Are there American-trained doctors in San Miguel de Allende?
Ian T. Clement - Clement and Associates
Most of the traditional doctors that I know in San Miguel de Allende are bicultural doctors. There’s a cardiologist in town that I think is half American. We worked with a couple who aren’t homeopaths but are called naturopaths. They have treated my parents and my family, too. I’m not a big advocate of traditional Western medicine. We try to do a little bit of pulling from all kinds- traditional Mexican medicine and Asian medicine. If I can have tea or do something...
Most of the traditional doctors that I know in San Miguel de Allende are bicultural doctors. There’s a cardiologist in town that I think is half American. We worked with a couple who aren’t homeopaths but are called naturopaths. They have treated my parents and my family, too. I’m not a big advocate of traditional Western medicine. We try to do a little bit of pulling from all kinds- traditional Mexican medicine and Asian medicine. If I can have tea or do something natural to treat an illness, I’ll avoid taking over-the-counter drugs. I never get sick, so it works.
All residents and citizens of Mexico are entitled to Seguro Popular, which is basic immediate emergency care. If you fall down and need stitches, they will treat you there. If I were to have a minor accident, I would go there and get stitched up, and then go home. If I were in a more serious accident, I would probably go to the city of Querétaro, which is 45 minutes to an hour away, where there’s a good hospital called H+. I’ve had surgery there, as have other members of my family, so I feel completely confident in the infrastructure and personnel of that hospital.
In the last 10 years, things have gotten so much more sophisticated in this region of Mexico, and it’s a nice thing to know that we’ve got maybe not world-class hospitals, but ones that could certainly compete with plenty others in the First World.
I’m going to sign up my family and my employees for IMSS, which is the more comprehensive healthcare system in Mexico. IMSS is the federal healthcare system that also falls under public pensions. Signing everyone up for IMSS is one of the steps that my office is taking to get more formalized. Since we have a bigger staff now, it’s our responsibility to have everybody covered. It would certainly be horrible to think that somebody under my employment got hurt but didn’t have insurance coverage.
Not everyone is covered by IMSS. IMSS is something that you pay for. Seguro Popular covers all citizens of Mexico, including people who are here on a permanent and temporary VISA. Only people who are here as illegal aliens, or as tourists, don’t enjoy that entitlement.
Compared to the rest of Central America, we have the cheapest food here in Nicaragua, but we have the highest energy cost. I know it sounds odd but that’s how it is. Cheap labor is the name of the game here in Nicaragua. The average monthly salary in Nicaragua is US $250, which is why everything is so cheap.
You will find lobster, salmon, and caviar in any given supermarket. The cost, compared to the cost of food in the US, would be...
Compared to the rest of Central America, we have the cheapest food here in Nicaragua, but we have the highest energy cost. I know it sounds odd but that’s how it is. Cheap labor is the name of the game here in Nicaragua. The average monthly salary in Nicaragua is US $250, which is why everything is so cheap.
You will find lobster, salmon, and caviar in any given supermarket. The cost, compared to the cost of food in the US, would be about half the price. A dozen eggs cost about $2.40, rice is $.30 cents to $.40 cents per pound, chicken is $1.20 per pound, and the best quality meat (export quality) is about $4 per pound.
How long will I have to wait for a doctor's appointment in Boquete, Panama?
Susan Peterson - Fundacion Pro Integracion
If you go to a private doctor's clinic in Boquete, there is usually no wait time or a very short time if the doctor is already seeing a patient. The public health clinic or social security clinic doctors normally require a longer waiting period, but always the same day. There is a doctor available on a 24 hour basis.
If you go to a private doctor's clinic in Boquete, there is usually no wait time or a very short time if the doctor is already seeing a patient. The public health clinic or social security clinic doctors normally require a longer waiting period, but always the same day. There is a doctor available on a 24 hour basis.
What’s the effect of illegal drug traffic in Belize?
Christian Burn
Sad to say there's drug trafficking all over the world now. I don't see any of it because I am a day dweller, so by the time these guys are moving around and doing what they do, I am usually sound asleep in my bed. There are incidents where people find things washed up ashore, but the police always encourage people not to get involved and to report it. That is what I would do. I would report it, then not touch it, and leave it alone. Some people are foolish and they think that finding...
Sad to say there's drug trafficking all over the world now. I don't see any of it because I am a day dweller, so by the time these guys are moving around and doing what they do, I am usually sound asleep in my bed. There are incidents where people find things washed up ashore, but the police always encourage people not to get involved and to report it. That is what I would do. I would report it, then not touch it, and leave it alone. Some people are foolish and they think that finding drugs is an easy way to make some money, but it is absolutely not.
The drug trafficking trade is not really here as much in Ambergris Caye because our island is so populated, but in the outer atolls, drug trafficking does exist. Those kind of wash-ups happen regularly because they do these transfers, when they are moving drugs from Colombia to the States. Belize is a nice halfway point, so they push whatever they can push out of their boat or plane and then somebody else comes and picks it up. They move it north constantly, but sometimes they don’t always get all their cargo or the authorities get in the way.
We have the US Coast Guard down here. We also have the Belize Defense Corps and the Belize Coast Guard. We have a drug enforcement unit, so there are authorities to deal with the situation, but because this is a coastal area, there is so much area to cover, it is challenging.
