Medical Insurance for over 65

There are none that I know of and I have looked for several clients. Sorry.

And welcome to the forums!

Nope I have not found any either.

Bob K

I am in a similar situation and have started looking at international insurers who cover expats but if costs look too prohibitive will develop a self-insurance plan (e.g. adequate emergency funds plus a healthy lifestyle program - preventative screenings, healthy diet, and exercise).

An example of an international insurer is based in France they appear to cover the DR.   They can provide coverage up to age 71 for medical expenses but only provide coverage for death and loss of autonomy if under 65 years old.  Now the $64K  question , how readily are foreign insurers are accepted in the DR?

NOt readily.  Often you pay and get reimbursed.  Be really careful about the coverage you are buying. 

And also remember  healthy lifestyle etc doesn't  do much when you get smucked by a motoconcho or  clobbered by a carro publico......   That is the other reason for the insurance, not just when you get sick....  here more likely to get in an accident.

I may be splitting hairs here, can a person 65+ get accident / liability insurance separate from sickness insurance?


thanks

Ted

Nope. Sorry.

Actually we have an international insurance policy for the two of us. I believe it will issue up to age 71 but there are some restrictions on how long you can be in your home country a year.

The cost for us is about 6K a year

Bob K

Sorry,  Bob,  I was only referring to here. I know very little about anything available "out there".

Here's an example of expat international insurance, they group the DR in one of 4 ranked global Zones.  The coverage appears to be valid in countries in a given zone (including your Country of nationality if it is situated in this zone).   The DR is in Zone 4 (*), cover also applies in the event of Accident or Sudden illness during stays of less than 90 consecutive days in zones 1, 2 and 3 (including your Country of nationality if it is situated in one of these zones).

(*)  Premiums are impacted by the insurance group (zone) of the country of residence;
Zone 1: Canada, Japan, Switzerland, The Bahamas, United States.
Zone 2: Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, United Kingdom.
Zone 3: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France (including F.O.D.R.), Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldavia, Monaco, New-Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Taiwan, Thailand, The Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vatican State, Venezuela.
Zone 4: Any country not listed under zones 1, 2 and 3.

Ok that pretty much tells us nothing.  SO,  bottom line, if you are over  65 you need to look elsewhere for insurance.

UNDER  65 you may be able to get affordable coverage here but it is not guaranteed (you have to qualify)

It is up to you to find out what is available out there and know what it covers should anything happen.

Our international insurance covers us anywhere in the world including the DR and the USA. It is written out of Switzerland (I believe) and underwritten by Loyds (sp) of London.  In the US managed by Atena insurance.

For my accident it covered my US charges and my 3 months of rehab here in the DR


Bob K

Nice.  Good info Bob

Hello Carlvelas

If you can communicate in Spanish, I recommend you to get in touch with Univerlsal de Seguros 1.809.200.1283

This is the most prestigious insurance company in the Island and you may find with them what you need. Here is also the link to their website and the different health plan insurance they offer:

https://www.arsuniversal.com.do/planes/ … oluto.aspx

All the best

si puedo comunicar en espanol. muchas gracias por su ayuda.

carlvelas wrote:

si puedo comunicar en espanol. muchas gracias por su ayuda.

English please as this is an English speaking forum.
Thank you.

Here an occasional Spanish short, personal,  answer post is not always in appropriate. But you are correct we should be posting in English


Bob K

the company you referred me to is extremely expensive.  all in all after experimenting with retirement here in the dominican republic i have to conclude that it doesn't work for american retirees of average wealth.  in other words it's for the rich americans only.

medicare does not work in the dominican repubic.  supplemental medical insurance only covers a 60 day period and is limited to emergencies.  you can buy traveler's insurance cheaply, but again the time period is restricted to 45 days or so so it won't work for permanent or long term residents.

another area where american expatriots get hurt living in the dominican republic is the sales tax.  unlike the united states which heavily depends upon an income tax, the dominican republic relies on sales tax for it's revenue.  a system of taxation based upon purchases is not helpful to retirees.  retirees are better off retiring in the united states since most will be in a lower tax bracket after retirement and consequently will pay less income tax.

in conclusion, the dominican republic is a nightmare for american retirees of moderate means.  if you want beautiful beaches and year around warm weather retire in places like florida.

as for the so-called "warm, and happy" locals supposedly in the dominican republic, try crossing a street and see how long you will have to wait before a local driver has the courtesy to let you cross.

You're most welcome amigo!

Humano a Dominican insurer will assure to whatever age, the trick is to have a Dominican spouse much younger than you and have the policy written in his/her name.

that is the last thing in the world you would want to do.  believe me, i already did it.  i had a premarital agreement in which i keep everything which is mine. the only possession she had at the time was small fan which was actually included in the agreement.

twenty five years later and the divorce in new jersey cost me 80% of all my assets.  now i am the poor person living in a third world country and she is a middle class person living in the suburbs.  all so-called "protections" do not work unless you are super wealthy and can afford a team of lawyers working around the clock.

the united states has a socialist mentality and wants to even the playing field so the poor spouse will come away with half or more.

do not marry a poor local ever.

