairly cheaply. Some companies do JUST that, unlimited, for $300.or so a year.
Thanks Brent, great idea.....I looked and my cheap $94 per year annual plan allows me to add on supplementary $400K evac coverage for a mere $25 per person per trip. You guys are awesome - keep on travelling!
Fantastic! and thank you...
The only issue with these cards is a trip outside your home country is limited to 90 days so it's not a great option for full-time travelers.
Do you mean credit cards? That hasn't been my experience. I just had a claim paid out, and they didn't ask how long I'd been out of the country at all (and i've been gone eight month). Where did you hear this?
I would check the benefits manual and determine what the definition is for a covered trip. For example, I just checked Chase Sapphire Reserve, as an example. With that card, for repatriation or evacuation, trip can’t be more than 60 days. I have found that in general the limit is 60 to 90 days on credit cards for any type of medical or evacuation insurance. And so for me, this is of no value. If my departure and return are more than 90 days (typically, occasionally 60), I’m not going be covered no matter if I have traveled to one place or seven places during that period of time.
Also, new to me, when I look at the Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits from medical it stated that the trip had to be planned by a travel agent and I’ve never seen that before.
If this is a component of your medical insurance planning, make sure you check the benefits pressure for the cards that you were using so that you understand it clearly.
Ah excellent advice. Honestly, I didn't realize these cards even HAD evacuation coverage (I would never ever rely on them for that, or medical coverage -- it's just far top risky). But their cancellation, theft, or interruption coverage is a nice (minor) supplement. But always always read the fine print, yes, for sure!
Thank you. I have been researching health insurance for 4 days and someone recommended your article!!!