How to Move Abroad

[BlueMTexpat]

Millions of Americans move overseas every year, some for love, some for jobs and others to embrace new cultures. Here’s how you can join them.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/15/smarter-living/how-to-move-abroad.html

Sorry that this is a paywall post. Fortunately, I am still within my limit of free NYT articles and thus can post snippets. If you have exhausted your limit already and would like to read or are interested in this article, you could bookmark this post and wait for the beginning of December.

... Gallup Poll findings released in January indicate that record numbers of Americans want to make a similar move, and Malte Zeeck, the chief executive, at InterNations, a global expat network, confirmed that more and more Americans were heading abroad to pursue romantic relationships, employment opportunities and a lower cost of living. Want to see more of the world? Curious if you’d prefer a life somewhere else? Here are some tips for each step of your journey.

Do all the research you can
... If your network is limited, try surveying expat groups on Facebook. Groups like “Expats in Italy,” “Expats in Athens” and “Every Expat in Korea” have several thousand members’ worth of insight and may approve your request to join if you express a desire to relocate there. Many cities with large expat populations even have related groups — ones for specific neighborhoods, ones for pet owners and ones for vegetarians.

Find a vocation
O.K., you have a place in mind, but how do you make money and get by? According to data by the marketing company Finaccord, individuals moving for employment will be the most rapidly growing category of expatriates between 2017 and 2021. You can begin your search on LinkedIn, where you can hunt for openings by country.
...
Make your move
...
With American health care costs higher than those in most developed countries, it may be advantageous to choose a local plan at your destination over an international one. (This is a good question to ask on the Facebook groups.) Specific medications may require a prescription from your American doctor, however. Before stocking up on the medicine you need, check the website of the United States Embassy to see if there is a limit on the quantity you are allowed to bring in.
...
Adjust to life far from home
You’ve arrived at your destination, but now what? In addition to getting a local phone plan and registering for identification, you might need to set up a bank account and find long-term housing. Unless you speak the local language, prioritize an English-speaking bank and remember to ask about remittance fees if you are interested in sending money back to the United States. Hopefully, you will have already done enough research to have an idea of how deposit and rent work at your destination. ...

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It is truly worthwhile to read the full article. It has lots more information and lots of embedded links that can lead to new sources of information.

[pamdb]

1. Expats

Trust me, we’ve thought about it. Also Canada ( we live in Michigan). Unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t travel.

[emmaverybo]

2. No. But blue anthem plans and UHC do provide emergency and urgent care. UHC provides with

contracted hospitals around the world. This for short stays or to retire. But then they can drop that benefit anytime they want and it is only emergency and urgent care.

[BlueMTexpat]

3. Yes, that is a problem.

But you can often buy local health insurance plans that are reasonably priced.

I am fortunate in that I am covered by Medicare while I am in the US and by a private insurance company at a reasonable cost in my non-US residence. I signed up with a US GP before becoming Medicare-eligible and when I travel to the US to visit family and friends, get most of my routine work done there.

But I have local private insurance (no copays, etc., just a deductible). Once I've paid my deductible, everything else is covered, Except for dental. But then Medicare doesn't cover dental either.

My local coverage is the most basic, e.g., no private clinics, no private rooms, etc. But it covers what it needs to and the local public hospitals are excellent.

[leighbythesea2]

4. Happy to find this

I've been planning some kind of move to foreign country forever. Its just a life goal. I dont have to worry about medicare as that is kind of far off. I was traveling in 2018 and 2019 as investigative vacations. Some anyway. Now 2020 no travel. Bummed out but still need to keep researching.
For work possibilities i have different list than what just seems appealing solely on its own.
Work
Guatemala
Sri Lanka
India
Possibly other parts of Asia
Australia

Intriguing
Panama
Costa Rica
Italy

Had planned to go to india and sri lanka in 2020.
I like the fb group idea. Normally not a fb fan but in this case it sounds very helpful.

[BlueMTexpat]

12. Good luck to you!

[leighbythesea2]

13. Just joined

Four fb groups. My timeline is so much nicer already. !