Canadian with a question for American retirees about health care costs

[Camper6]

I am surprised that your Dad had to pay for the ambulance; here in Quebec, or at least where I live, seniors do
not have to pay for this service.

It depends on your income for ambulance in Ontario. Lower incomes can have it without cost. Also private plans are available which cover dental, hearing aids and other costs. My friend has a policy. But I don't know if the premiums are worth it.

 

[Islandgypsy]

I’m Canadian but moved to the US long ago and now live in Florida full time. Typically, retirees pay a supplement of about $300 monthly to cover the potential gap to their Medicare free retirement health care. Any health care is then free to me. I use the VA though because they’re very experienced at fixing what goes wrong with old men.

 

[Ken N Tx]

I use the VA though because they’re very experienced at fixing what goes wrong with old men.

Is it true that they give the old men ****** at bedtime so they don't roll out of bed??

 

[Keesha]

 

[Packerjohn]

I love travelling but have kept away a lot from the "Good ole' USA" because of the cost of health care. When I was in Spain, I got free health care. In South Africa & Mexico, I paid out of my own pocket but hey, spending 45 minutes with a doctor & pay $60 is still pretty cheap comparing the same time spent with a MD in the USA. Sure would love to go again & see Yellowstone & Utah but then the cost of health insurance at my age is pretty sad!

 

[Camper6]

I’m Canadian but moved to the US long ago and now live in Florida full time. Typically, retirees pay a supplement of about $300 monthly to cover the potential gap to their Medicare free retirement health care. Any health care is then free to me. I use the VA though because they’re very experienced at fixing what goes wrong with old men.

Question? Are those premiums deductible from income tax. Private plans are deductible in Canada.

 

[Camper6]

I love travelling but have kept away a lot from the "Good ole' USA" because of the cost of health care. When I was in Spain, I got free health care. In South Africa & Mexico, I paid out of my own pocket but hey, spending 45 minutes with a doctor & pay $60 is still pretty cheap comparing the same time spent with a MD in the USA. Sure would love to go again & see Yellowstone & Utah but then the cost of health insurance at my age is pretty sad!

Well you can get insurance at a reasonable cost for travelling but previous conditions are not covered. I know people who travel without insurance and some of them are rich. If they get sick they come back to Canada for treatment.

 

[Packerjohn]

Question? Are those premiums deductible from income tax. Private plans are deductible in Canada.

Sure would love to hear where I can get this $300 health insurance while in the USA? If you know, please write me. We spent 2 winters down in Port Isabel, near the Rio Grande in Texas. We stayed in Long Island Village which was the last stop light before that 2.7 mile bridge to South Padre Island. Sure would love to go back there. All the folks were real nice. We had wonderful chicken dinners, great dances, live Bluegrass & country entertainment, Happy Hours, a library. You could go out & we would enjoy $2 breakfasts. We used to go see "Mixed Bag" which was a senior couple who played & sang all those wonderful old songs. All those places in the Rio Grande Valley were extra nice to seniors. It all lasted until Spring Break when all those kids arrived & most of us headed back up north for the border.

 

[Islandgypsy]

To be clear. American’s collecting social security retirement benefits may insure themselves for the unpaid portion of Medicare coverage and prescriptions typically for about $300 monthly. That is a supplement to their Medicare coverage.

 

[Keesha]

My parents travelled to Florida for 30 years to spend 6 months a year there. The reason they stopped is because their insurance costs too much.

They are from Canada. The idea that if you get sick you just move back to Canada to get treatment is ideal if it’s not an emergency. If you end up in hospital that’s another story and you can’t predict things like this and you’d be paying through the nose otherwise.

 

[tortiecat]

As Keesha said if you have an emergency you need immediate attention! As a senior with pre-conditions
I can no longer get out- of- country insurance, therefore I do not travel anymore.

 

[TravelinMan]

Healthcare and insurance premiums all cost money. But being retired it is just one more area that has to be paid for. If a person plans for these costs then it will not be a back-breaker.

I know there are some that have to decide between a necessity, like food and shelter, and healthcare, but that is usually because of poor choices they have made in their past.

Our "Healthcare System" may not be the most efficient or cost-effective, but that should not mean that we have to throw everything away and start something new. Let's make some tweaks and make the system better. So far those who are running for leadership in our country have not come up with anything sustainable.

 

[Ladybj]

Hi all;

I’ve been reading many on-line forums about retirement and most are U.S. based. Naturally health insurance and health care costs are a significant factor for many Americans who are retiring or are already retired, especially those on a tighter budget.

As a Canadian, the only health care expenses I have are dental and drug costs (for prescriptions, we pay a $100 deductable and then drugs are about 6 bucks a prescription after that.) I don’t have to pay for hospital stays, doctor visits, medical testing, etc. For example: my father, who is 98, was recently admitted to hospital after a fall in his seniors residence. He was in the hospital for a month, during which time he had several cat scans, xrays, physio and OT. He paid nothing-- except for the ambulance. An American aquaintance told me that if this had happened to her father, he would have born significant costs.

My question is: how do my neighbours to the south manage retirement with health care costs? What portion of your monthly expenses are set aside for premiums?

Thanks in advance for sharing.

Count your blessings everyday that the majority of your healthcare cost is covered. Hubby and I may have to move to Canada!!! Once we reach 65 or are on disability our hospital cost are covered by Medicare Part A but we are responsible for obtaining Part B Medicare which takes care of office visits - minus the copay and in some cases deductibles.

 

[GreenSky]

To be clear. American’s collecting social security retirement benefits may insure themselves for the unpaid portion of Medicare coverage and prescriptions typically for about $300 monthly. That is a supplement to their Medicare coverage.

To be even clearer, very few of my clients are paying more than $200 a month for a supplement and drug plan.

Rick