Q: What do you do about healthcare needs while traveling outside the US?
A: We have been traveling the world for over 2 decades now and have had very good care in Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam and Guatemala. If you are traveling off the grid, you might need to travel to a larger city to receive this care as smaller towns may not have the choices you would find in a more populated area.
We pay out of pocket for care in foreign countries as, in our experience, it has been affordable.
As we age, the health conditions might be more serious or acute and I understand the fear over having adequate health care when traveling. However, Billy had acute care in Guatemala City, Guatemala (we had to travel there after seeing local doctors in Panajachel) and in a separate incident I had emergency care for a de-gloving incident involving the ring finger on my right hand. I received good emergency care in Antigua and then did follow up and surgery in Guatemala City.
In some respects the care we have received outside the US has been superior, more user-friendly and more affordable than that which we would get in the States. At this point, since we are “going naked” when we travel to the US we take out traveler’s insurance through World Nomads to cover our time being there.
Again, I want to say that I respect the fear that surrounds this issue, especially as we age. But on the other hand, must it come down to a choice between holding this fear and an adventure to a foreign country that would enrich our lives?
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