Hi, Everybody!
No, I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth, at least not yet. Nor have I fallen off my surf board. I’ve still riding the crest of the wave. No wipe outs yet, despite the literal and metaphorical tsunami warnings, but I will be plenty exhausted once I surf on in to shore and arrive in Quito this evening. I am writing this email to you, while on my flight from Houston to Quito, so I can’t be sure when I will have Internet access to post it. I get into Quito at 9:00 p.m. I anticipate in Quito a two hour ordeal of getting luggage and passing through customs like when I went through customs at the Guayaquil Airport last July, so it may be almost midnight when I get settled into a hotel room. (However, much to my surprise, unlike entering Guayaquil, I received my baggage and completed customs in less than half an hour.)
The past month has, as you expats all well know from your own experiences when you moved to Cuenca, been extremely nuts. The past week began Monday with the Salvation Army picking up everything I had not sold or stored. It's nice to be free of all that stuff. I am a firm believer in what you own owns you. I feel like I’ve been on an eating marathon all week as I’ve put away two Italian meals, and dinners at two Indian restaurants, and one Middle Eastern restaurant; as food so often becomes the way to celebrate occasions like “going away” parties. I said goodbye to various friends and relatives just about each night of the week. I’m ready to slow down the dining dramatically in Quito. I know all the good eating will pick up again in Cuenca.
I enjoyed my weekend with my son, Marc and his friends, in the Baltimore area. I had spent a number of days going through family photo albums earlier, and finally came to the realization that there was no way I could take all of these albums with me. Thanks to Lenny, I decided to have all the photos scanned by a professional company. It took quite a while for me to put all the photos in some kind of chronological order; matching clothes and Christmas packages, etc. to determine which photos were from the same time-frame and identical events. The company, which was out of Arizona, did a beautiful job with cropping, clarity, detail, and color. I could not be more pleased. They took the photos in the order I sent them, and put them into a video slide show with music. The family enjoyed them, and my son, Marc, was very appreciative of viewing and receiving his copy. Marc thought it would have made a perfect Christmas gift from me. However, I never know when I will see either of my sons again, so it seemed to me like a good time to present him with the video. Young people today no longer keep physical photo albums, and now after I watched these photos on big screen television and experienced what digitalization can do, why would anyone? It was a great viewing experience, and makes all the sense in the world to process photos this way.
Viewing the photos with my son which covered from my marriage in 1980 and watching as my kids grew up was the only time I gave in to emotion. Until then I had been way too busy to even consider what I was leaving behind, which included not only friends and family; but also those events of our lives that could never be relived again except vicariously though the snapshots of isolated memories that meld how we come to perceive our pasts.
I have been blessed with good friends and a great family. I was fortunate to be blessed with wonderful parents, and two fine brothers who were a real help to me as I prepared my move. Needless to say, my sons have never given me a reason not to be proud of them. The three of us have been through so many incredible changes over the last three years, with a great deal more of change on the horizon.
My trip had been uneventful, except for the fact that I stupidly parted with my bathroom scale before I packed. One bag was seventeen pounds overweight. While the other bag was seven pounds overweight. I dumped quite a few things before I was going to pay the overcharges, and I am still bringing too much. I have to admit six weeks ago, I couldn’t wait to get to Cuenca, find an unfurnished apartment, and get settled. Now, after just getting rid of everything, I’m in no hurry to start shopping for household goods again. Right now, I just want rest and vacation. Maybe, I’ll feel differently in a week or two. Now, I just want to take my time, and get back into what retirement is suppose to be all about—a slower pace of life, and I won’t sign a lease until I find exactly what I’m looking for. I sure am glad I have Bob and Roxanne’s condo to return to—no household shopping there, and nice and relaxing diggs. I can't wait!
Mary, thanks for the safe travel post. Gil and Deborah, I'll have a better idea how long I’ll be in Quito after I speak with Gabriela tomorrow. I am not staying at the Radisson, but am staying at Hotel Boutique, which I will have more to share with all of you later. It’s a small hotel in the historical section of Quito. If I stay long enough, and get beyond the point of just wanting to crash (not literally in the plane), but just pull a twenty-four hour sleep, I may look up Marco at the Radisson. Otherwise, I am looking forward to getting to Cuenca and seeing everyone. As soon as I know, I’ll post what day this week I’ll be arriving in Cuenca. I’m sorry, Barry, I haven’t had time to read your emails in the past week. Sorry, Clarke, I was going to surprise you with a jar of JIFFY SMOOTH PEANUT BUTTER, but that was one of first items to get tossed at O’Hare as I attempted to get my luggage weight down. I suppose some homeless guy hanging out at O’Hare, or the custodial staff member, who emptied my plastic bag of discarded items came into a virtual gold mine of stuff. I read someone is sending you a case of peanut butter anyway, so I guess my one jar won’t make a difference to your delight.
Hasta luego, It's 1:00 a.m.,Lunes. I’m going to bed. Jim
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Surfing the Wave
Time is at a premium for me, but as friends reminded me this morning, I can leave a post without writing the great American novel. So, yes, as my return to Cuenca rapidly approaches, I feel very much like a surfer who is riding the big wave. I'm still riding that wave, and just trying not to get knocked off my board and submerged under the wave of time as it reaches a crescendo and cascades over me.
My furniture is moving fast. In fact, faster than I expected. I may be living my final two weeks with little more in my apartment than me, my lap-top, and two pieces of luggage. It was a Buddhist monk who said "The mind is full when the room is empty." I guess I may find out what that means.
I was going to bring three pieces of large luggage. However, United wants an additional $200 for the third bag. Forget that, the third luggage piece is going back to the store. I just hope Connie Pondo knows what she is talking about, when she wrote in a recent post that expats need to bring less clothes with them, except for personal styles of underwear. I'm trusting you on that, Connie. (As for the underwear, well, I don't use products from Federick's of Hollywood, or Victoria's Secret; therefore, Ecuadorian underwear may work out fine.)
