A recent article in expatify.com exemplifies the growing concern over affordable healthcare in the U.S., and how it’s driving more citizens to seriously examine viable alternatives, such as expatriation as a possible solution. According to the article:

“As legislators debate endlessly over a new health care bill in the U.S., many people are increasingly wondering if they’d be better off growing old elsewhere. Health care has become a primary motivator for many people in making that grand leap abroad.”

Read more.

This top 10 list was originally written by one of our yourville members, crhomebuilder. It was originally posted here. We thought this list was so good , that we though we should share it with you.

Costa Rica has some of the best weather in the world, and a much less expensive cost of living than most countries. Adventure tourism is it’s claim to fame and it has a democratic political process and stable government that attracts 100’s of new foreign retirees and multi-national companies every year. As a permanent resident of Costa Rica for 15 years, I’m frequently asked why I moved here. I’ve assembled my top 10 list of reasons to share with everyone who may be considering moving to paradise.
1.  Climate. My metabolism thrives in the consistent warm temperatures here. No Heater or A/C required, therefore my old bones are always comfortable.

2.  Nature. Every morning I enjoy the views of the mountains from my dinette table while I’m waking up to the sounds of exotic birds and a flowing river.

3.  Affordable Medical Care. I had a procedure done in CIMA hospital here that cost $350 for a first class operating room, anesthesiologist and my internal specialist. The same procedure in Florida costs $2500. This private hospital has 86 private rooms, 14 private suites and is equipped to handle medical, surgical and maternity cases. It has a 24-hour emergency room as well as laboratory, X-ray services, and pharmacy. They accept several U.S. health insurance plans. Affordable dentistry is abundant here as well. A friend from Florida came here specifically to have 6 implants installed and this was his 2nd trip to have this work completed by the same dentist. During his 1st trip he had 2 implants and crowns installed and the total procedure took 3 days. The dentist arranged for hotel and transport from the airport and daily for the office visits. The cost he paid is $500 per tooth for titanium steel covered with bone material implants. The actual procedure takes less than 30 minutes per tooth. The impressions and the porcelain crowns cost $250 each. The dentist makes the crowns right in his office so he had the impressions made on Monday and the crowns installed on Tuesday. This dentist was educated at the U of Missouri. He does the implants and his son takes the impressions and installs the crowns.

4.  My Tico Neighbors. Here in my pueblo, I live vicariously through the Tico families that live nearby with their close family unit and laid back ways of entertaining themselves and their kids. No video games or HDTV movies down here. The kids always have plenty of soccer in the center of town and then it’s home with the folks to study and watch a little local TV with an old fashioned antenna on the roof.

5.  Safety. Whenever I see a sensationalized report about a crime committed here, I wonder what the reports on the 11 o clock news are in New York or Miami. There is more violent crime in most North American cities in one month than we experience here in a year, yet the media loves to highlight crimes against U.S citizens that occur outside of US borders. No country is immune to the increasing crime rates that you find almost everywhere in the world. In most Costa Rican pueblos, crime tends to petty theft rather than violent. Unless you frequent areas targeted by criminals, you should not come face to face with crime. Costa Rica is a peace-loving democracy with no military and is frequently referred to as the Switzerland of the Americas.

6.  Cost of Living. The financial benefits of being a U.S. citizen living abroad is attractive because we enjoy the tax-free foreign earned income benefit of more than $80,000 per year. Property tax for a cozy two bedroom condo including all municipal services such as garbage pickup twice per week and street and sidewalk maintenance is only $60.00 per year and the monthly condo maintenance fee is only $10.00. Monthly potable water costs $9.00. The electric bill is just $7.00 because ceiling fans are all that’s needed to stay comfortable. In 2008, we had a 5.1% increase in the minimum wages. Below are the MONTHLY minimum wages for the following services as of 2008: Housemaid = $186. Messenger = $316. Security Guard = $343. Retail Salesperson =$252. Bus driver = $263. Secretary = $334. Membership to the local private recreational club is only $35 a month. There are a variety of local restaurants, offering some of the healthiest and best fire roasted chicken and broiled fish, plus Chinese, pizza and typical Tico food. I eat out almost everyday and spend an average of 2000 colones or $3.50 at lunch for fresh cooked meals. A beer in the local bar at happy hour is 550 colones or $.98 and a Johnnie Walker is 900 colones or $1.60. The local roasted chicken restaurant charges $4.64 for a 1/4 chicken with salad and tortillas including tip. Dinner or lunch at the El Dorado seafood restaurant of fresh Dorado or Corvina, salad and potatoes is $5.00 including tip. And their fabulous, take-out Ceviche, I keep in my frig for a healthy snack.

