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Areas to live

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shella69
  4/28/2022 12:20 EST

Can you provide me intial advice on best areas to relocate for older Expats? I have heard of the typical places like Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, Oaxaca, Tulum, Merida, etc. I would prefer away from all the tourism and nightlife action. I prefer solitude and more peaceful environments with local access to living and health needs. Any advice is much appreciated!
Thank you!

MsAlex
  4/28/2022 13:57 EST

Please search past discussions on this issue. It's been covered a great deal.

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hrlee7804
  4/29/2022 09:56 EST

Past discussions are found by using the 'search forum' button. I live in San Carlos, Sonora. It is in the 'free zone' It works well for me. check out whatsupsancarlos.com. Hot humid summers as we are on the Sea of Cortez.

CREnvy
  4/29/2022 12:09 EST

Covered extensively they say, but I'd wager no one has mentioned Aguascalientes. Not a tourist area, sound, diversified economy, quite safe, excellent climate, very friendly/helpful people. Everything you need in the way of health and other needs is there.

cancunkid
  4/29/2022 15:51 EST

I read one report a few months ago of some gang war activity in Aguascalientes, nothing recent.

The entire state of Zacatecas (next one to the north from Aguascalientes state) is under US state department do-not-travel right now. (Except the capital city itself, but including all roads in and out, day and night) for the same reason - cartel wars for control, with blockades put up by the cartels at random on the roads of the state.

Do your research. The city itself is probably safe enough. It always depends on where within a city you are.

Solitude and safety are often conflicting attributes in Mexico. If you aren't around other people, you're more at risk, and if you are, they're going to be noisy.

davealanbrown
  4/30/2022 09:44 EST

Hello Cancun Kid,

I have been reading it’s on here for a while. Your answers show some wisdom and at times humor. Anyway, I’m not looking for the best if that helps. I am soon to be 67. And my wife of of 46 years is 69. I think she stole me from my crib. I have multiple sclerosis sin 1992. I still walk but balance and strength are issues. Humidity and heat are very hard on me. I can’t really afford the US anymore. My wife is diabetic. Do you know much about pre-existing conditions in regards to medical insurance in Mexico? Should we just stay here and do without? If we could go, I would be most interested in the high, dry, cool areas to live in. We make a little over $4000 per month now. I’m a small town guy. Any suggestions? I’m been studying Spanish again. I still drive. I’m don’t know how to work out my medical insurance issues there.

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RaymondPaula
  4/30/2022 10:37 EST

If I were you I would go and explore/visit the Coast of the Oaxaca state. From Puerto Escondido to Huatulco.
Good health care in Puerto Escondido, San Pedro Pochutla and Huatulco.
Calm, rural, nice people, affordable (still)
airports in both Puerto Escondido and Huatulco.
And can find from typical north american housing/lifestyle to the more traditional Mexican way and everything in between.

MsAlex
  4/30/2022 11:37 EST

"Small towns at high altitude" in Mexico are great, but the things you need to watch out for include: the quality of local medical services, ease of return to the US in case of medical needs, and walkability of the town.

As attractive as they are, small towns have cobblestones and uneven sidewalks, which are notoriously dangerous for those who are unstable.

Example: I love Patzcuaro, but the airport is a long drive, flight times are inconvenient (often in the middle of the night), expensive, and typically involve a connection to get to where you want to go. Another example: Guanajuato is famously beautiful, rich in culture—and super hilly. (Hard to walk.)

IMHO: given your ages, I believe you will not qualify for private medical insurance in Mexico, and if you could get it (and I don't think you can) you would likely find it to be prohibitively expensive.

I doubt anyone can get useful medical coverage if they're over 60. I got mine (with MetLife Mexico) 13 years ago when I was 55 and my husband was 60. Back then it cost $3,500 for the year. These past years, it's increased 20% each year, most recently being $11,000 US for the year. However, it is a moot point given your ages.

An option is to choose a Medicare Advantage plan for your Medicare in the States. This varies by location, and generally, people choose to use a relative's address (where they might also be able to stay).

You can use Medicare in Mexico, however, the limitation is that you can't state you have been out of the US longer than 2 months.

Alex

cancunkid
  4/30/2022 13:03 EST

"Small towns at high altitude" in Mexico are great, but the things you need to watch out for include: the quality of local medical services, ease of return to the US in case of medical needs, and walkability of the town. "

Exactly right.

Mexico in general is not friendly to people with less mobility. For the most part, walking along a sidewalk you won't encounter steps, they seem to do pretty well with the design that there should always be ramps. The problem is maintenance - cracked and tilted pavers. There are a lot of curb-cuts for wheelchairs to get out on the street, but they aren't quite universal and sometimes there isn't a matching one on the other side of the street.

So I generally tell people in wheelchairs that they are going to be better off in the US. While you're still more mobile than that, it will be a bit more challenging for you here than in the US.