I am really looking forward to staying at Bob and Roxanne's Cuenca condo again when I return, until I find an unfurnished apartment in the city which must have a balcony. I can not imagine living in Cuenca without a balcony. The image that keeps me going through this hectic period is having breakfast out on Bob and Roxanne's balcony at lunch-time, and watching the panoramic sky show unfold throughout the day.
I will be leaving from O'Hare Airport on Friday, March 11th, and visit with my elder son, Marc, in Maryland before arriving in Quito on Sunday evening, March 13th. On Monday, I have an appointment with attorney Gabriela Espinosa. Currently, I have no idea how long I'll be in Quito to take care of all my immigration paperwork. I do expect to arrive in Cuenca somewhere between that Wednesday and Friday. I am looking forward to seeing all you pioneers again--those of you who were the trailblazers and now are the settled residents of one to three years; to meet folks I feel like I know from their blogs, but who moved to Cuenca after I left in August last year; and, of course, to meet the newbies, who will be arriving for their first introductions to Cuenca. Hasta Luego!
My furniture is moving fast. In fact, faster than I expected. I may be living my final two weeks with little more in my apartment than me, my lap-top, and two pieces of luggage. It was a Buddhist monk who said "The mind is full when the room is empty." I guess I may find out what that means.
I was going to bring three pieces of large luggage. However, United wants an additional $200 for the third bag. Forget that, the third luggage piece is going back to the store. I just hope Connie Pondo knows what she is talking about, when she wrote in a recent post that expats need to bring less clothes with them, except for personal styles of underwear. I'm trusting you on that, Connie. (As for the underwear, well, I don't use products from Federick's of Hollywood, or Victoria's Secret; therefore, Ecuadorian underwear may work out fine.)
I am really looking forward to staying at Bob and Roxanne's Cuenca condo again when I return, until I find an unfurnished apartment in the city which must have a balcony. I can not imagine living in Cuenca without a balcony. The image that keeps me going through this hectic period is having breakfast out on Bob and Roxanne's balcony at lunch-time, and watching the panoramic sky show unfold throughout the day.
I will be leaving from O'Hare Airport on Friday, March 11th, and visit with my elder son, Marc, in Maryland before arriving in Quito on Sunday evening, March 13th. On Monday, I have an appointment with attorney Gabriela Espinosa. Currently, I have no idea how long I'll be in Quito to take care of all my immigration paperwork. I do expect to arrive in Cuenca somewhere between that Wednesday and Friday. I am looking forward to seeing all you pioneers again--those of you who were the trailblazers and now are the settled residents of one to three years; to meet folks I feel like I know from their blogs, but who moved to Cuenca after I left in August last year; and, of course, to meet the newbies, who will be arriving for their first introductions to Cuenca. Hasta Luego!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Health Insurance Answers
I raised the question of health insurance in my last post. I have had quite a number of emails and a post from Americans who are either in transition to moving to Ecuador, planning a move to Ecuador, or are investigating a possible move to Ecuador and expressed to me their concern about health insurance. Now, I will share with you what I learned:
First, there was absolutely no response from expats to my post for advice on health insurance, so I will share with you what I learned through my own exploration. The lack of response from expats may have been due to the following reasons: To reiterate from my previous post, I spoke to at least a dozen expat couples and singles while I was in Cuenca last summer about health insurance. I do not recall one of them saying that they carried health insurance. The rationale given was that health care is of a high quality in Cuenca and so inexpensive compared to the states that there is no real need for health care insurance.
My concern for carrying health insurance is primarily to cover for catastrophic casualties, which even can become expensive in the Ecuadorian system. Imagine the cost from a serious accident or from a debilitating stroke, plus the cost involved with rehabilitation as well. The costs soon outweigh the $9,000.00 to $12,000.00 cost of Cobra for single and family plans that are saved by a pay-as-you-go for incurred expenses. No doubt much can be saved from year to year, if one is willing to take the risk. My biggest concern, since I am not eligible yet for Medicare, is being sure that I am covered while I am visiting in the United States.
Each of us have to decide how much risk with which we are willing to live, and whether our retirement income determines whether or not we can also afford to carry a health insurance policy. People living with minimal pensions and social security may have little choice but to pay-as-you-go, and if faced with a major medical catastrophe, may choose to simply file for bankruptcy. For people who have additional assets at risk, if hit with major medicals expenses, they may have greater concern for protecting their assets.
Keep in mind also that even those who qualify for Medicare and are paying into the system, will not be covered outside the United States, unless they are volunteers. You would probably have to delve into the small print to discover what constitutes volunteers. I would assume a volunteer would be someone like a Peace Corp volunteer, not someone like me who is voluntarily relocating to Cuenca. (Sorry, no smiley faces available.) However, Medicare will cover those eligible while they are traveling and visiting in the United States. I mention this because I had one email where the spouse thought he was covered by Medicare once they relocate to Ecuador, and only his younger wife would need health care coverage.
I also mentioned in my previous post that I had read that Ecuadorian health insurance companies may not be reliable in paying on big claims. I had hoped possibly some expats who have Ecuadorian policies might offer their insights on such policies. However, it may be that they have not invested in Ecuadorian insurance policies. Also all the expats I have met or have a nodding acquaintance with from reading their blogs have also been in Cuenca three years or less. I assume the expat community in Cuenca is a relatively new phenomenon, and may still be feeling their way around about insurance. Or if they have international or Ecuadorian policies have not had time to use them to verify their effectiveness and integrity.