7.  Fresh Food and Produce. My eggs are fresh every morning. The fish and chicken I eat for lunch were swimming and clacking at breakfast. And the hydroponic vegetables I make my salads with are picked fresh as I need them. If you want to eat North American style, the local Price Smart is stocked with imported foodstuffs and Outback and Hooters are close by.

8.  High Technology. Intel and Hewlet Packard are just a few of the multi-national companies that have set up shop here. Many large international companies have moved here and they are creating 100’s of new jobs for the local kids every year. I’m writing this article on my wireless laptop sitting in my easy chair while keeping my eye on CBS and ABC news programs that are beamed into the high-speed cable in my condo. And I can keep in touch with my family and friends in the USA for 9 cents a minute with my local long distance company.

9.  Location. I can jump on a 2.5 hour flight to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale if something comes up with my family in Florida. I’m closer to my parents from here than my brother is in Illinois.

10.  Adventure Tourism. Whenever I feel the urge or have friends come to visit there are a variety of exciting options to experience here. Volcanoes are within an hour and the Caribbean or Pacific Beaches are only a few hours away. The Forest Canopy tour is a great half day adventure and many of my friends enjoy rolling down the rivers on White Water Rafting trips.

US expatriates who are struggling with expatriate tax will find the article written by Nick Hodges, President of NCH Wealth Advisors, very helpful. The article – 25 Questions US expatriates MUST Ask provides US expatriates with the best tools, strategies and planning techniques to help US expatriates to manage their tax and financial goals and dreams on a day-to-day basis regardless of their location.

The Internet super-highway opens up marvelous opportunities for US expatriates to harvest expat tax advice and information from some of the greatest minds at reasonable prices from anywhere in the world. But it also emphasizes a crucial question: How do you know whom to trust? Sharing your intimate, personal financial information with a stranger is problematic at best. The article’s 25 questions can help any expat choose a tax and financial professional you can trust. The original article can be found at: http://www.ExpatCFO.com.

Much interest continues to be shown about the rules and regulations regarding bringing pets into Costa Rica. The following from Livingabroadin.com will answer many questions and help clarify the procedure. In this case, dogs and cats.

For dogs and cats and other small pets, you’ll need to prove to both the airlines and Costa Rica customs officers that your animal is healthy. Schedule an exam with your local veterinarian a week or two before your departure date—the vet should fill out a health certificate stating that the animal is disease-free and has been vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and rabies. The rabies vaccination is supposed to be more than 30 days but less than a year old, and is necessary only for animals 4 months or older. The health certificate should then be endorsed by a Veterinary Service (VS) veterinarian, but need not be notarized. The Costa Rican consulate says the examination for the certificate must be conducted within the two weeks prior to travel to Costa Rica, though anecdotal evidence suggests that a certificate up to 30 days old will do the trick.

Pet owners also need to get authorization from the Costa Rican Health Ministry; go through your nearest Costa Rica consulate or embassy to obtain this permission.

When you arrive in Costa Rica, the customs officer will do a visual inspection of your pet (for which you will be charged US$1), and look over the health certificate and the authorization from the Costa Rican Health Ministry. If all is in order, you’re through, and can find a pet-friendly taxi (not an easy task) and stuff your Irish wolfhound in the backseat. Some people traveling with pets report that they weren’t even asked for their documents, but you can’t count on encountering such relaxed attitudes yourself.

If you’re missing any documents or the officer decides your pet looks ill and might transmit disease, the animal will either be temporarily released to your care (kind of like being out on bail) or (if the official decides there’s a real health risk) kept in a state kennel for up to 30 days, until you work out what to do next—arrange for the necessary paperwork, or contact a local vet if your animal needs care.

Photo By: Petteri Sulonen

Has the sagging global economy dampened your dream of living in a foreign country ? It’s apparently on the mind of many potential expats . But say, for example, you have a spot in mind. Which one is best for you? Without a doubt the decision is tough one, with many international choices available to you, as well as various lifestyles. And what are the factors that would determine your decision to relocate to a new country?  Share your thoughts with our Yourville.com members.