A very common complaint is that the cost of healthcare in the US is far higher than abroad. This is usually accompanied by how much it costs to see a doctor and how much a short hospital stay costs.
Another factor to consider is the availabiliy of medicine and drugs abroad. Many drugs are are not approved abroad, and even if they are approved you may not be able to actually get them. And the waiting times for 'discretional' procedures such as hip and knee replacements can be years on the public system. For example during Covid, we returned to the US to get the vaccine as it was available sooner in the US. The shingrix vaccine, which has been approved by the EU for over seven years is still not really available if you request it and most people just get shingles instead - all adults in the US over 50 get this for free. If you get covid you will not get remdesevir pretty much anywhere in the EU either.
Across europe you will also run across fundraisers to send children to the US for cancer treatment etc.
So yes it is cheaper, but availability is not the same. Also many retirement visas require private insurance which have the usual list of exclusions for pre existing conditions etc. Here in Malta you cannot get private insurance for Dialysis for example, you would have to pay cash which is about 4 or 500 dollars per visit. And Maltese healthcare is much better than many other european countries. If you remain healthy or only need routine care then the local healthcare is probably all you need but if your unlucky enough to need specialist care then you my find yourself moving back to the US where you can get it.
Another factor to consider is the availabiliy of medicine and drugs abroad. Many drugs are are not approved abroad, and even if they are approved you may not be able to actually get them. And the waiting times for 'discretional' procedures such as hip and knee replacements can be years on the public system. For example during Covid, we returned to the US to get the vaccine as it was available sooner in the US. The shingrix vaccine, which has been approved by the EU for over seven years is still not really available if you request it and most people just get shingles instead - all adults in the US over 50 get this for free. If you get covid you will not get remdesevir pretty much anywhere in the EU either.
Across europe you will also run across fundraisers to send children to the US for cancer treatment etc.
So yes it is cheaper, but availability is not the same. Also many retirement visas require private insurance which have the usual list of exclusions for pre existing conditions etc. Here in Malta you cannot get private insurance for Dialysis for example, you would have to pay cash which is about 4 or 500 dollars per visit. And Maltese healthcare is much better than many other european countries. If you remain healthy or only need routine care then the local healthcare is probably all you need but if your unlucky enough to need specialist care then you my find yourself moving back to the US where you can get it.
Statistics: Posted by timcob — Tue Apr 09, 2024 3:03 am — Replies 41 — Views 3994