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Hi @BSMONTY We've checked in with John McGee, who owns Expat Global Medical. John is a long-time exhibitor at our IL events and can help direct you to the best resources. This was his response,
I'll address this particular couple staying part time in Dominican Republic who are of Medicare age .
1)If this couple has a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplemental, they can follow one of two strategies.
a) Depending on how long they stay per trip or if they return to DR several times, they can secure a Multi-Trip Travel policy called Trekker CHOICE with a company named GEO Blue Cross... This allows up to 70 days per trip, if needed thay can extend 1x per year up to an additional 20 days.
Link and EXPLINATION of Benefits and costs. Covers Preexisting if they have Medicare Advantage or Supplemental.
https://go.geobluetravelinsurance.com/4Qs?product=trekker&AffinityPartner=&AffinityPlanID=&link_id=158131b) If they stay longer than 70 days, they may want to Piggyback a Single Trip Plan called VOYAGER....this plan they can take out a second policy with an effective date of day 71 until they return ,(Covers upbto an additional 6 months).
Link and benefits and costs , Click here:
https://go.geobluetravelinsurance.com/4Qs?AffinityPartner=&AffinityPlanID=&link_id=158131c) The least expensive approach is to Self Insure and take out a Air Evacuation ONLY plan with Medjet Assist. The strategy is to LIMIT Financial out of pocket in case of an emergency. Covering the Catastrophic Illness or Accident will limit out of pocket costs which they are responsible for, however; once they are stabilized in a hospital ,(48 - 72 hours), they can be airlifted to their home state and city.
Link to see costs and benefits. Look at the Horizon plan...they will front up to $ 60k for the hospital and you can file a claim with your medicare supplemental...which some will pay up to 90 days outside the USA.
https://medjetassist.com/?utm_source=expatglobal&utm_medium=partners&utm_campaign=partner pagesIf you have any questions, you can feel free to contact me at 336-705-9080 or Email me jwmcgee69@gmail.com and john@expatglobalmedical.com.
Kindest Regards, John McGee
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Hi @BKING91354 Thanks for your question!
You can bring domestic pets such as dogs and cats to Spain relatively easily. However, there is some upfront paperwork that is time-consuming, especially for the first trip. Be sure to check with your local veterinarian for any changes in the process, and to clarify how much time you should allot.
The first time you bring your dog or cat to Spain, you’ll need to get a bilingual health certificate valid for the European Union. (See link for the form here: www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/downloads/sp_no_com_pe.pdf.)
This form will need to be filled out and signed/stamped by your state’s APHIS-VS area office. (This is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.) The form must be completed within 10 days of your travel to Spain.If you’re coming from Canada, you’ll need the certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian and then validated by a veterinary official of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The certificate must show that your pet has been examined and is free of disease and that the pet has been vaccinated against rabies, and it must provide a description and the origin of your pet.
In addition, your pet must be microchipped with a Euro-compatible microchip that can be read by EU scanners—that is, a microchip compatible with ISO standard 11784 or 11785.
Two very important points:
• The microchip must be implanted before your pet’s rabies vaccination. Any rabies vaccination before the microchip is implanted doesn’t count, even if it’s still valid.
• The rabies vaccination must have been administered at least 21 days before travel.You’ll need to accompany your pet yourself when you travel or send an authorized representative.
The costs of this process will vary depending on what your vet charges and the cost of airline tickets you purchase. -
Hi @ROBBINSNEST24 Thanks for your question!
Dozens of insurance companies offer private health insurance for Spain. You can choose national plans that cover only Spain, choose Europe-wide plans, or even opt for full international health coverage. It all depends on your personal needs and situation.
As with private insurance anywhere, plans may exclude pre-existing conditions, have a wait time (normally 12 or 24 months) for certain wellnesscare visits, or have an age limit for accepting new policy-holders, among other things.
To give you an idea of price, a plan that would qualify for residency, with Sanitas, a subsidiary of BUPA International and one of Spain’s larger private insurers, for a healthy 64-year old, would be €131.90 ($155.64) per month, with a 4% discount for annual payment. This plan has no co-pays and includes basic dental plus €12,000 ($14,160) available for emergency medical attention outside of Spain. This plan also includes repatriation (which covers the cost of returning your body to your home country if you die in Spain), which is required for residency. Sanitas does not accept new clients older than 74, but if you are covered by Sanitas when you turn 75, they will continue to cover you as long as you pay the premiums.
Spanish insurers include:
• Asisa, website
• Asssa, website
• Mapfre, website The largest insurer in Spain.
• Sanitas, website Note that Sanitas is a Spanish subsidiary of Bupa International.Many international insurance companies actually have Spanish affiliates. Three of these are:
• Allianz Insurance
• DKV Seguros
• Generali -
Hi @DJFAHRNBRUCH Thanks for your question!
Alicante is lively, sunny, and inexpensive, but it’s also charming and fairly sophisticated. Its ambience is as Spanish as Madrid’s. The Costa Blanca’s climate is arguably the best in Europe, with 325 sunny days a year and low humidity.
Expats from the U.K., northern Europe, and Latin America make up about 15% of the permanent population, so English is widely spoken. Alicante’s airport, the gateway to sprawling Benidorm and other Costa Blanca resorts, hosts flights from across Europe.
To permanently move to Alicante and enjoy all it has to offer, you will need:
- A visa that grants you the right to live in Spain. For this you will need the contact information of an immigration attorney who can help you.
- Somewhere to live - either a long-term rental or a property to purchase. For this you will need the contact information of a real estate agent in Alicante.
- Health insurance - provided by a Spanish insurer or an international insurer with a Spanish arm.
- (Optional) A moving or relocation company to transport your belongings to Spain.
You can find all of these contacts, plus tons more information about moving to Spain, in our Escape to Spain guidebook.