International and Domestic

[Whisper9999]

Let's say I want to semi-retire early, which I think I can do in two to five years, and live half the year in the U.S. and the other half of the year in southern Italy, France or Spain. However, I will be in my mid-50's at the time and so I need good health insurance obviously. (Btw, I know there are less expensive places to live than southern Europe, but that's my dream - just love Europe.)

So here is my question: are there health insurers, with an HSA or without, that will insure you (at a pretty reasonable rate) such that you can live domestically or abroad and be covered?

I don't know that much about it and am wondering if such an animal even exists before I start planning and fantasizing about such a scenario.

 

[Alan]

I don't know the answer to your question but I love your plans. We'll be spending over 5 months in Europe this summer, including France and Spain.

I am fortunate to have group insurance through my ex-employer that covers overseas. However, that can always change so I'm interested in the responses to your question.

 

[Whisper9999]

Thx. You posted in a somewhat similar thread that I started last year about retiring in France:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/health-insurance-in-w-europe-56992.html

The information in this thread was fantastic and much appreciated. However, things have changed a little for me since then and I don't see myself in the short-medium term being able to actually fully retire in Europe. This has to do with kids in college and other family/biz considerations.

However, I can definitely see living 3-6 months out of the year overseas in Europe and that's why I need an insurer that is flexible, reasonable to work with and not exhorbitant in costs for someone self-employed.

Hopefully someone else out there has been in this situation?

 

[growing_older]

I don't know about retiring there or living there semi-permanently months at a time, but I'd love to spend at least a long summer there sometime in early retirement and see if I like it as much as I suspect I might. Any insights about insurance that can accommodate such a thing would be most welcome.

 

[deserat]

France and Spain have different approaches to providing healthcare with regard to insurance. There are perpetual traveler blogs that detail how they handle healthcare coverage internationally - perhaps that might help give you some ideas. Google perpetual traveler healthcare and see what you get.

 

[Whisper9999]

France and Spain have different approaches to providing healthcare with regard to insurance. There are perpetual traveler blogs that detail how they handle healthcare coverage internationally - perhaps that might help give you some ideas. Google perpetual traveler healthcare and see what you get.

Thanks! Great tip and I just noticed that someone posted here.