How much do healthcare and medical services cost in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?
Francisco Araiza - interlago realestate
Expats usually have two options with regard to healthcare in Chapala and Ajijic.
Some expats join the IMSS (Mexican Social Security) program of the government. Once they’ve joined, they can take advantage of the services provided by IMSS. When you go to a doctor through IMSS, they won’t charge you anything.
The other option is to go to private doctors or specialists. Some of them are English-speaking, which expats...
Expats usually have two options with regard to healthcare in Chapala and Ajijic.
Some expats join the IMSS (Mexican Social Security) program of the government. Once they’ve joined, they can take advantage of the services provided by IMSS. When you go to a doctor through IMSS, they won’t charge you anything.
The other option is to go to private doctors or specialists. Some of them are English-speaking, which expats prefer. The cost to see a private doctor is around 400 pesos ($22) plus the prescriptions, paying out of pocket and without insurance. We do have good doctors, especially in Guadalajara, which is the second biggest city in Mexico.
The doctors in Chapala and Ajijic are also good but we only have clinics here. They use the clinics for checkups and as a facility to stabilize you in an emergency but in an emergency they will send you over to Guadalajara (45 minutes away by car) for further attention once you are stabilized. If it is not something serious, then the doctors can take care of it at the clinics here in Chapala and Ajijic.
(Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Mexico, pictured.)
What type of government does Portugal have, and is the government in Portugal stable?
Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living
The government of Portugal is very stable. Portugal has had the longest period to form a government of any government post the revolution in 1974. We currently have a slightly left of center socialist government, which took over from a slightly conservative government.
The government of Portugal is generally stable, although it may change partly left or slightly right of center. The politics as such doesn’t change significantly. There is still very...
The government of Portugal is very stable. Portugal has had the longest period to form a government of any government post the revolution in 1974. We currently have a slightly left of center socialist government, which took over from a slightly conservative government.
The government of Portugal is generally stable, although it may change partly left or slightly right of center. The politics as such doesn’t change significantly. There is still very much a central block of political view, opinion, and political management. We have had a lot of strikes but they do not tend to impact the economy much. The number of political parties has remained reasonably stable for the last 40 years. For the first time in many years, we have a new political party in parliament with one seat. Generally, politics is characterized by boring political stability.
The doctors in Panama are excellent. We’re online with Johns Hopkins, and the doctors come to visit us from a lot of countries, including India and Israel. They give speeches, train the doctors and upgrade them, and lots of these doctors are studying outside. We have a tremendous university here for architects, lawyers and doctors that is well known in Panama.
They just had an operation here for heart transplants wherein they did a a...
The doctors in Panama are excellent. We’re online with Johns Hopkins, and the doctors come to visit us from a lot of countries, including India and Israel. They give speeches, train the doctors and upgrade them, and lots of these doctors are studying outside. We have a tremendous university here for architects, lawyers and doctors that is well known in Panama.
They just had an operation here for heart transplants wherein they did a a procedure where only 7 have been done in the world, including separating Siamese babies. They do everything here in Panama.
The doctors are always full, the hospitals are full, and everybody goes to the local doctor. If you had a choice, and you had a major problem that needed an operation, then I recommend that the person should pick the doctor that does that operation daily. You’re not going to pick a doctor that does one operation every 6 months when you have to remove something inside. Personally, I get all my healthcare done here in Panama and 99% of my family stays in Panama.
How are Americans in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua treated? How are expats in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua treated generally?
Eugenio Cortez - Hacienda & Ecolodge Morgan´s Rock
Americans and other expats and visitors to San Juan del Sur are treated with respect, kindness and generally good nature.
Nicaraguans are very caring and good people, who only ask to be treated with respect. One of the biggest assets this country has is its people and their good nature.
We welcome Americans, and people from every country for that matter, to come enjoy Nicaragua and all of the beauties it has to offer. You won´t be treated badly.
Americans and other expats and visitors to San Juan del Sur are treated with respect, kindness and generally good nature.
Nicaraguans are very caring and good people, who only ask to be treated with respect. One of the biggest assets this country has is its people and their good nature.
We welcome Americans, and people from every country for that matter, to come enjoy Nicaragua and all of the beauties it has to offer. You won´t be treated badly.
With some of the fantastic deals available in foreign countries people really need to do their home work before deciding to live there.
Some countries are not foreign friendly in that there is political unrest, anti-American sentiment and difficult languages to deal with. Money exchanges add to the likelihood you can be taken advantage of.
Sometimes laws are at odds with a foreigner's comprehension. A person should do some homework to...
With some of the fantastic deals available in foreign countries people really need to do their home work before deciding to live there.
Some countries are not foreign friendly in that there is political unrest, anti-American sentiment and difficult languages to deal with. Money exchanges add to the likelihood you can be taken advantage of.