Now, to get to what I have learned. I explored two international insurance companies, Bupa and Health Care International Global. Both are large international insurance companies that have been in existence for thirty or more years, and both deal with tens of millions of insured clients world-wide. Both companies are located in Great Britain. Bupa is the older company. Health Care International Global is not publicly-traded, which they claim leads to their profits being reinvested into the company.
Below you will find a comparison of a single policy between the two companies. If I go with either, I will choose Health Care International Global. It provides better coverage at less cost with a much lower deductible. My cost quote is based upon my age and a single cover policy. The company allowed for only a $2,000.00 deduction, and I chose for premium quote purposes a 10% co-pay. Both policies provide me with coverage when I am visiting in the United States. The premium with Health Care International can be canceled in writing fourteen days before it goes into effect. After that, it can’t be canceled or modified until the end of its first year.
Bupa offers more deduction choices without a co-pay, and is about $300.00 cheaper than Health Care International, but that is at a deduction rate of $8,500.00. Also Bupa appears to be more physician and hospital restricted. Health Care will cover any physician, hospital, or clinic that is licensed or accredited by the country in which you are residing or traveling at the time of medical attention. Bupa also disappointed me, because it failed to call me in a follow-up when I responded to an email, and also when I set up a time for appointment on their web page. (Keep in mine, that Great Britain is five hours ahead of us.) Also, when I found the page that was to list the providers in Ecuador, the page was blank except for the Bupa name and company logo. (The International site also directs you to Bupa, Latin America web page, but that site did not provide me with a medical providers list either.) I tried on three different occasions over two days, and always got the same result--no hospitals, clinics, or physicians listed.
Once I am eligible for Medicare, I can drop the international coverage. I can then procure catastrophic coverage for $900.00 to $1,200.00 that covers me regionally or just while I am in Ecuador. There are also short-term inexpensive traveling insurances, which requires greater investigation.
Procuring health insurance is a very personal decision; both companies offer other more expansive plans as well. I cannot sign up for Health Care International until thirty days before I want the policy to go into effect, so I have a little more than two weeks to make a final decision. There are many companies out there dealing with international insurance. Ultimately, each of us will have to do our own research, based upon our needs. I do hope, however, that today’s post provides a starting point for exploration and comparison. If you think you have found better insurance coverage for the dollar in the next two weeks; I’d appreciate it, if you would share with me whatever you have learned.
Health Care International Global
Your quotation for Individual Private Medical Insurance
Thank you for enquiring about cover under the Emergency + Worldwide Including USA, incorporating a claim deductible of US $2,000 with a 10% Co-Payment starting 14 March, 2011. We can confirm that the following premiums will apply for you and your family based on 1 adult aged between 61-65 years:
Plan Type Emergency + Worldwide Including USA Annual Premium US $2,582.51
Claim Deductible US $2,000 Semi Annual Premium N/A
Co-Payment 10% Quarterly Premium N/A
Dental Cover 1 members Monthly Premium N/A
PA Additional Cover US $50,000, 1 members at US $85 each
* The premium may differ slightly, depending on the exchange rates applicable at the time or if you are paying in a different currency to the plan's currency.
HealthCare International Medical Insurance Plans offer some of the most innovative and user friendly plan benefits currently available. By working closely with our underwriters, we have been able to include many benefits as standard that are often excluded by other international programs.
• In-Patient Hospital Treatment Accommodation
• Life-saving Organ Transplants
• Hospital Cash Benefit
• Daycare Surgery Treatment
• Road Ambulance Transportation
• Dread Chronic Diseases
• Emergency Medical Evacuation Medical Repatriation
• Repatriation of Mortal Remains
• Personal Accident Cover
Accidents do happen, so it's important to insure yourself and your family against any eventuality and with our Personal Accident programme, we will provide a cash payment which is yours to use in any way you like. You are automatically covered for US $25,000 as part of the benefits to all the medical plans (benefit not available for those under 18 years of age) with a maximum limit of up to US $125,000 per person.
With the consequences of being ill, particularly in unfamiliar surroundings, often proving to be a distressing experience, each of our plan's have been purposely designed to provide against not only for the financial worries you may often have to face but to meet those experiences associated with specialist treatments often excluded by other international plans.
http://www.healthcareinternational.com/home-international-insurance.php
Bupa Critical Care
Bupa Critical Care is specifically designed to cover major illnesses and injuries, with access to thousands of quality doctors.
Key Benefits
Bupa Critical Care only covers the following illnesses and medical needs (subject to the coverage limits detailed below):
Neurological illnesses, including cerebral vascular accidents $150,000
Cardiac surgery and angioplasty $150,000
Cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and reconstructive surgery $200,000
Severe trauma (polytrauma) including rehabilitation $150,000
Chronic renal insufficiency (dialysis) $100,000
Severe burns, including reconstructive surgery $300,000
Severe infectious disorders (septicemia) $150,000
Organ Transplant (per insured, per lifetime):
Transplant procedures (per diagnosis, per lifetime) $300,000
Heart $300,000
Heart/Lung $300,000
Lung $250,000
Pancreas $250,000
Pancreas/Kidney $300,000
Kidney $200,000
Liver $200,000
Bone marrow $250,000
Air ambulance (per insured, per year) $25,000
Plans & Premiums for cover starting on 14-Mar-2011
Product name James
Worldwide Medical Insurance
(USD 8,500.00 Deductible) USD 2,231.01
Worldwide Medical Plus
(USD 170.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Medicines and Equipment
(USD 80.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Wellbeing
(USD 0.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Evacuation
(USD 0.00 Deductible) USD 289.00
Annual Total USD 2,520.01
Annual Grand Total : USD 2,520.01
Bupa Plans & Premiums for cover starting on 14-Mar-2011
Product name James
Worldwide Medical Insurance
(USD 8,500.00 Deductible) USD 2,231.01
Worldwide Medical Plus
(USD 170.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Medicines and Equipment
(USD 80.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Wellbeing
(USD 0.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Evacuation
(USD 0.00 Deductible) USD 289.00
Annual Total USD 2,520.01
Annual Grand Total : USD 2,520.01
http://www.bupa-intl.com/
First, there was absolutely no response from expats to my post for advice on health insurance, so I will share with you what I learned through my own exploration. The lack of response from expats may have been due to the following reasons: To reiterate from my previous post, I spoke to at least a dozen expat couples and singles while I was in Cuenca last summer about health insurance. I do not recall one of them saying that they carried health insurance. The rationale given was that health care is of a high quality in Cuenca and so inexpensive compared to the states that there is no real need for health care insurance.
