11 Best Places to Retire Overseas for Affordable and Efficient Health Care

If you’re counting your years till retirement and have always loved travel, 11 best places to retire overseas for affordable and efficient health care is an absolute must-read! 

Having worked long and hard enough, you definitely deserve some time off. Once the mortgage is paid off, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief and get ready to enjoy life to the fullest. Some believe that the best years are in your twenties or thirties, but the world isn’t your oyster until you enter retirement! You no longer have to endure the daily 9-5 grind. Your job is done, and you can spread your wings in the best places to retire in the world.

Admittedly, being a senior is not perfect just because of one thing. Once we reach a certain age, we’re more susceptible to a plethora of conditions. Our body needs its daily intake of vitamins, but also some medicine as well. Winter wonderland is nothing else but accidents and hip fractures waiting to happen. As a result, our best countries to retire for U.S. citizens aren’t set in northern countries, for example.

Therefore, let’s see now how we comprised our list.

What is the best country to retire in? The one with a suitable climate, and affordable and efficient healthcare. For this reason, we raided the internet and looked for the best place to retire in the world on a budget. Don’t you just love it when you go abroad and you realize everything is much cheaper than in the US? Healthcare included, of course. We found the best and cheapest places to retire abroad via International Living, US News, and MedAlertHelp (the last one has US suggestions, too, if interested).

The next step was to see check out Bloomberg’s list of countries ranked according to health care efficiency. We listed the best places for retiring abroad according to the spot they occupied on this list. By the way, if we just observe healthcare efficiency, Hong Kong ranks best, while the US is close to the bottom(!). As a matter of fact, all of our best places to retire overseas have a better ranking than the US!

For extra details about healthcare systems, the majority of data was collected from Expat and Expat Arrivals.

Therefore, your decision to check these 11 best places to retire overseas for affordable and efficient health care is one of the best you could have possibly made. Take a closer look at what conditions await you if/when you decide to move there.

11. Colombia

It is said to have the perfect climate, and wonderful landscape. There are lovely beaches, as well as the lush nature in the mountains. You may choose to settle down in Medellín, Santa Marta or Cartagena. It’s advisable to choose urban over rural areas as the healthcare quality can be lower in the latter.

Colombia’s constitution from 1993 grants healthcare to both residents and foreigners. Medical help is very much praised by American expats. Also, you can expect the doctors to be bilingual if you live in one of the biggest cities. Previously we have covered Colombia in an article titled 10 best places to retire in South America.

10. Ecuador

Cuenca, Quito, and Guayaquil are the places to live in should you choose Ecuador as one of the best countries to retire and have great healthcare. Foreigners usually opt for the private healthcare system. Even so, the prices are only 10% to 30% of what you would pay for in the US. The number of physicians could be higher, but it’s praise-worthy that some were trained in the US, Canada, or Europe.

9. Peru

What is interesting about Peru is the fact that it has plenty of well-supplied drugstores that offer medicine without a prescription. Of course, not all medicine, but it is good to know. Just make sure you ask about the generic name of your drug. 

You can visit Machu Picchu, but for the top places to retire and have excellent healthcare, remain in some of the biggest cities such as Lima or Arequipa.

8. Malaysia

At the moment, if you wish to receive healthcare in Malaysia, you can do it only if you have private insurance. On the bright side, you’ll experience the very best healthcare system in this part of the world. Malaysia’s medical staff is oftentimes trained worldwide and big city (e.g. Georgetown) hospitals have all the latest technology and highly professional staff. You would normally get all the medicine you need and pay for it right in the hospital.

7. Thailand

Thailand has moved 14 places up in the list of countries with the best healthcare. Medical tourism is simply blooming because of excellent clinics and extremely low prices of the procedures. Public hospitals are good but can get quite crowded, so it’s better to go for private insurance. Travel is very affordable for US citizens in this country, too.

6. Costa Rica

Costa Rica topped Forbes list of best places to retire in the world in 2018, which speaks volumes. About 40,000 Americans are said to be living there, so you may have already heard some stories from your senior friends. 

Where do most American expats live in Costa Rica? About 40,000 Americans are dispersed all around the country. San José is very attractive as the capital, but lots of them choose smaller towns, too. Dominical, Escazu, and Ojochal are very popular. 

5. Mexico

Mexico is listed as the third among the best places to retire in the world on social security. Canada and Japan come first and second, but regarding the cost of living for seniors, Mexico is definitely number one in that respect. 

A lot of doctors are educated in the USA and fluent in English. However, don’t expect the same from nurses. Public healthcare is excellent in urban areas, and the private one more than affordable, too.

4. Portugal

When we say overseas, we really mean it. Lists of best places to retire in Europe aren’t complete without Portugal. 

The country’s healthcare system underwent a huge reform at the beginning of the millennium. The only thing stopping it from being ranked higher is the fact it’s notorious for long waiting in lines. Still, private hospitals will make everything much faster at an affordable rate, though it may vary. From a few hundred to a few thousand euros. 

3. France

For the best wines and cheese among 11 best places to retire overseas for affordable and efficient health care, go to France! Come for the food and stay for the healthcare system.

PUMA system is available to American retirees and other non-EU citizens under certain conditions. It’s a bit complicated, but the public healthcare system is very good. Private insurance is needed only in certain cases, so study the regulations well.

2. Italy 

Where is the best place to retire in Europe if you’re an arty senior? Perhaps in Italy! It is said to have great options for retiring on your social system. 

You’ll be glad to know that a lot of medicines are absolutely free when prescribed by a local GP. Plenty of pharmacies around the country as well. The only thing to look out for here may be the hot weather. Remember to hydrate well while going sightseeing in city squares!

1. Spain 

Spain ranks top not only among 11 best places to retire overseas for affordable and efficient health care, but in the world, too! It deserves the bronze medal for the best healthcare system worldwide.

Healthcare in Spain is free for everybody: residents and non-residents. However, eye and dental care are charged. Both public and private hospitals match the international and European standards, so retirees are in safe hands here. In addition, pharmacists are allowed to provide medicine without prescription if they find it is needed. Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Alicante — they’re all just waiting for you! For more information, please see 10 most popular places to retire in Europe.