Sometimes laws are at odds with a foreigner's comprehension. A person should do some homework to make sure they enter a foreign country with the proper documents.
Climates and diseases are reasons one country is wonderful for retirees and tourists and others are not so popular. Safety is a concern on the minds of many people when they travel. Thinking about safety you want to make sure the country is not rife with political unrest; active volcanoes, has earthquakes, landslides, floods, hurricanes or typhoons. This covers a large number of the places that people often consider retiring in.
If you like cold you will find a place that is cold is often quite expensive to live. Often they are remote, heating is costly, clothing is expensive and unless you are extremely rugged it is not place people want to visit.
What makes say Brazil not as popular as Panama for most Americans it that, while it is beautiful, there is often political unrest. There are floods, landslides, and even resentment of Americans. A place to visit, not to live.
The cost of living is to high to afford Denmark, or many other European countries. America doesn't have any place I could find with the amenities, and comfort of Panama.
The worst places to live are places with extreme weather, high cost of living, too remote or have serious political unrest.
Do I need a Belize passport, citizenship or a visa if I retire or work in Belize?
Ryan Wrobel - Wrobel & Co., Attorneys-at-Law
In order to retire or work in Belize, you do not need Belizean citizenship or a Belizean passport. (In order to obtain a Belizean passport, you would first have to become a Belizean citizen, with the passport being essentially a travel document.)
If you would like to retire to Belize, first of all, you would enter Belize on a tourist visa. If you are an American citizen or a Canadian citizen, you would be granted a tourist visa at the...
In order to retire or work in Belize, you do not need Belizean citizenship or a Belizean passport. (In order to obtain a Belizean passport, you would first have to become a Belizean citizen, with the passport being essentially a travel document.)
If you would like to retire to Belize, first of all, you would enter Belize on a tourist visa. If you are an American citizen or a Canadian citizen, you would be granted a tourist visa at the airport and the tourist visa would allow you to reside in Belize for 30 days. Every 30 days you can apply for an extension or renewal of that visa. The tourist visa would give you the ability to come here to Belize and to stay, but not permanently. Typically those 30-day visas are renewed and there’s never a problem with renewal unless the visa holder gets in trouble here in Belize. Other than that possibility, it’s pretty much a regular rubber stamp renewal after 30 days.
You cannot work in Belize under a tourist visa. In order to work in Belize, you would have to apply for a work permit. Once you acquire a work permit then you would have the ability to work for hire here in Belize, or work for a salary.
( Lebawit Lily Girma travel journalist and author of Moon Belize stayed at Hotel de la Fuente in Orange Walk, Belize, pictured.)
I recently got my car towed by the police! What I found out on that fateful day has been a real eye opener that I have decided to share, as many people, including me, will not be aware of these facts…
Firstly, you must have your original driving license with you every time you drive, whether this is your Panamanian driving license or whatever original driver’s license for whatever country you are from.
A surprising small town with evidence of a once vibrant past is located just 60 miles (97 kilometers) from the provincial capitol, David, Panama. Only 5 miles as the crow flies from Costa Rica you will find Puerto Armuelles, Panama. It is about 21 miles south of the Pan-American Highway (at the border to Costa Rica, turn left before you go through the border crossing.)
The surprisingly good two-lane highway is under construction to become...
Public transportation in Panamá made history last April 5, 2014 with the inauguration of the first metro (subway) in Central América.
Above and beyond all expectations, the construction of the modern metro was made in 38 months. It has 20 trains of 3 wagons each, accommodating 600 people per train.
But the most amazing thing is that the President of Panamá, Mr. Ricardo Martinelli, a nice and simple fellow,...
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Expats usually have two options with regard to healthcare in Chapala and Ajijic. 
The government of Portugal is very stable. Portugal has had the longest period to form a government of any government post the revolution in 1974. We currently have a slightly left of center socialist government, which took over from a slightly conservative government. 
The doctors in Panama are excellent. We’re online with Johns Hopkins, and the doctors come to visit us from a lot of countries, including India and Israel. They give speeches, train the doctors and upgrade them, and lots of these doctors are studying outside. We have a tremendous university here for architects, lawyers and doctors that is well known in Panama. 
San Juan del Sur are treated with respect, kindness and generally good nature.
America doesn't have any place I could find with the amenities, and comfort of Panama. 
In order to retire or work in Belize, you do not need Belizean citizenship or a Belizean passport. (In order to obtain a Belizean passport, you would first have to become a Belizean citizen, with the passport being essentially a travel document.) 
I recently got my car towed by the police! What I found out on that fateful day has been a real eye opener that I have decided to share, as many people, including me, will not be aware of these facts… 
history last April 5, 2014 with the inauguration of the first metro (subway) in Central América. 