My concern for carrying health insurance is primarily to cover for catastrophic casualties, which even can become expensive in the Ecuadorian system. Imagine the cost from a serious accident or from a debilitating stroke, plus the cost involved with rehabilitation as well. The costs soon outweigh the $9,000.00 to $12,000.00 cost of Cobra for single and family plans that are saved by a pay-as-you-go for incurred expenses. No doubt much can be saved from year to year, if one is willing to take the risk. My biggest concern, since I am not eligible yet for Medicare, is being sure that I am covered while I am visiting in the United States.
Each of us have to decide how much risk with which we are willing to live, and whether our retirement income determines whether or not we can also afford to carry a health insurance policy. People living with minimal pensions and social security may have little choice but to pay-as-you-go, and if faced with a major medical catastrophe, may choose to simply file for bankruptcy. For people who have additional assets at risk, if hit with major medicals expenses, they may have greater concern for protecting their assets.
Keep in mind also that even those who qualify for Medicare and are paying into the system, will not be covered outside the United States, unless they are volunteers. You would probably have to delve into the small print to discover what constitutes volunteers. I would assume a volunteer would be someone like a Peace Corp volunteer, not someone like me who is voluntarily relocating to Cuenca. (Sorry, no smiley faces available.) However, Medicare will cover those eligible while they are traveling and visiting in the United States. I mention this because I had one email where the spouse thought he was covered by Medicare once they relocate to Ecuador, and only his younger wife would need health care coverage.
I also mentioned in my previous post that I had read that Ecuadorian health insurance companies may not be reliable in paying on big claims. I had hoped possibly some expats who have Ecuadorian policies might offer their insights on such policies. However, it may be that they have not invested in Ecuadorian insurance policies. Also all the expats I have met or have a nodding acquaintance with from reading their blogs have also been in Cuenca three years or less. I assume the expat community in Cuenca is a relatively new phenomenon, and may still be feeling their way around about insurance. Or if they have international or Ecuadorian policies have not had time to use them to verify their effectiveness and integrity.
Now, to get to what I have learned. I explored two international insurance companies, Bupa and Health Care International Global. Both are large international insurance companies that have been in existence for thirty or more years, and both deal with tens of millions of insured clients world-wide. Both companies are located in Great Britain. Bupa is the older company. Health Care International Global is not publicly-traded, which they claim leads to their profits being reinvested into the company.
Below you will find a comparison of a single policy between the two companies. If I go with either, I will choose Health Care International Global. It provides better coverage at less cost with a much lower deductible. My cost quote is based upon my age and a single cover policy. The company allowed for only a $2,000.00 deduction, and I chose for premium quote purposes a 10% co-pay. Both policies provide me with coverage when I am visiting in the United States. The premium with Health Care International can be canceled in writing fourteen days before it goes into effect. After that, it can’t be canceled or modified until the end of its first year.
Bupa offers more deduction choices without a co-pay, and is about $300.00 cheaper than Health Care International, but that is at a deduction rate of $8,500.00. Also Bupa appears to be more physician and hospital restricted. Health Care will cover any physician, hospital, or clinic that is licensed or accredited by the country in which you are residing or traveling at the time of medical attention. Bupa also disappointed me, because it failed to call me in a follow-up when I responded to an email, and also when I set up a time for appointment on their web page. (Keep in mine, that Great Britain is five hours ahead of us.) Also, when I found the page that was to list the providers in Ecuador, the page was blank except for the Bupa name and company logo. (The International site also directs you to Bupa, Latin America web page, but that site did not provide me with a medical providers list either.) I tried on three different occasions over two days, and always got the same result--no hospitals, clinics, or physicians listed.
Once I am eligible for Medicare, I can drop the international coverage. I can then procure catastrophic coverage for $900.00 to $1,200.00 that covers me regionally or just while I am in Ecuador. There are also short-term inexpensive traveling insurances, which requires greater investigation.
Procuring health insurance is a very personal decision; both companies offer other more expansive plans as well. I cannot sign up for Health Care International until thirty days before I want the policy to go into effect, so I have a little more than two weeks to make a final decision. There are many companies out there dealing with international insurance. Ultimately, each of us will have to do our own research, based upon our needs. I do hope, however, that today’s post provides a starting point for exploration and comparison. If you think you have found better insurance coverage for the dollar in the next two weeks; I’d appreciate it, if you would share with me whatever you have learned.
Health Care International Global
Your quotation for Individual Private Medical Insurance
Thank you for enquiring about cover under the Emergency + Worldwide Including USA, incorporating a claim deductible of US $2,000 with a 10% Co-Payment starting 14 March, 2011. We can confirm that the following premiums will apply for you and your family based on 1 adult aged between 61-65 years:
Plan Type Emergency + Worldwide Including USA Annual Premium US $2,582.51
Claim Deductible US $2,000 Semi Annual Premium N/A
Co-Payment 10% Quarterly Premium N/A
Dental Cover 1 members Monthly Premium N/A
PA Additional Cover US $50,000, 1 members at US $85 each
* The premium may differ slightly, depending on the exchange rates applicable at the time or if you are paying in a different currency to the plan's currency.
