According to a study by the American publication InternationalLiving.com, Mexico is one of the five countries with the best living conditions for retirees. Of course, we are talking about Americans who choose which country in the world they will settle in after retirement. But there are plenty of people with high pensions or sufficient savings in other countries of the world. And when compiling the rating, its authors did not take into account proximity to the United States.
There are enough countries in the world where people with high passive income can settle down well and feel no worse than in their homeland. At the same time, medical services are important for pensioners. In such states, medicine is much cheaper than in the USA, and the quality of medical services may be even higher.
International Living compared the benefits of living in 24 countries around the world that they recommend for retiring abroad. In addition to reviewing specific prices for a range of procedures, medications and insurance, the publication takes into account the ease with which non-residents can access medical care. In all of the top countries, non-residents are able to obtain excellent health care at prices no higher than 50% of what they would pay in the United States.
Here is a list of the top 5 countries that International Living recommends for retirees based on the level and cost of healthcare.
Mexico
In Mexico, every medium and large city has at least one first-class hospital. Most doctors and dentists in Mexico have completed at least part of their training in the US, so they are familiar with the criteria and habits of foreigners and speak English. International Living Mexico editor Glynna Prentice says: «In Mexico, I have two healthcare systems available to me: public and private. In the private system, the costs of comparable services — almost everything — account for 25% to 50% of US spending. As a resident of Mexico, I also have access to the public health care system that serves the majority of people in this country. They spend about $300 to $400 a year or less.
Approximately 1 million Americans live in Mexico. Many Americans also come here specifically to receive essential medical services and treatment. Medical tourism has become the main economy of many border cities, such as Tijuana or Mexicali. But if you move further from the border, the quality of services will remain the same, but the prices will be significantly lower.
The most common brand name prescription drugs are available in Mexico and are 25-50% cheaper than in the United States. Generics are widely available for many off-patent drugs. And most medications do not require a prescription at all.
Many doctors regularly call patients to check on their health after treatment. In fact, many pharmacy chains open without paying a doctor whose office is located right in the pharmacy. The price for a consultation starts from $2.5, and often consultations are completely free.
Colombia
The World Health Organization (WHO) rates Colombia's healthcare system as highly developed. WHO puts it in 22nd place among 191 countries in which the organization evaluates the level of medicine. This is better than Canada's 30th place and the United States' 37th place. Medical care is at the highest level, and its tariff — only a fraction of what you would have to pay in the US. Government copayments under the public health plan are based on a three-tier system. On average, the government pays about $3 extra for each lab test, x-ray or prescription drug. Private health insurance — This is an option for people under 60 years of age as a supplementary plan to the government's EPS insurance scheme. But many foreign citizens simply prefer to pay for services out of their own pockets. Prices for steps, doctor visits, and medication costs are much lower than in the US. For example, an hour-long consultation with a specialist costs about $50.
"As for healthcare, when you compare surgery prices between the U.S. and Malaysia, the benefits are obvious." Read about Malaysia's ranking as 7th best country to retire in International Living's 2021 Annual Global Retirement Index.t.co/uTqi0VpVVJ#MalaysiaHealtharepic.twitter.com/6DpEKSQMkg
— MHTC Malaysia (@mhtcmalaysia)March 31, 2021
Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, modern medical care is available almost everywhere. The United Nations has ranked Costa Rica's public health system among the top 20 in the world and first in Latin America. The country provides universal health care to its citizens and all legal residents. International Living's country correspondent John Michael Arthur says he pays $82 a month for two people to access the government's universal health care system — after that, all medical services are covered without payment.
Malaysia
In Malaysia, doctors usually speak English and most are trained in the UK, US or Australia. As such, they are familiar with Western standards of care. Many hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and Penang are accredited by the Joint Commission International, meaning they meet the global gold standard in healthcare. Medical costs are much lower than in the US. If you pay out of pocket, the first visit to a doctor or specialist typically costs between $15 and $65, and subsequent visits — usually between $11 and $28. A hospital stay will range from $55 to $200 per night for a private room.
Panama
Panama is providing quality and affordable healthcare in modern clinics and hospitals located throughout the country. All key medical institutions in Panama City are affiliated with similar institutions in the United States, from Miami Children's Hospital (Nicklaus Children's Hospital) to Johns Hopkins International. Because the country is small, retirees are unlikely to be more than an hour's drive from a modern medical facility.
«I have lived in Panama for over ten years and sometimes I forget how inexpensive and high quality healthcare is here until I return to the States and see the prices», — says Jessica Ramesh, editor of International Living Panama. «I spend about 50% less on doctor's appointments and dental services than my friends in the States.