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Health Care & Areas to Live

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fmd0808

5/30/2015 11:12 EST

Hello everyone, this seems like a very friendly and helpful forum and I have spent the past few hours reading all the posts on here and have to say I've discovered a great deal especially from Bobbyvee's posts - well done to you!

We are well travelled Brits who are trying to decide where to retire to. We've decided against staying in Europe, we previously bought some land south of the border in Mexico to build a house then changed our minds, US and Canada are out of the question. We've looked at the Exumas and the Caymans but something keeps bringing us back to St Lucia where we have great memories of being in Marigot Bay 25 years ago when were on a cruise ship.

We have done lots of research, but still have a few questions, and I would start with a comment made by Bobbyvee that he receives free healthcare as a 'Brit'. Could you elaborate on that? My husband is 60 and I'm 55. Is it because you are over 65 and that is maybe why you qualify? I've contacted Cigna for a quote for health cover, and I'm waiting for them to get in touch but I must admit health care is our biggest concern. We are both healthy now but no one knows what is around the corner.

I'm reading that it is best to live north of Castries but having said that it looks lovely on the south side of the island too. Does anyone on this forum live down there?

We are in touch with Blue Reef Real Estate and have spotted a nice property outside of Castries overlooking the Sandals golf course. However Bobbyveee said it was necessary to drive through Castries to get anywhere from that location and although we've not been to Castries, reading about the gangs there is putting me off that area.

We intend visiting in a couple of weeks time for a recce and then if we still have a good feeling, we will put everything into storage back in the UK and come out and rent for a few months prior to purchasing a property (definitely want to purchase as we feel rentals are dead money).

Anyhow, health care is my biggest concern at the moment. Although we're healthy now, you never know what is around the corner.

Look forward to chatting with you a few of you on here and thanks for reading this post. Elaine

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bobbyveee

5/30/2015 17:01 EST

Hi Elaine. Glad you have fond memories of Marigot Bay, its very pretty.
When I said free health care, I meant im still a British citizen and I have two possibilities , a plane ride back to Blighty or a 20minute trip to Martinique which is French and part of France , the Euro is their currency and as such Brits can get treatment when in France, Martinique has very good medical facilities. The island has very good Med. Facs to, but they are not free. If your healthy and not on meds , id forget insurance at this moment. a broken leg or arm is cheapish to treat.
Don't live in Castries, no expats live or shop there. Joey lives overlooking Sandals golf course. its nice there, but theres nothing there, all your main shopping and restaurants are based around Rodney Bay. If you want to be a hermit live in the south, its also wetter down there, great views , minimal shops etc etc.
If you have a lettable home in the UK. Id long term let and rent in the north of the island. Keeping a UK address can be useful. if you move to St Lucia, you Gov. pension will be frozen, no annual increases. You can open a multi currency account at Scotia bank, have the rent from your UK property paid in directly. Gives you lots of scope. Unforetunately we are off island till Oct. Moving from Tx. to Fla. having just sold our beach bungalow on Ambergris Caye. You are very welcome to PM me , by the way im ex Bournemouth, still have the family home there. Wish you all the very best Robert

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fmd0808

5/31/2015 06:39 EST

Hi Robert
Thanks for your quick answer. I thought that was what you meant on the health care ref the UK. However, that sounds interesting that you can pop over to Martinique for treatment. Thanks for the info on locations too. Might hit you with some more questions later just wanted to say thanks for the reply first. PS How do I send you a PM? Cheers Elaine

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fmd0808

5/31/2015 11:44 EST

Hi Robert, Finding it difficult to access the old message to reply to you. I think if I need to ask another question I will start another topic thread as that seems easiest way. Thanks a lot Elaine

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