HealthCare International Medical Insurance Plans offer some of the most innovative and user friendly plan benefits currently available. By working closely with our underwriters, we have been able to include many benefits as standard that are often excluded by other international programs.
• In-Patient Hospital Treatment Accommodation
• Life-saving Organ Transplants
• Hospital Cash Benefit
• Daycare Surgery Treatment
• Road Ambulance Transportation
• Dread Chronic Diseases
• Emergency Medical Evacuation Medical Repatriation
• Repatriation of Mortal Remains
• Personal Accident Cover
Accidents do happen, so it's important to insure yourself and your family against any eventuality and with our Personal Accident programme, we will provide a cash payment which is yours to use in any way you like. You are automatically covered for US $25,000 as part of the benefits to all the medical plans (benefit not available for those under 18 years of age) with a maximum limit of up to US $125,000 per person.
With the consequences of being ill, particularly in unfamiliar surroundings, often proving to be a distressing experience, each of our plan's have been purposely designed to provide against not only for the financial worries you may often have to face but to meet those experiences associated with specialist treatments often excluded by other international plans.
http://www.healthcareinternational.com/home-international-insurance.php
Bupa Critical Care
Bupa Critical Care is specifically designed to cover major illnesses and injuries, with access to thousands of quality doctors.
Key Benefits
Bupa Critical Care only covers the following illnesses and medical needs (subject to the coverage limits detailed below):
Neurological illnesses, including cerebral vascular accidents $150,000
Cardiac surgery and angioplasty $150,000
Cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and reconstructive surgery $200,000
Severe trauma (polytrauma) including rehabilitation $150,000
Chronic renal insufficiency (dialysis) $100,000
Severe burns, including reconstructive surgery $300,000
Severe infectious disorders (septicemia) $150,000
Organ Transplant (per insured, per lifetime):
Transplant procedures (per diagnosis, per lifetime) $300,000
Heart $300,000
Heart/Lung $300,000
Lung $250,000
Pancreas $250,000
Pancreas/Kidney $300,000
Kidney $200,000
Liver $200,000
Bone marrow $250,000
Air ambulance (per insured, per year) $25,000
Plans & Premiums for cover starting on 14-Mar-2011
Product name James
Worldwide Medical Insurance
(USD 8,500.00 Deductible) USD 2,231.01
Worldwide Medical Plus
(USD 170.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Medicines and Equipment
(USD 80.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Wellbeing
(USD 0.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Evacuation
(USD 0.00 Deductible) USD 289.00
Annual Total USD 2,520.01
Annual Grand Total : USD 2,520.01
Bupa Plans & Premiums for cover starting on 14-Mar-2011
Product name James
Worldwide Medical Insurance
(USD 8,500.00 Deductible) USD 2,231.01
Worldwide Medical Plus
(USD 170.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Medicines and Equipment
(USD 80.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Wellbeing
(USD 0.00 Deductible) No Cover
Worldwide Evacuation
(USD 0.00 Deductible) USD 289.00
Annual Total USD 2,520.01
Annual Grand Total : USD 2,520.01
http://www.bupa-intl.com/
Friday, January 21, 2011
Questions About Health Insurance???
When I was in Cuenca many expats that I spoke to did not carry any health insurance. The reasoning was that medical care costs are so low in Ecuador compared with the United States, that expats chose to pay out of their pockets for any expenses. Out-of-pocket expenses were viewed as more desirable than spending $9,000.00 to $12,000.00 annually for single or family plans in the U.S.A. I know from my conversations with expats in Cuenca that there have been surgeries which have cost $4,000.00 to $5,000.00--a fraction of what the expense would have been in the the United States. Yet, what if someone has a really serious accident or is diagnosed with cancer, where either incident might involve long-term care or rehabilitation? I would think that a $100,000 claim in the United States, for example, could still run $20,000.00 to $30,000.00 in Ecuador--not exactly a small piece of change.
Therefore, I am seeking a policy with a high deductible which not only covers me while in Ecuador, but also when I visit the United States until I am eligible for medicare. It is my understanding that when I am eligible for Medicare, that Medicare will not cover expenses outside the United States, unless one is a volunteer(however that is defined)in another country. However, Medicare would cover me while I am visiting in the states.
Connie Pombo recently had a post where she procured health insurance through Humana, but she mainly spoke of the insurance in its use for prescription drugs. Otherwise little detail was provided. Connie, if you are reading this, I would appreciate more information as your health insurance relates to hospitalization, out-patient, pre-existing conditions, etc. I attempted to email you, but then your email disappeared on me, and I couldn't find it again on wherever I initially saw it. When I tried to contact you by Facebook, your name would snap off every time I typed it into the message form. (Sorry Connie, I truly believe that somewhere out there among the constellations is a negative vibe between me and technology.) I also googled Humana in Ecuador, (which was the company mentioned by Connie). Currently I am waiting for some price estimates from some international insurance companies. I will share what I learn as I procure this information.
For those of you who are expats, I find the question of health insurance is rarely addressed in the blogs. I have received post comments and emails seeking information over this topic, so I know there is a great deal of interest out there over health insurance coverage in Ecuador. If anyone has a policy with a company you believe is trustworthy, we sure would appreciate some feedback either on your blog posts or via email to me. I have read accounts that Ecuadorian health insurance companies often will not pay on large claims. I have no idea how accurate that claim is. However, it is one reason of concern why I am looking at international insurance companies.
