Hi Skip,

FWIW, based on our experience during our just completed 2 year trip
around the Pacific, and numerous cockpit conversations, I'd say that
over half of the cruisers out there are going without medical insurance
of any kind. That doesn't mean that it is the smart thing to do, just
that it's what people (ourselves included) seem to be doing.

In our case, other than some dental work done in Mexico (far cheaper
than in the US) and purchasing my blood pressure meds (all over the
counter stuff just about everywhere we went, but I need prescriptions
now that I'm back in the US), we got away with it. Everyone has to make
their own decision, but when I look at the cost of the insurance, the
costs that could have been involved if something serious had come up and
the likelihood of it happening, I think that we made the right choice
for us.

One thing that has to be considered is that in these near-third world
countries, the level of care that can be had in the States isn't
available, but what is available is much less expensive.

In the end, as with all things, ya rolls the dice and you takes yer chances.

Nice to chat with you again -Dan