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Actually, value of health care would be a reason to do it.
But the actual issue with overseas retirement, which is going to be the same in nearly every case (unless you've married a citizen, become a citizen or some other lucky arrangement), is, you will be an alien and will have (and mostly not have) rights as a result.
I've beat this drum before, but generally moving to another country has many pitfalls that the ex-pat underestimates. I know of many friends/acquaintances who have moved to a foreign country and only a small percentage that stayed there.
Now I know I'll get responses that say "they" did it or "friends" did it. Sure, it happens and it can work for some.
I'd recommend staying somewhere for six months or so and visiting many times for months at a time before you make the leap, however.
It seems like some people want to make an expat decision - entirely on the basis of getting away from a bad work situation or in search of a low cost, early retirement scenario. IMO, one should never completely cut their existing hone ties in favor of an expat situation ... without at least a 6-month, non-committed trial period.
I wouldn't retire in Central America...too 3rd world and unsafe. Chile is much more developed and safe.
Where I'm living and working currently (Arequipa, Peru) has perfect weather and would cost about half to live here comfortably as the USA...however, it would be very difficult to be accepted fully into the culture here. My thinking is that if you had several families that moved here to have some people to hang out with would make it tolerable. It's not that Peruvians are unfriendly or hostile but they have their culture and it's just different.
If I were choosing to retire outside of the USA, for an affordable 1st world lifestyle, retire to Spain as it's got a great climate, and infrastructure but still inexpensive. If you can take a little bit of 3rd world and want to live cheap, Thailand.
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