NH for retirement - Insight Please... (Concord, Rochester: buy, pros and cons, income)

[CountryMom92]

Are the medical facilities that bad in NH that people have to travel to MA? What about the Dartmouth Hitchcock facilities or something by Portsmouth? Like I said at this point we are both healthy for the most part, but we are not getting any younger and good doctors and facilities are something we need to keep in mind.

As for the septic and well, we currently have both in NY and have had no issues in over 20 years. As long as you get the septic cleaned out every fews years. Wells - nothing you can do about them just hope they don't dry up.

We have been doing a pro/con list for NH and TN, which is getting longer and longer. One thing that TN has that they are doing away with is the Hall Tax, which is the I&D Tax in NH.

[robr2]

I think some people who live south of Concord may feel more comfortable going the 60-90 minutes down 93 for specialty care. You can find world class care for just about everything in Boston. I have family in Londonderry that come down to Lahey and a friend in Hudson that comes to Joslin for care.

But now that Partners (MGH, B&W, et al) has acquired Wentworth-Douglass in Dover, I wouldn't be surprised to see them expand into the Manchester-Concord corridor.

[KCZ]

Originally Posted by CountryMom92

Are the medical facilities that bad in NH that people have to travel to MA? What about the Dartmouth Hitchcock facilities or something by Portsmouth? Like I said at this point we are both healthy for the most part, but we are not getting any younger and good doctors and facilities are something we need to keep in mind.

DHMC in Lebanon is great if you need cancer, cardiac, or major trauma care. For primary care, not so much. The turnover of their primary care physicians is high, waits to get in as a new primary care patient can take >6 months, appts with specialists can be unobtainable, they waste a lot of your time on garbage like surveys and referral procedures, and parking sucks. I can't speak to their primary care facilities in other parts of the state.

[bigbear99]

Originally Posted by CountryMom92

Are the medical facilities that bad in NH that people have to travel to MA? What about the Dartmouth Hitchcock facilities or something by Portsmouth? Like I said at this point we are both healthy for the most part, but we are not getting any younger and good doctors and facilities are something we need to keep in mind.

Primary care in NH is OK. Common specialties such as pediatrics, orthopedics, vision and cardiology (and others) are easy to find, and the quality is good. The issue is specialist care for more unusual conditions. But that situation is found in many places, not just NH. Dartmouth Hitchcock is decent, just not as good as Boston. Keep in mind that the Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals are among the best in the world. why wouldn't we want to head there when we can? Of course our docs are not as good for those things a tertiary care medical center specializes in. But for primary care, they're fine.

[CountryMom92]

Thanks for the info KCZ. Now that I think about it I should also start to look at who takes medicare. We should be good (I hope) with insurance when we retire as we both have it through our employers. I have been reading threads about some doctors not accepting this.

[KCZ]

With the exception of plastic surgeons doing cosmetic procedures, I think the vast majority of physicians and facilities in NH accept Medicare. However, you're right, it's best to check the specifics.

[C2ShiningC]

Originally Posted by CountryMom92

Are the medical facilities that bad in NH that people have to travel to MA? What about the Dartmouth Hitchcock facilities or something by Portsmouth? Like I said at this point we are both healthy for the most part, but we are not getting any younger and good doctors and facilities are something we need to keep in mind.

I've lived in Londonderry for almost 12 years. I have multiple health issues and have received excellent medical care here. My primary care doctor is through Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, and I have been referred to specialists at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon in the past. Welcome to CMC I have had three separate surgeries at CMC, all with no problem. I never wait to see my primary care doctor or to get blood work done, in fact, I've hardly ever waited for any kind of test. I have also seen specialists through the Elliot Health System in Manchester: Elliot Health System - Elliot Health System . I have had excellent care here and have never felt a need to travel to Mass for it. My sibling and his family have lived here since the mid-eighties, and the family has had several different serious health issues, including surgeries, all taken care of satisfactorily in New Hampshire - they've never gotten treatment in Mass. Although none of us have needed it, if cancer treatment is needed, the Dartmouth Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Institute has several locations in New Hampshire and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has a treatment center in Londonderry. Norris Cotton Cancer Center | New Hampshire (NH) Vermont (VT) Oncology, New England Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - Cancer Treatment and Research in Boston, MA I've had no problems with Medicare being accepted through any of these providers.

[CountryMom92]

Thanks everyone my concerns have been eased with all your positive comments on the healthcare.

Now the task of narrowing down a town and find the elusive single story ranch style home. I do not know what it is so hard to find single story homes in the NE. NY is the same way, two story homes are in abundance singe story not so much. On the flip side our second choice, TN, has an abundance of single story homes.

[Mossy]

I would have to agree whole heartedly about the healthcare. We moved here a year ago and may move out of state in another year. We are giving NH another year. The healthcare is scary. I'm use to top notch healthcare and thought NH would be better than what it is. I haven't ventured to Ma for care yet. Very hard to do care there all the time with committing.

[bigbear99]

Originally Posted by CountryMom92

Thanks everyone my concerns have been eased with all your positive comments on the healthcare.

Now the task of narrowing down a town and find the elusive single story ranch style home. I do not know what it is so hard to find single story homes in the NE. NY is the same way, two story homes are in abundance singe story not so much. On the flip side our second choice, TN, has an abundance of single story homes.

There are good reasons for this difference. First, single story homes are much less energy efficient because they have much more exterior wall and roof area in relation to house sq footage - more space for heat loss. Then there's the issue of cost. For similar square feet, ranches are more expensive because they have a bigger foundation and more roof.

I suspect in TN, many houses are built on slabs. Here, not so much, in fact rarely. When we were house hunting last year, we saw a few slab built, and were thoroughly turned off by the lack of basement storage and the placement of the heating system and fuel tank. In one case, the two effectively turned a two car garage into a one car + motorcyle garage.

Instead, think cape cod, although most of them are in the 2000 sq foot range. Many cape cods have 1st floor masters or master suites.