Will Medicare cover me if I live (even part time) in Belize?
Macarena Rose - Rainforerst Realty
Strictly speaking, Medicare will not reimburse any medical facility in Belize, so when people who are able to be covered by Medicare come to Belize, they utilize a variety of different strategies.
Because it is so inexpensive to go to a doctor in Belize, for routine care, many people just get the care here and pay out of pocket. Other people have gotten care here while using their insurance, such as Blue Cross or Blue Shield, and they got...
Strictly speaking, Medicare will not reimburse any medical facility in Belize, so when people who are able to be covered by Medicare come to Belize, they utilize a variety of different strategies.
Because it is so inexpensive to go to a doctor in Belize, for routine care, many people just get the care here and pay out of pocket. Other people have gotten care here while using their insurance, such as Blue Cross or Blue Shield, and they got covered here in Belize, which is a fabulous thing.
For example, if you have an upset belly and you have to go to the doctor, they will take a couple of tests and maybe take blood or take a sample. You will leave there with your medication for your upset belly and it might cost you US $10 to $15. The key part to that is that you do not have to wait and make an appointment, and you do not have to wait for a referral or to get anything. You can actually just go to the doctor and be seen.
Posted January 27, 2015
Karen Wilkinson
I am at an age where I will always have Medicare Part A, which is not something that can be taken away from you. What I did when I came to Belize was to drop my Medicare Part B coverage. The reason I did that was because it was US $110 per month for me and my husband at the time I came down, so that’s $220 per month total. I have been here 8 years, which is 96 months. So, in 8 years, the both of us total...I am at an age where I will always have Medicare Part A, which is not something that can be taken away from you. What I did when I came to Belize was to drop my Medicare Part B coverage. The reason I did that was because it was US $110 per month for me and my husband at the time I came down, so that’s $220 per month total. I have been here 8 years, which is 96 months. So, in 8 years, the both of us total would have spent over $21,120 for Medicare Part B coverage. In that time, my husband has had one hefty bout with salmonella. I took him to a private hospital in Belize City, where he stayed for five days. Two of those five days, he had a private nurse who was with him 24/7. All the testing, the blood work, private room, TV, phone, and all the medications, everything included, I walked out and spent $7,200 out of pocket, without any insurance. So if you take the amount of savings that I have had in 96 months, less the $7,200 I spent, I’m about $14,000 ahead of the game.
An average doctor’s visit in my area, where you will walk in to your doctor and walk out, costs $25. Sometimes you will have your medication that will take care of whatever you visited for included in that amount.
You don’t’ have to pay for Medicare Part A because you are an American. Part B, you have to opt in, but I felt that paying for Medicare Part B coverage is lots more expensive than to take your chances even being uninsured in Belize. That worked out for us.
(Children at Belize City hospital in 1975, pictured.)
Posted May 24, 2015