Therefore, I am seeking a policy with a high deductible which not only covers me while in Ecuador, but also when I visit the United States until I am eligible for medicare. It is my understanding that when I am eligible for Medicare, that Medicare will not cover expenses outside the United States, unless one is a volunteer(however that is defined)in another country. However, Medicare would cover me while I am visiting in the states.
Connie Pombo recently had a post where she procured health insurance through Humana, but she mainly spoke of the insurance in its use for prescription drugs. Otherwise little detail was provided. Connie, if you are reading this, I would appreciate more information as your health insurance relates to hospitalization, out-patient, pre-existing conditions, etc. I attempted to email you, but then your email disappeared on me, and I couldn't find it again on wherever I initially saw it. When I tried to contact you by Facebook, your name would snap off every time I typed it into the message form. (Sorry Connie, I truly believe that somewhere out there among the constellations is a negative vibe between me and technology.) I also googled Humana in Ecuador, (which was the company mentioned by Connie). Currently I am waiting for some price estimates from some international insurance companies. I will share what I learn as I procure this information.
For those of you who are expats, I find the question of health insurance is rarely addressed in the blogs. I have received post comments and emails seeking information over this topic, so I know there is a great deal of interest out there over health insurance coverage in Ecuador. If anyone has a policy with a company you believe is trustworthy, we sure would appreciate some feedback either on your blog posts or via email to me. I have read accounts that Ecuadorian health insurance companies often will not pay on large claims. I have no idea how accurate that claim is. However, it is one reason of concern why I am looking at international insurance companies.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Looking To The Future
Last Friday was my last day of teaching as the semester and my current career have come to a close. It was a good week. I appreciated the cake, cards, and congratulations from both students and colleagues. It was nice to end my career with a fine group of students. I wish my seniors well in their future endeavors. The fact that I taught many of them as freshman made the goodbyes more poignant. A number of them have matured over the four years, and its not often a teacher has the chance to witness his students' social and academic growth so directly. I hope in the process of my interaction with them, I instilled within my students a sense of curiosity beyond their own experiences, and a desire to travel and see the world. One thing is for sure, they all know where Ecuador and Cuenca is on a map. In fact, my retirement to Ecuador became quite a topic of conversation among staff and students, a number of teachers told me they had their students look up Ecuador and Cuenca in their map atlases. Not bad, considering I don't recall myself ever hearing of Cuenca until a year ago last Christmas season.
Meanwhile, I am now focused on the future. I have taken action to get all my paper work in order for my legal residency in Ecuador. I am working with Gabriela Espinosa, the attorney in Quito, who has come highly recommended by many expats. Although personnel in the Ecuadorian consulate in Washington tell me that visas are not yet being processed, I am told that the delay should not affect my time-table for returning to Ecuador. I tentatively intend to arrive in Quito on Monday, March 14th. I will spend a few days in Quito to finalize my residency requirements, and then arrive in Cuenca later in the week.
Well, on one hand, I am overwhelmingly excited about returning to Cuenca; on the other hand, I hope I have sufficient time to get everything accomplished. I am finding that the little things which don't show up in concrete form, like unloading my personal belongings, are very time consuming. Seeking out health insurance, dealing with the governmental offices, determining what will and will not be downloaded from my P.C. to my laptop, how to handle my finances and investments, notifying all the proper sources of address changes and cancellation of services, or scanning thousands of slides; these are only scratching the surface of things that need to be done, but don't process like an accomplishment the way an eventual empty apartment does.
For those of you who comment on problems and delays with Ecuadorian government and business bureaucracy, the Ecuadorians may have learned it from the United States. I was delayed for two weeks getting my social security information to the Ecuadorian Consulate, because of misinformation that was given to me twice from social security representatives, as I needed to procure my monthly income statement for authorization by the Ecuadorian consulate personnel. I have a friend who is 65, but is still working and has never applied for Medicare. Yet Medicare has been trying to collect hundreds of dollars in back payments for insurance for which my friend has never applied or used. It has been months of back and forth phone calls and letters between my friend and Medicare. The problem still has not been fully resolved. Medicare personnel tell him one thing and then do another. One would think with our government's advanced computer operations that such delays would be less likely than in a country like Ecuador where the computer operations are less sophisticated. At any rate, bureaucratic snafus and delays just seem to be a part of everyday modern life no matter where one lives.
I look forward to reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances, and making new friends and acquaintances as well. I read that you are having beautiful weather in Cuenca, I hope it will still be as nice in March. If anybody has any advice for me in my move, I am open to any suggestions.
Meanwhile, I am now focused on the future. I have taken action to get all my paper work in order for my legal residency in Ecuador. I am working with Gabriela Espinosa, the attorney in Quito, who has come highly recommended by many expats. Although personnel in the Ecuadorian consulate in Washington tell me that visas are not yet being processed, I am told that the delay should not affect my time-table for returning to Ecuador. I tentatively intend to arrive in Quito on Monday, March 14th. I will spend a few days in Quito to finalize my residency requirements, and then arrive in Cuenca later in the week.
Well, on one hand, I am overwhelmingly excited about returning to Cuenca; on the other hand, I hope I have sufficient time to get everything accomplished. I am finding that the little things which don't show up in concrete form, like unloading my personal belongings, are very time consuming. Seeking out health insurance, dealing with the governmental offices, determining what will and will not be downloaded from my P.C. to my laptop, how to handle my finances and investments, notifying all the proper sources of address changes and cancellation of services, or scanning thousands of slides; these are only scratching the surface of things that need to be done, but don't process like an accomplishment the way an eventual empty apartment does.
