Well, the time is approaching, and just as before when we thought we'd be
leaving soon, life has interrupted (or at least complicated matters).

To shorten the story, following a stress test and immediate catheterization
a week ago, I now have 3 stents in my heart artery having been, and
remaining, regardless, asymptomatic of any problem. I'm going to work on
the boat again in a couple of days, and still do my physical therapy for my
arm, so nothing has changed in that regard. As quickly as my shoulder
objective is reached, we're outta here.

Lydia, when we leave, of course, won't have the insurance which has made
dealing with what's turned out to be a pile of horsepucky on my part
possible. The surgeon is adamant that we should do COBRA when she leaves
and maintain health insurance for quite some time. He also wants me to have
a followup stress test as late as possible before we leave or 6 months from
now, whichever comes first. It's our expectation that to COBRA would nearly
double our cruising budget - which, probably needless to say, changes
matters rather drastically. And, of course, that's only available for a
(relatively) short period of time, in any case.

Worse, we don't expect to be in the US waters more than fleetingly, and then
only peripherally, i. e. Puerto Rico and the US Virgins, as we expect to
cruise the Caribbean.

Lo these 7 years ago, when I started researching via reading this group and
others, long before even looking for a boat, I recall a highly regarded
English company insuring Americans for everywhere other than the US, for
some pittance. Of course, now, (now) with my history, we may have some
great difficulty receiving insurance, at all.

However, to the point of the post, what's folks' recommendations for health
insurance in non-US waters (expected to be Caribbean only for the forseeable
future, but that includes a slow work-down of the thorny path, perhaps some
significant time in the Bahamas for starters)?

Thanks.

L8R

Skip (and Lydia, by proxy)

--
Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
http://tinyurl.com/384p2 The vessel as Tehamana, as we bought her

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.
Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

Skip, I'm a health insurance broker, so I'll do my best. Read below...

"Skip Gundlach" skipgundlach at gmail dotcom wrote in message
...
Well, the time is approaching, and just as before when we thought we'd be
leaving soon, life has interrupted (or at least complicated matters).

To shorten the story, following a stress test and immediate
catheterization
a week ago, I now have 3 stents in my heart artery having been, and
remaining, regardless, asymptomatic of any problem. I'm going to work on
the boat again in a couple of days, and still do my physical therapy for
my
arm, so nothing has changed in that regard. As quickly as my shoulder
objective is reached, we're outta here.

Lydia, when we leave, of course, won't have the insurance which has made
dealing with what's turned out to be a pile of horsepucky on my part
possible. The surgeon is adamant that we should do COBRA when she leaves
and maintain health insurance for quite some time. He also wants me to
have
a followup stress test as late as possible before we leave or 6 months
from
now, whichever comes first. It's our expectation that to COBRA would
nearly
double our cruising budget - which, probably needless to say, changes
matters rather drastically. And, of course, that's only available for a
(relatively) short period of time, in any case.

Through who's employment does the COBRA come from, yours or hers. If it's
yours, then you can maintain it yourself and let Lydia acquire coverage with
an individual plan.

Worse, we don't expect to be in the US waters more than fleetingly, and
then
only peripherally, i. e. Puerto Rico and the US Virgins, as we expect to
cruise the Caribbean.

Lo these 7 years ago, when I started researching via reading this group
and
others, long before even looking for a boat, I recall a highly regarded
English company insuring Americans for everywhere other than the US, for
some pittance. Of course, now, (now) with my history, we may have some
great difficulty receiving insurance, at all.

Lloyds of London, through Petersen International. It's been years since I
sold a policy but I'm fairly certain there are health underwriting
questions, which will exclude you.

However, to the point of the post, what's folks' recommendations for
health
insurance in non-US waters (expected to be Caribbean only for the
forseeable
future, but that includes a slow work-down of the thorny path, perhaps
some
significant time in the Bahamas for starters)?

Blue Cross does a nice job but it will be tricky getting you on to their
plans unless you happen to have Cobra through them.

Are you approaching 65? If so, brand new ball game. (a better one).

-Greg

"Skip Gundlach" skipgundlach at gmail dotcom wrote in news:a8d69$43f106e7
:

The surgeon is adamant that we should do COBRA

Of course he is! You goin' off healthy to screw around on a boat ISN'T
gonna make his Mercedes and house payments or buy him a new waterfront
mansion on the beach at Kiawah Island. I can't imagine why he wants to get
you hooked-on-surgery and keep you from going anywhere, can you?

Only lawyers are worse than doctors, and should be next in line for the
guillotine after we run out of lawyers...

Been so cold lately, the Dr's and lawyers have had their hands in their own
pockets!
"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Skip Gundlach" skipgundlach at gmail dotcom wrote in
news:a8d69$43f106e7
:

The surgeon is adamant that we should do COBRA

Of course he is! You goin' off healthy to screw around on a boat ISN'T
gonna make his Mercedes and house payments or buy him a new waterfront
mansion on the beach at Kiawah Island. I can't imagine why he wants to
get
you hooked-on-surgery and keep you from going anywhere, can you?

Only lawyers are worse than doctors, and should be next in line for the
guillotine after we run out of lawyers...

Skip Gundlach wrote:
Well, the time is approaching, and just as before when we thought we'd be
leaving soon, life has interrupted (or at least complicated matters).

To shorten the story, following a stress test and immediate catheterization
a week ago, I now have 3 stents in my heart artery having been, and
remaining, regardless, asymptomatic of any problem.

If you aren't symptomatic, what caused you to get a test and then some
stents?

Skip:

You inspired me (I am 50), back to the gym for me. Excercise really
seems to be a miracle cure for me and high blood pressure.

Thanks

I would suggest that you look at IMG (http://www.imglobal.com/) We use them
and have had no issues. Most of the international plans are very similar and
require you to be out of the country for at least 6 months out of the year.

-- Geoff