High-elevation cities are generally not flat. Walking in them involves walking up hill. Sometimes it's up hill on the way to where you are going, and up hill on the way back! (j/k)

As far as I know, any individual insurance you are going to find is going to exclude pre-existing conditions, and that's going to make it a no-go for you. In the US you have medicare, but you'd not be able to access that care here.

Mexico works best for relatively healthy people with the means to absorb moderate medical expenses in their budget. The more care you need, the less well Mexico works. And once over 65, Medicare shifts the balance back toward the US.

A chunk of long-time people on these forums end up moving back to the US as their health declines. An occasional poster on this site, RVGRINGO recently passed away back in the US, he moved back to the US from Mexico more than five years ago due to health issues.

I think in your situation I'd look to move to an inexpensive city in the US, somewhere in the middle of the country. If you want altitude, consider the two largest small-towns in Wyoming (Cheyenne & Casper), for a state that has high altitude, low taxes and low expenses. Or maybe somewhere in Oklahoma for a bit better weather (except for the odd tornado). You'll want proximity to medical care.

Mexico has essentially nothing in the way of social services for the elderly, while the US has all kind of things to help with transporation, meals on wheels, etc. Mexico does have cheap taxis, but the buses here can be a physical challenge even for the fully able thanks to the impatient drivers who don't care if you get seated before they jerk the bus into gear.

CREnvy
  4/30/2022 13:08 EST

CancunKid,

Show me an area of Mexico where there is not violent crime in an adjacent area.

You left out Jalisco, btw. :/

I really don't care though if you want to slam where I live based on "something you read somewhere, sometime". One of the advantages here is there are a lot fewer gringos and I'd like it to remain that way frankly.

Also, I'm around a lot of neighbors at present, not noisy.

You seem to relish being the resident expert and I read a lot of your advice, but since living here several months I see a lot of it is just rubbish based on your very local area.

Carry on.

hrlee7804
  4/30/2022 16:03 EST

If heat and humidity is difficult for the poster then a coastal is probably not for them. I would do a climate check of the areas you speak about. Pacific Ocean may be better than Caribbean and Sea of Cortez but still hot and humid. A few years ago I spent time in Oaxaca and did extensive research and found one of the main reasons not to retire on the coast there was lack of medical. Maybe things have changed but the road to Oaxaco City from the coast is VERY slow traveling and shared with logging trucks that get the right of way only because of the shear size difference. For many the 200 plus mile trip is a two day adventure.

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cancunkid
  4/30/2022 17:39 EST

Haven't read anything about Jalisco.

I just reported what I read, and I said clearly it was one thing, one time. I let people take these reports as they like.

Everywhere is dangerous, lots of reports of problems in Cancun.

CREnvy, you've lived a couple months in one place and you think a lot of what I say is rubbish? Ok, whatever. Post your experiences then.

guestuser
  5/1/2022 13:08 EST

Cancunkid: Your informative posting was refreshing and insightful.

CREnvy, your negative and arrogant attitude makes any reasonable person disbelieve anything you say.

Take the wise advice: Report your own experiences, identifying them as such, and leave your insults at the door

mannem
  5/15/2022 16:12 EST

Oaxaca and Merida are both substantial cities where tourism and nightlife are relatively small parts of the urban landscape. It's easy to live far from the tourist zones yet still have access to all the services and amenities of an urban center.

Be aware: "Quiet" is a relative term in Mexico. Noise, often loud noise, is a fact of life, even small towns out in the boonies. Roosters that crow all day, cantinas that play music at ear-splitting volume, motor carts that drive around broadcasting ads, not to mention the fireworks that punctuate every possible holiday or private celebration. It's not something Mexicans complain about, and when gringos do they are politely ignored.

MexicaliRetired
  5/15/2022 18:50 EST

I know that I am definitely in the minority here... everyone always suggests cities/sites in SOUTHERN Mexico... I live a contented life in Baja California within easy crossing distance back to the USA... easy to see a US doctor/HOSPITAL/US MEDICAL INSURANCE [none of which I have other than my US bank]
Tecate, Baja California seems to be a "forgotten destination". Located at the north end of Baja's "Wine Country" and only minutes from the Pacific, any easy boarder crossing and a beautiful drive to to major California cites of El Cajon, CA and San Diego. Higher elevation and on the EAST side of the costal mountain range gives cool summer temperatures. The cost of living is much lower than "expat areas"... face it to many gringos boast the prices!
Tecate is DEFINATELY WORTH CHECKING OUT!

SunnyMiami
  5/16/2022 10:04 EST

Do you mean Medicare advantage or the original Medicare which requires a supplement? The original Medicare which requires a supplement cost a lot more but has unlimited coverage As long as the doctor excepts Medicare. Medicare advantage requires doctors’ agreement to be on it and they can rescind that participation anytime

cancunkid
  5/16/2022 12:12 EST

Doctors in Mexico don't participate in either one.

Babyorton
  5/16/2022 18:00 EST

I have just recently bought a home in Lake Chapala, It is about 40 min from the Guadalajara airport and sounds like it is just what you are looking for.I will arrive on August 1 st so will keep you posted. Lots ofCanadians and Americans there.
Jan

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