For those of you who comment on problems and delays with Ecuadorian government and business bureaucracy, the Ecuadorians may have learned it from the United States. I was delayed for two weeks getting my social security information to the Ecuadorian Consulate, because of misinformation that was given to me twice from social security representatives, as I needed to procure my monthly income statement for authorization by the Ecuadorian consulate personnel. I have a friend who is 65, but is still working and has never applied for Medicare. Yet Medicare has been trying to collect hundreds of dollars in back payments for insurance for which my friend has never applied or used. It has been months of back and forth phone calls and letters between my friend and Medicare. The problem still has not been fully resolved. Medicare personnel tell him one thing and then do another. One would think with our government's advanced computer operations that such delays would be less likely than in a country like Ecuador where the computer operations are less sophisticated. At any rate, bureaucratic snafus and delays just seem to be a part of everyday modern life no matter where one lives.
I look forward to reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances, and making new friends and acquaintances as well. I read that you are having beautiful weather in Cuenca, I hope it will still be as nice in March. If anybody has any advice for me in my move, I am open to any suggestions.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
You're Missing All The Fun!
Well, we have really been hit with one hellava snow storm here in Chicago, and people wonder why I want to leave Chicago for Cuenca. Might the following photos I took today of our snow storm be the reason? (Clarke from “Clarke and Brenda—Next Stage”) inspired me with his earlier post about how much he missed Northern Hemisphere winters, not. So here is my story and my photos:
A neighbor’s house
A neighbor walking near the neighborhood. Look at the neighbor in relationship to those utility poles. Can you believe it?
Driving to get some food and supplies.
There’s just no place to put all the snow.
Shoveling out my car.
Others were not so lucky.
It’s beautiful, but so is being on the coast with
Bob and Roxanne.
Aw shucks folks. I’m just jiving with you.
These are actually photos in Russian Siberia.
There was actually only two feet of snow in Chicago. See below:
FROM CHICAGO
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW
YEAR TO YOU ALL!
Actually there’s only about six inches of snow on the ground in Chicago.
There’s just no place to put all the snow.
Others were not so lucky.
It’s beautiful, but so is being on the coast with
Bob and Roxanne.
Aw shucks folks. I’m just jiving with you.
These are actually photos in Russian Siberia.
There was actually only two feet of snow in Chicago. See below:
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW
YEAR TO YOU ALL!
Actually there’s only about six inches of snow on the ground in Chicago.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Waiting for Cuenca
Hello everybody,
I know it's been awhile since I posted. Already it has been over three months since I returned from Ecuador. The reality is that except for a sporadic post on a friend or acquaintance's blog or an occasional email to a friend, life has been too hectic for me to do much blogging. I enjoyed recently spending a few days south of Baltimore with my eldest son, Marc. I celebrated with him, a few days early, his 26th birthday. Now, my younger son Chris has arrived for a two week leave before he returns to complete his second tour of duty in Iraq at the end of June/July of next year. His bride, Maria, flew in from Hawaii to be with Chris as well. They will then have the long stretch of not seeing each other again until next July.
I have spent months on an emotional roller-coaster of my own making as whether to return to Cuenca in March as I intended or to wait until next summer. In the end, all other considerations were discarded. I can't wait to return to Cuenca. I ache for Cuenca, and I will return in March. I have submitted my retirement, and will be officially retired as of January 14th. This next week I will contact Gabriela Espinosa in Quito and begin the process toward permanent residency. Between the impending holidays and then uprooting myself, the next few months promise to keep me busy. I now will get to experience that part of dislodging my old life for a new beginning, just as those of you who have gone to Cuenca before me have so vividly described in your own experiences.
In the meantime, while days sometimes pass before I get to read the blogs; I attempt to keep up with how friends and acquaintances are doing, and how they are adjusting to Cuenca. All of you are doing so many things and traveling all over the place, I'm afraid there won't be anyone left to travel with when I get there. All of you will have done it all. It's also weird watching the changes taking place with the expats, and not being a part of the change. Whether it's the new or rival expat meeting place to Zoes, new restaurants opening, El Presidente involved in macho psuedo-heroism, earth quakes rockin and rollin, or the many new expats who have arrived just since I left. The many new blogs that have appeared make it even more difficult to keep up with everybody. Yet I relish each new blog. To Posterdog, who edits the "South of Zero" blog, thanks so much for your service. I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your daily posts, which really help me to sort through the blogs. You provide a valuable service to the expat community.
Brian and Shelly, thanks so much for your blog and friendship, I enjoy reading your everyday musings and trust that you had a wonderful Canadian Thanksgiving.
Bob and Roxanne, always good to hear from you. Your Christmas for the kids on the coast sounds like it will be your best effort yet. Your renovation project is awesome, and it all looks as classy as your condo in Cuenca.
Rich and Nancy, sorry I haven't been in touch lately. However, I also know how much you go out of your way to help newbies like me get situated in Cuenca, and I forever will be grateful for your advise and incites even before I arrived. I look forward to seeing you both again.
Lourdes, it was about a week later that I learned about your hospitalization, and I found it ironic that you should experience this health problem so soon after you had emailed me about how you handled insurance when you are in the states. Yes, you were most fortunate that you were in Ecuador when your problem arose. I was most happy to see that you were soon out and about again in no time. Your recent involvement with the school in Turi is commendable. I know you will be a great asset to the school and the children.
Gil and Deborah,I am ecstatic that you have arrived in Ecuador. I look forward to reading all about you two getting settled in your new apartment, and hope the next four months fly by when I can join you again. Your apartment is magnificent, and I was awed by the beauty of that one solid wall of kitchen cabinets. Oh Gil, you've got to take me to my first experience with cuy.
Edd, I'm always learning from you, and as you know, I love your sense of humor. Congratulations on your weekly newspaper article. You and Cynthia, along with Lourdes, and Bob and Roxanne have truly inspired me to get very excited about having the opportunity to fashion the decor for my own place when I get back to Cuenca.
