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A little update: Even though I signed up for BCBS Medicare Supplement, BCBS went ahead and renewed my Blue Advantage from last year at the same $ rate. They think I need 2 insurances?

Do a calcium score before agreeing to take statins. My score was 0 (zero) so there's no need for drugs even if my cholesterol is high. Cholesterol by itself is not a disease, 260 may be normal & harmless for you.

I hope you got the Medigap right because that's what I signed up for. ;D

Thank you, that’s the best explanation ever. I went ahead and signed up for “Blue Medicare Supplement HD Plan F” for $25/mo, only because it includes international coverage. The fine print says that the premium is not the same for all males my age, that BCBS can increase it at will based on my...

So if I leave the US (and not using Medicare at all) I can drop Part B and save $134/mo? How does one drop Part B?

Thank you. I have to have insurance while in the US in case of emergency. I can’t just fly back to Canada, they won’t let you in the plane if you’re bleeding. $400/mo would be an outrage in any other western country. Wasn’t Medicare intended to be FREE healthcare for retirees because they’ve...

Here, I just got a quote. There's 18 bullets at the bottom: 2018 Plans Showing 3 plans...

True, in Canada I’m covered for life, no BS, no billing. Here’s what I found on Part D The premium for a Part D drug plan averages to about $31 a month. Depending on the plan you choose you may have a drug deductible to pay which can be as high as $310/year. The higher the plan D premium...

Yeah it is tricky by design. I’ve read the stuff on *.gov but there are countless acronyms that you all know from birth that are meaningless to me. I applied for Medicare simply because I’m entitled, but hope to never have to use it since I’ll be in EU. I’m looking at BCBS Medicare Advantage...

Thank you. BCBS has been mailing me plans for continuing my existing Blue Advantage as if I had no other insurance, AND Medigap/supplemental plans for $100/mo. Regular Blue Advantage would be without ACA “subsidy” i.e. $1500/mo, that’s a LOL for me. From what I’ve read supplemental insurance...

I applied for Medicare by phone and received a card. It says Part A and B, they bill me quarterly $134/mo until I start collecting SS whereupon they simply deduct it from my monthly SS. Can I really get free healthcare anywhere in the US just like back home in Canada? I already have BCBS Blue...

Thank you. UPJ obstruction used to require major surgery. Now it's repaired with a simple laser treatment, without surgery. Urologists didn't lose their job, but profitability for assembly-line type of medical groups plummeted.

I'm reading that there are new techniques being developed that grow cartilage from the patient's own cells and deposited where there is damage. Does anybody have experience with that? If this works, it will make obsolete doctors that have spent decades perfecting their knee replacement skills.

The OP has a very good point. Since ACA, when buying insurance on healthcare .gov it is to your advantage to have the lowest possible taxable income. In my case, drawing money from IRAs would create high taxable income. So I'm using regular after-tax accounts for living expenses. They generate...

I discovered Quicksilver accidentally. I was looking for a card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. I have to test it out though, they may have some hidden fee in the Euro/Dollar exchange rate.

My wife was the beneficiary of my estate, but she died in her 40s. So it's going to be my next wife or girlfriend, if I can find a good one, otherwise I'll think of something. :d

EU rules prohibit the use of these loans to finance governments. The loans are only being used to re-finance the debt.

Somebody calculated that a 3-Euro donation from everybody in the European Union would pay off the Greek debt. Crowd-funding. The website keeps crashing from the overwhelming response. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/greek-bailout-fund#/story

Greece is not that poor. Even though its GNP and personal incomes have declined, most high incomes are not declared (tax evasion) so they’re not part of the grim statistics. Worldwide, Greece has the largest commercial fleet than any country (including US & China), and that income is untaxed by...

My wife died in her 40s, since then I'm dating women 15-20 yrs younger, so I guess I'm still maladjusted.:coolsmiley:

Yes thank you, I read about that. It simply adds to the compliance burden. Also calling the US for help/info from EU with 6 hours difference can push one over the proverbial edge.

So, I'm adding Punishment #3 to my post above: You have to work around the penalty for not having US-based health insurance per ACA. Duh! If you have a foreign address shouldn't that be self-evident. Feel free to add more:)

There are lots of retired people of many nationalities that live on boats on the Mediterranean. That may also be true in NZ or Australia. I know that they live on their boat because they hang laundry to dry on the rigging. That’s a dream of a lifetime for many. Should they be taxable by every...

There are also Schengen Area rules. A friend of mine overstayed in EU by 3 days and made the mistake of presenting his US passport on exit (instead of EU passport). He was fined 1500 € at the airport prior to boarding. The “clock” thing is worth looking into. Are residency laws unconstitutional...

Interesting. Suppose you drive to France for the weekend before the 6-month residency makes you permanent UK resident. When you drive back, the clock starts again and you’re still a tourist. What’s wrong with a trip to Calais or the Greek islands for that matter. If it’s the islands you can stay...