Coming late to this party, and having dealt with a deadline for Cobra
conversion by gritting our teeth, grimacing and signing up, we have
another avenue to explore.

A full-time cruiser, just arrived in our boatyard where we're not quite
left yet, but at least, in the water, published writer in Latts/Atts,
Lat38 and others, sez he doesn't do health insurance, even in his
relatively high risk years before cruising.

Several reasons, all amounting to "wherever you are, they have to take
care of you" plus whatever the cost adjustments/free you can negotiate
on top of the international differences in the medical care costs as
compared to the US.

He cited several large medical expenses he'd incurred in the past
several years, and the total expense was way smaller than he'd have
paid in premiums.

I believe I recall reading in this forum of some who had gone bare and
even cancer wound up being substantially less than the premiums in a
relatively short period.

What prompts this discussion, since we'd originally planned on going
bare, was my stress test producing 3 stents and a lifetime of Lipitor,
as well as a totally benign breast biopsy for Lydia this past year,
just before we left our coverage under her employer. Thus, we modified
our belief in what was appropriate about our insurance situation.

So, after dithering, and looking into all we could find about
international (we anticipate, even if we base in St. Thomas, being out
of the US and territories for more than 6 months a year) insurance, all
of which would have required a minimum 2 year moratorium (and maybe
forever) on our pre-existing conditions, we bit the bullet and signed
on to Cobra.

However, that represents about 1/3 of the income we anticipated living
on (an additional, unexpected, cost), so it was a real struggle.
Worse, even if we wanted to keep it, our maximum time available on that
is only 18 months. I'll not be eligible for medicare for a couple of
years post-Cobra, in any event, so even if we run out the string, we're
faced with doing something for a couple of years, regardless.

Back to the original - who's done it bare, and what's been the
experience with medical necessity (it's of no value to hear of all the
folks who have self-paid for normal doctor/prescription costs; the
issue is about major care) over time?

Thanks.

L8R

Skip and Lydia