My amigo, Barry, keeps me in stitches with his emails. I hope, Barry, you're getting your networking problems resolved, and congratulations again on getting situated in your new diggs.
Lenny, this is the month that you and your wife arrive in Cuenca. Congratulations! Experience! Enjoy! I'll be looking forward to your blog, and if the two of you choose not to blog, then at least send me an email and let me know how you are doing.
Garth and Orilla, I trust you're still planning to relocate to Cuenca in the spring, and I will certainly look forward to seeing you both again as well.
For those of you who know Abbi (Abigail/Gail). She is home in Santa Barbara. She is still seriously contemplating moving to Cuenca, but will probably choose to live outside the city if she returns.
Yes, I very much miss you all including Freddi, and I hope the next four months will flash by until I can be back to Cuenca with all of you again, including the many new friends and acquaintances I will have the chance to meet as well.
I miss my walks and daily explorations, and I very much enjoyed Calvin Trillin's article in "Cuenca High Life." on "...a Travel Writer Revisits Cuenca to Take in the Charms of 'a Walking City'," (October 20, 2010). I would recommend the article to anyone who has yet to read it. See you all before long.
I know it's been awhile since I posted. Already it has been over three months since I returned from Ecuador. The reality is that except for a sporadic post on a friend or acquaintance's blog or an occasional email to a friend, life has been too hectic for me to do much blogging. I enjoyed recently spending a few days south of Baltimore with my eldest son, Marc. I celebrated with him, a few days early, his 26th birthday. Now, my younger son Chris has arrived for a two week leave before he returns to complete his second tour of duty in Iraq at the end of June/July of next year. His bride, Maria, flew in from Hawaii to be with Chris as well. They will then have the long stretch of not seeing each other again until next July.
I have spent months on an emotional roller-coaster of my own making as whether to return to Cuenca in March as I intended or to wait until next summer. In the end, all other considerations were discarded. I can't wait to return to Cuenca. I ache for Cuenca, and I will return in March. I have submitted my retirement, and will be officially retired as of January 14th. This next week I will contact Gabriela Espinosa in Quito and begin the process toward permanent residency. Between the impending holidays and then uprooting myself, the next few months promise to keep me busy. I now will get to experience that part of dislodging my old life for a new beginning, just as those of you who have gone to Cuenca before me have so vividly described in your own experiences.
In the meantime, while days sometimes pass before I get to read the blogs; I attempt to keep up with how friends and acquaintances are doing, and how they are adjusting to Cuenca. All of you are doing so many things and traveling all over the place, I'm afraid there won't be anyone left to travel with when I get there. All of you will have done it all. It's also weird watching the changes taking place with the expats, and not being a part of the change. Whether it's the new or rival expat meeting place to Zoes, new restaurants opening, El Presidente involved in macho psuedo-heroism, earth quakes rockin and rollin, or the many new expats who have arrived just since I left. The many new blogs that have appeared make it even more difficult to keep up with everybody. Yet I relish each new blog. To Posterdog, who edits the "South of Zero" blog, thanks so much for your service. I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your daily posts, which really help me to sort through the blogs. You provide a valuable service to the expat community.
Brian and Shelly, thanks so much for your blog and friendship, I enjoy reading your everyday musings and trust that you had a wonderful Canadian Thanksgiving.
Bob and Roxanne, always good to hear from you. Your Christmas for the kids on the coast sounds like it will be your best effort yet. Your renovation project is awesome, and it all looks as classy as your condo in Cuenca.
Rich and Nancy, sorry I haven't been in touch lately. However, I also know how much you go out of your way to help newbies like me get situated in Cuenca, and I forever will be grateful for your advise and incites even before I arrived. I look forward to seeing you both again.
Lourdes, it was about a week later that I learned about your hospitalization, and I found it ironic that you should experience this health problem so soon after you had emailed me about how you handled insurance when you are in the states. Yes, you were most fortunate that you were in Ecuador when your problem arose. I was most happy to see that you were soon out and about again in no time. Your recent involvement with the school in Turi is commendable. I know you will be a great asset to the school and the children.
Gil and Deborah,I am ecstatic that you have arrived in Ecuador. I look forward to reading all about you two getting settled in your new apartment, and hope the next four months fly by when I can join you again. Your apartment is magnificent, and I was awed by the beauty of that one solid wall of kitchen cabinets. Oh Gil, you've got to take me to my first experience with cuy.
Edd, I'm always learning from you, and as you know, I love your sense of humor. Congratulations on your weekly newspaper article. You and Cynthia, along with Lourdes, and Bob and Roxanne have truly inspired me to get very excited about having the opportunity to fashion the decor for my own place when I get back to Cuenca.
My amigo, Barry, keeps me in stitches with his emails. I hope, Barry, you're getting your networking problems resolved, and congratulations again on getting situated in your new diggs.
Lenny, this is the month that you and your wife arrive in Cuenca. Congratulations! Experience! Enjoy! I'll be looking forward to your blog, and if the two of you choose not to blog, then at least send me an email and let me know how you are doing.
Garth and Orilla, I trust you're still planning to relocate to Cuenca in the spring, and I will certainly look forward to seeing you both again as well.
For those of you who know Abbi (Abigail/Gail). She is home in Santa Barbara. She is still seriously contemplating moving to Cuenca, but will probably choose to live outside the city if she returns.
Yes, I very much miss you all including Freddi, and I hope the next four months will flash by until I can be back to Cuenca with all of you again, including the many new friends and acquaintances I will have the chance to meet as well.
I miss my walks and daily explorations, and I very much enjoyed Calvin Trillin's article in "Cuenca High Life." on "...a Travel Writer Revisits Cuenca to Take in the Charms of 'a Walking City'," (October 20, 2010). I would recommend the article to anyone who has yet to read it. See you all before long.
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