As outer island dwellers, we see some of it, but here on Ambergris Caye, there's just so many people that you don’t see much of it. Every now and again, you get some vagrant on the beach trying to sell things. Every Caribbean island has that. There is always somebody willing to sell you necklaces and if you want something more, I’m sure he has it available, but you just don't engage in that; there are laws here. As a tourist, if you are caught with illegal substances, you are not given any legal exceptions. You are prosecuted to the full extent of the law, just like anybody else. You have to come back for court dates if you are not a resident. It is miserable, and to go to jail here would be the pits, so my recommendation is to stay well away from it.
People who are not engaged in drug issues or any illegal things should not be concerned here in Belize. Especially in the islands because we do not have that kind of interplay, but Belize City has had that kind of interplay before. They have had open shootings and violence. That is only Belize City. That does not happen on the island and that is the good news.
There is not any kind of visible threat anywhere, but like if you go looking for trouble, you're going to find it. People can't be foolish, and you have to keep your wits about you in a foreign country. You shouldn't do things that are against the law of the country and you really shouldn’t do things against the law period. That is why laws are in place.
As a foreigner or expat, can I buy or own land or other real estate property in Portugal?
Luis Rodrigues - Gouveia Pereira, Costa Freitas & Associates, Law Firm, RL
Yes, as a foreigner, you can buy or own land or other real estate in Portugal. There are no restrictions for owning any land or other real estate asset in Portugal based on nationality. Moreover, care to note that Portugal allows individuals and/or companies (regardless of the nationality) to own the freehold of land or other real estate assets for perpetuity.
(The long sandy beach at Nazaré on the Atlantic coast, Portugal, pictured.)
Yes, as a foreigner, you can buy or own land or other real estate in Portugal. There are no restrictions for owning any land or other real estate asset in Portugal based on nationality. Moreover, care to note that Portugal allows individuals and/or companies (regardless of the nationality) to own the freehold of land or other real estate assets for perpetuity.
(The long sandy beach at Nazaré on the Atlantic coast, Portugal, pictured.)
In general, should I keep my US bank, brokerage, investment, IRA or retirement account if I move overseas?
Ross - Abroad We Go
There’s absolutely no reason to move your US brokerage account, investments, IRA, or retirement account if you retire overseas. You only need access to a computer or an ATM, so you shouldn’t have any problem getting to your accounts, especially if you’re living in the big cities.
It’s not a good idea to open bank accounts overseas because you get two possible IRS reporting issues, as well as other issues of that nature. I would recommend keeping...
There’s absolutely no reason to move your US brokerage account, investments, IRA, or retirement account if you retire overseas. You only need access to a computer or an ATM, so you shouldn’t have any problem getting to your accounts, especially if you’re living in the big cities.
It’s not a good idea to open bank accounts overseas because you get two possible IRS reporting issues, as well as other issues of that nature. I would recommend keeping your existing accounts open, but I would not recommend opening additional accounts overseas.
(The beautiful colonial gem of Cartagena, Colombia, pictured.)
This has been our second Christmas living in Panama… and whilst I cannot deny that spending Christmas day on the beach and by a gorgeous pool in glorious sunshine is a huge plus point, for us and many people we know there is that severe lack of ‘chrismassy feeling’
That is not because Christmas is not celebrated here… Christmas decorations have been up everywhere, stores have dedicated floors of Christmas paraphernalia and the shops are crammed...
Ex-patriots are one of the worst things about Panama. Why? Many people do nothing more than look at glossy magazines full of hype, vacation pamphlets filled with exciting activities and resort lifestyles. (Nothing wrong with those, by the way). However one should also do some research about the pros and cons of moving to Panama. Sites like this one have stories and questions answered by real people who have experienced expat live here. There are videos on YouTube that put you...
This was a special day for my friends from Alabama. They had wanted to go visit the Janson Coffee Farm for the last two years. This was a great day for slow drive to Volcan. It was a cool, rainy, gray day but the smiles and laughter made it feel warm and happy. All along the way there was an air of excitement from the two of them. I heard stories about the times they rode horses with the Janson family, picnics and weekend outings; all the memories were so pleasant. Along the way we...
Most of the traditional doctors that I know in San Miguel de Allende are bicultural doctors. There’s a cardiologist in town that I think is half American. We worked with a couple who aren’t homeopaths but are called naturopaths. They have treated my parents and my family, too. I’m not a big advocate of traditional Western medicine. We try to do a little bit of pulling from all kinds- traditional Mexican medicine and Asian medicine. If I can have tea or do something...
Yes, as a foreigner, you can buy or own land or other real estate in Portugal. There are no restrictions for owning any land or other real estate asset in Portugal based on nationality. Moreover, care to note that Portugal allows individuals and/or companies (regardless of the nationality) to own the freehold of land or other real estate assets for perpetuity. 
There’s absolutely no reason to move your US brokerage account, investments, IRA, or retirement account if you retire overseas. You only need access to a computer or an ATM, so you shouldn’t have any problem getting to your accounts, especially if you’re living in the big cities. 
This has been our second Christmas living in Panama… and whilst I cannot deny that spending Christmas day on the beach and by a gorgeous pool in glorious sunshine is a huge plus point, for us and many people we know there is that severe lack of ‘chrismassy feeling’ 
This was a special day for my friends from Alabama. They had wanted to go visit the Janson Coffee Farm for the last two years. This was a great day for slow drive to Volcan. It was a cool, rainy, gray day but the smiles and laughter made it feel warm and happy. All along the way there was an air of excitement from the two of them. I heard stories about the times they rode horses with the Janson family, picnics and weekend outings; all the memories were so pleasant. Along the way we...
