Panawanna

We learned that there is no replacement to actual boots on the ground and your own research. I agree with Bonnie...what some of the known overseas retirement publications print is just false advertising at best and intentional fraud at worst. Or maybe just substandard reporting. What we have concluded is that there is no perfect place to live regardless of what you read. It all depends on what you are willing to deal with.

Thanks, everyone! As we both have enjoyed good health to this point, it is difficult to imagine that anything catastrophic could EVER happen to us. I should be wiser than that!

Yes, you are likely right. I was referring to the ATM card. If we withdraw cash from any ATM, Fidelity reimburses for any ATM fees. If we do a wire transfer, I'm sure there is a cost involved. We plan on a Friendly Nations visa so will have money in a local bank regardless. I hear Global is one of the better ones?

Moderator comment dated 2 May 2017: This topic was created out of another topic in a different forum because it essentially splintered off into a new topic. (Not complaining, as this happens from time to time.) Here is a link to the spawning topic: Going back to the U.S. for Medicare is brought up several times. We are getting ready to move to Panama and I am just at the point of signing up for Medicare. My question to this forum is... do I sign up for Both Part A and B? Or just Part A? (Which I believe will be at no cost to me). What is the value of paying for Medicare (any parts) if living out of the U.S. as it provides no coverage? Catastrophic coverage seems the way to go for us, but I need more data to determine what to do about Medicare. Thanks.

Ugh. And things stateside just keep getting more interesting..and by that, I mean just plain uglier! Our plan is to access our money via a Fidelity ATM card as needed and not 'transfer' funds in large chunks. I wonder if that would be subject to a fee. Currently, Fidelity refunds any fees from foreign ATMs when obtaining cash, which is why we opened that account.