International Living Community

Hi John,

There are many veterans living in Panama who receive their payments without trouble.

The U.S. Embassy here confirms that, “Veterans Affairs beneficiaries residing in Panama are eligible to enroll in the International Direct Deposit Program” to receive payments via electronic transfer. There is even a local hospital in Panama that will accept VA-FMP, TRICARE or CHAMPVA.

Applying for the International Direct Deposit Program should just involve filling out a form and attending an appointment with the Federal Benefits Unit. You can see the process in detail on the U.S. Embassy’s website.

For detailed information on veteran-related matters in Panama, visit the Panama Veteran’s Commission website, and contact Panama-based Healthcare Alliance via email.

Bear in mind that you may have to spend some additional money to get any medication couriered into Panama. If you plan to move to the Boquete region of Panama, reach out to the Healthcare Alliance person there via email.

Hi Greg,

One big benefit to living in Thailand is its excellent, inexpensive healthcare. The quality, particularly in the private system, is as good as what you’ll find in the U.S. or Canada.

And prices are low. They’re a third to a half of what you’d pay back home for similar services.

In fact, because of the low cost of treatment, most expats do not bother with insurance for outpatient care. Inpatient-only coverage combined with a reasonable deductible can result in affordable monthly premiums for most people.

Some expats only purchase accident insurance, which is much cheaper than full health coverage. Others forgo medical insurance altogether and rely on the money saved from living abroad for unforeseen medical emergencies.

Expats don’t have access to Thailand’s public health scheme. But they do have access to three healthcare options: local clinics, private hospitals, and public hospitals.

Local Clinics

Local clinics are set-up for the resident population, but expats are also welcome. All are operated by well qualified and experienced medical practitioners. A consultation with an English- speaking doctor, treatment for any ailments, plus any required medications (which is usually dispensed by a pharmacist on staff at the clinic) typically cost no more than $14 a visit.

Private Hospitals

Outpatient departments at the major hospitals serve as an alternative to the local clinics. And Thailand has a large network of public and private hospitals. In fact, the country has 51 private hospitals that are accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the gold standard for hospital care.

In Bangkok and Chiang Mai’s private hospitals, you can expect a quality equal to standards in the U.S. There are also some very good private facilities in Hua Hin, Udon Thani, Phuket, Pattaya, and Koh Samui where most primary and secondary medical care problems can be dealt with.

Public Hospitals

Public or government run hospitals are much less expensive than their private counterparts, but they are generally more crowded and sometimes less well-equipped. However, all the medical facilities in the country are staffed by well-trained doctors and nurses who provide excellent care to both expats and locals alike.

Read more about healthcare in Thailand on the dedicated page of our website here.

Hi John,

That really depends on where in Thailand you would like to live, and how integrated with the locals you plan to get.

If you’re living in one of the major cities, a popular tourist area, or a known expat community, you can get by with speaking English. However, when you move out of these areas English is not widely spoken, and some Thai language is needed.

Learning the language can improve your understanding of the culture, make it easier to communicate within businesses and officials, make new Thai friends, get better prices at markets, keep your brain active and help you find out what is happening in your town by being able to read or communicate with Thais.

It’s also respectful, and Thai people appreciate foreigners who try—even if you’re not especially fluent.

And that’s understandable, because the Thai language can be quite difficult for English speakers to learn. It’s a tonal language, which means individual syllables have a corresponding tone and may result in different meanings.

Most expats learn minimum greetings, polite requests, and thank you. That’s generally enough to get by in expat areas and to show willingness with the locals, given the complexity of the language to Western ears.

If you choose to go further than this, identify precisely why you want to learn Thai and to what level. Do you want to be at a beginner level and understand greetings and make polite requests? Are you aiming for advanced, detailed conversation in Thai? Do you want to be able to read and write?

Having a clear picture in mind can help you refocus if you lose your mojo. A clear goal will help you choose the right learning methods for you and your budget.

Fortunately, there are many resources online and a fantastic range of ways to learn Thai.

Initially, I would recommend an online program like ThaiPod 101. This site sometimes offers packages giving full access to their online programs from about $7 per month, and you can upgrade to receive online tuition.

The company also has a YouTube channel with lots of free lessons, which you can find here.

Hi Jim,

Thank you for sending in your question. Here are a few things to consider about renting in Ambergris Caye:

Your preferences will drive rental costs. For instance, beach rentals will always be more expensive than “near the beach.” Many expats learn to settle within walking distance or a golf cart ride from a beach they like in order to save a bit on their rent budget.

The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) states that anyone in Belize on a tourist visa is considered a tourist, regardless of how long they are staying. This means that if the rental you’re considering is following the rules, a 9% “hotel tax” will be added to your rent each month. That being said, enforcement of this is mostly non-existent, but I wanted to make you aware that some rentals you look at may tack this tax on. If the BTB does start to actively enforce this, you may have this added expense somewhere down the road.

Ambergris Caye is the #1 tourist destination in Belize. This means during the high season (Thanksgiving through April), it will be very crowded. It also means that rent and other monthly expenses will be higher than other locations here. If you have not already, I would recommend taking a trip to scout around a bit and make sure you find the perfect place for you and your wife.

All that being considered, I believe you will be able to find something within your budget near a beach… but probably not on the beach. Your best bet would be to connect with a real estate agent who knows Ambergris Caye very well.

Getting International Living’s Escape to Belize guidebook would be a great step. It has tons of useful information, along with a rolodex of contact information for agents that will be able to help you with more localized knowledge of Ambergris Caye.

Hi Natasha,

Belize is very protective of its workforce. Any non-Belizean working for a Belizean company from within Belize must possess a Temporary Employment Permit (more commonly known as a “Work Permit”), or they must be a Permanent Resident. Essentially, the government has the mandate to protect jobs a Belizean could do.

What does this mean? If you are looking to work in a job that requires specialized training or experience, like a rocket scientist, it should be easy to prove you’re not taking a Belizean’s job.

However, if you’re looking to work in a position a Belizean would reasonably be able to train for, like a diving instructor or real estate agent, you’re going to have a hard time getting a work permit.

That being said, there are a couple of options available that may make working in Belize a little easier.

Consultancy: Build yourself a business working for non-Belizean businesses as a contractor while living in Belize. In this case, Belize is just where you live and work from, and you are not taking a potential job away from a Belizean.

Entrepreneurship: Start a business in Belize. You’ll still need a work permit, but a business with a plan that includes the hiring, and training, of Belizeans would get serious consideration. In this case you’re not taking a job away, you’re creating jobs.

When it comes down to it, ask yourself, “Would a reasonable person believe that the job I’m looking to take could be accomplished by a Belizean?”

If the answer is yes, you will likely struggle to get approval. If the answer is no, or you are creating jobs, approval is very likely.

Read more about working in Belize on the dedicated page of our website here.