It’s Official: US Health Care IS Driving Americans to Move Abroad

Last October I asked the question, “Is US health care driving Americans to move abroad?” You can read the original post here.

I followed up the question and post with a poll. When the poll closed, 19% of respondents listed health care as the “most important” reason for their move and a whopping 69% rated is as “very important.” Not a single respondent indicated health care was not a consideration.

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The prestigious magazine for expats and would-be expats International Living has now weighed in. Their June issue, which arrived in my mailbox yesterday, is billed as a Special Health Care Issue, and includes a number of articles dealing with health care at home and abroad. If you’re concerned about health care, this issue is jam-packed with useful information.

What really got my attention, though, was an article at the very back titled “Health Care Reform: Why All the Fuss?” by Lee Harrison. After describing the “raging health-care debate” and law change in the US, Lee wrote:

“Many of the world’s citizens are wondering what all the fuss is about. To them, we may as well be debating whether we should have public education, highways or a postal system. In other words, we’re arguing about something that they thought everyone had all along.

“And that’s a luxury that you may have, too, when you make the move abroad: the ability to take quality, affordable health care for granted.

“In fact, many expats who take up residence are motivated by their adoped country’s health-care system.”

Thank you, Lee. I don’t always agree 100% with what International Living has to say, but here I do.

Affordable, quality health care is certainly one of my biggest reasons for wanting to become an expat.

As I’ve pointed out here before, Mexico is working hard to attract the US retiree, and health care is a big selling point. Add to that the move — gaining more traction — to expand Medicare into Mexico and our nearest neighbor south of the border is poised for an influx of US baby boomer and older expats.

But Mexico isn’t the only country where expats can enjoy quality health care at affordable prices. More on health care abroad is coming in future posts, so stay tuned.

Do you have a health care story you’d like to share? Click the Comment link below.

Did you miss some of our previous posts about health care? Click here for a complete list.