I  beg to differ. Our international insurance is less than if we had insurance through BS/BC, Etna, Pacific care, Met Life or any others.

As to living here we do so for about 40% less than what it would cost us back in the US and by no means are we "wealthy" but rather just bread and butter middle class Americans.

Bob K

i don't understand by your reply whether you agree or are being sarcastic.

if you don't mind my asking, just where is it that you are living in the dominican republic?  and what are you comparing it to in the united states?

i am now living in the capital city of santo domingo and i don't know anything about the cost of living outside of the capital.  in the states i live in new york in an average neighborhood and everything in the capital cost the same as in new york or maybe a little more with the exception of rental housing which is more affordable in santo domingo.

but the sales tax rate in santo domingo is double the rate in new york city.

when ex patriots talk about how great it is to live in the dominican republic they are usually referring to resort areas where other ex patriots hang out.  as far as i know when you get to resort areas the sky is the limit in terms of cost.

D.R. is definitely not for everyone. Florida seems a great alternative to me, if this is what you want, just give it a shot.

i am only here for one reason: i am an old guy with a young dominican girlfriend.  i have already retired to florida and i switched because i cannot get a young girlfriend in the united states.

so what is your reason for being here?

At last an honest man!    Here in central Florida it is impossible to have a decent attractive woman unless you are rich.  And then how honest is the relationship that is based on money?  In general,  the women here are too fat, too old & too white.  I don't mean in skin color ,but in attitude.   In the DR I always had a nice girlfriend who wasn't always asking for money.  I gave gifts when I felt like it not when it was asked for.   Mutual respect goes a long way.  You just have to set the parameters initially & stick to them.   It works both ways.  Women my age usually aren't socially, physically & sexually active.   I need a more energetic & vibrant personality in a relationship.   That is one of the reasons I love living in the DR. .

100% agreed with both you gentlemen......Like y always say....Let's Keep it real  Love the honesty guys

carlvelas we moved from the Denver Colorado area to The north coast (between Sosua and Cabarete) 9+ years ago.  For us the cost of living here is 40% less than what it was costing us in the US.

I just went back to the US for a week to visit my mom and I had sticker shock in the grocery stores and stores in general. Glad we made the choice we did.  We could either have stayed in the US and worked our asses off for another ten years or pull the plug and come here....Great choice for us.

And yes we are here full time.  In fact in the last 9 years I have been in the US for a total of 32 nights.

Bob K

Carivelas - first welcome to the forums.  You are taking some pretty strong stands,  you might want to do some reading before coming out with some of this.

Second - insurance is the topic here guys.  SO we already covered THERE IS NO INSURANCE over age 65 available. NO sense calling any carrier -  I work in this area and there is NONE.  Bob and others have covered what might be available internationally, you need to do your own homework.

AS to costs of living in this country - there are threads for this.   

Sorry to be the taskmaster, but its my job.....LOL

@ carlvelas > I think that you have already get the information you were searching for concerning the Medical Insurance. Isn't it? Can i please close this thread now?

If you wish to exchange information on an another topic ( topic which should be based on expatriation) , please do not hesitate to create a new thread.

Thank you for reverting back to me

Priscilla 

Priscilla it wasn't Carivelas looking for info, he is reposting when we have already answered the questions.

I am not American, i have visited the US but have absolutely no desire to live there. I occasionally go back to visit the UK but am very happy to get back home to Las Terrenas. What i said about humano insurance is absolutely true, my Dominican wife of 9 years is 51, health insurance is RS$ 1200 per month for her, me and our 9 year old daughter.

I have no idea what policy you have, maybe grandfathered on old system. YOu cannot now get coverage for anyone over age  65.  And that policy is ridiculously  cheap -  never change it!

Planner. Yes ma'am, message received and understood!!!  The "how to do it" came from a Dominican friend, we did ask about putting the policy in our 9 year old daughter's name but not possible - she doesn't have a cedula!

Cigna offers an international medical plan which would cost just under $1,000/month for a 69 YO Canadian living in Costa Rica (as an example) assuming a $750 deductible and 20% co-pay up to $5,000.

The IMG Global Medical Plan would cost about 1/2 that amount. However, their plan increases in cost after the first year and would terminate at age 75.

There is a good comparison of these two plans here: internationalinsurance.com/compare/global-medical.php

Good info but damn that is not affordable...... yikes.

It appears that while Humano and Universal do not provide coverage to new 65 year old customers, there is another DR based insurer which does provide coverage for 65 year olds - subject to a medical. 

We received a quote (~US$500 p.a.) for basic coverage from Monumental which includes coverage for accidents but will need to be supplemented by a plan for catastrophes.   Has anyone had experience with Monumental?

Define basic coverage please. As I understand it - it covers almost nothing!  THat is a lot of money for accident coverage.

well, while ago saw a posting on message boards  like at Playero, some guy Peter or something cant remember the name...offered health insurance, no medical needed etc for up to 69.
But looked very amateurish, handwritten note (although since upgraded to printed notice)  also very scant details, no website, just a Mobile Nr...think I would tread carefully with that one!