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International Living, an expatriate lifestyle magazine, ranked countries around the world in terms of housing, cost of living, culture, health, safety, and climate. This ranking has been conducted to find out the best retirement locations in the world.

Ecuador tops the list, having the lowest cost of housing and living and having a pleasant climate. For instance, Cuenca, its third largest city, demands a cost of living of $17,000 a year. The colonial city features some spectacular architecture and contemporary communities. There are also shopping venues around.

It is not easy to pick the right places because many factors have to be considered. People in the retirement age have special needs that their hometowns may not be able to provide them. These people need comfort, relaxation, safety, and good health care facilities. Unfortunately, not every place in the world offers such benefits.

Keep in mind that the best countries may have areas where living could be unfavorable. Mexico, for instance, is another ideal country for expats. But Puerto Vallarta of Mexico does not offer a convenient life for many retirees. Tepic, which is a smaller town north, may be better in terms of cost of living.

At the same time, there are regional variations in the way of living in each country. For instance, in Ecuador, retirees can stay in Cotacachi and other elevated, cool towns. They may also stay in fishing villages or urban towns of Quito and Cuenca. Each city or town has unique characteristics.

United States is not one of the top ten best retirement locations in the world. Aside from having a generally high cost of living, the country also does not fare well in terms of special benefits being given to retirees. One of the least favorable countries is UK, which has high housing prices and cost of living.

Aside from Mexico and Ecuador, other important places for retirees are Caribbean, Panama, Italy, France, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and Spain. Expats seeking where to retire should make substantial research for favorable destinations before coming up with decisions.

Preferences play an important role in the equation too. Many retirees who wish nothing but good life may live in any spot in the Caribbean, where the tropical environment and pristine beaches offer perfect places for escapades. Crime rate is relatively low, although authorities have pointed out an increasing incidence of crime.

Uruguay, on the other hand, can accommodate any retired senior. American retirees in Uruguay say locals are amiable. It may not be a top tourist destination but it has its own wonders too. Those who want to enjoy a quiet retirement may find Uruguay ideal. Of course, there are shopping venues, markets, restaurants, and lovely destinations as well. Of all towns in Uruguay, Montevideo is probably the top choice.

Italy cannot be missed by anyone wondering where to retire, and one of the best destinations is Calitri. Imagine traditional architecture, delectable cuisine, and fine wines. Housing is relatively cheap in Calitri. For less than 20,000 dollars, one can buy a modest apartment with kitchen and bathroom. Luxury dwellings may cost over 60,000 dollars. The town is bounded by rolling hills and lush forests. Note that European citizens in Calitri receive free health care.

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So, why should YOU consider retiring to Panama? There are probably as many reasons as there are people considering it, but below I give you seven of my personal economic reasons.

Panama is not new to the top ranking of retirement destinations. It has continually ranked in the top ten for a decade or longer. International Living magazine, the American Association of Retired People, Modern Maturity magazine, Retire and Invest Overseas, and a multitude of other newsletters and publications have praised the benefits of retiring to Panama. After doing much research on retirement destinations, I personally chose Panama as my country of choice. I have listed my lifestyle reasons for choosing Panama in another article so here I only consider the economic ones.

Number 1: The Panamanian pensionado (retiree) visa is second to none. Since its inception in June of 1987, the Panama pensionado visa has continued to improve. It is basically a lifetime visa for foreign retired persons and unlike the retiree program for native Panamanians, the minimum age can go as low as nineteen years of age (or just over the age for for classification as a dependent). The amount of monthly income required to obtain the visa recently increased but so have the benefits. Simply by demonstrating your pensionado status, you will receive discounts ranging from 10% up to 50% off everything from doctor’s visits to movie tickets. Even airfare within the country carries a 25% discount with COPA airlines.

Number 2: Panama uses the American dollar. The official currency is the balboa, but the bills are all in the form of U.S. dollars. Paper money is both called dolar and balboa. Likewise, U.S. pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters are used for change but balboa denominated coins(in the same size and shape of the U.S. coins) are also used. There is therefore no problem with exchange rates or currency exchange.

Number 3: Panama is a major international banking center. Both the retiree and the active businessman can readily make international banking transactions since most of the major world banks are represented here. Panama is also considered high on the list of international destinations for banking privacy.

Number 4: There is no tax on foreign income. Panama does not tax income earned elsewhere and brought into the country. Coupled with the benefits of importing a car and personal goods free of import duty through the pensionado program, this tax status is of tremendous benefit to the retiree. In the case of U.S. retirees, you are still responsible for U.S. taxes the same as if you were in the States and still need to file an annual return. The U.S. allows certain deductions for foreign earned income, but that is another topic for another article.

Number 5: Foreigners can buy and own property. This is an advantage that many retiree destinations do not offer. Whether looking for a growth investment over time or simply a home during your retirement years, Panama real estate offers retirees geographical variety and a large range of purchase prices. Whether you want property in the city, in the mountains, or beachfront property, it is all available and you have the right to purchase real estate as a foreigner.

Number 6: The cost of living is relatively low. The cost of living in Panama is not as low as in some other destinations, but neither do the cheaper destinations offer the additional benefits than living in Panama does. For U.S. and European retirees, the cost of living is generally well below that in their respective native countries.

Number 7: The country’s infrastructure is continually being upgraded. A major factor in the future benefits of a country to the retiree is the status of the country’s infrastructure. Several major projects are currently underway in Panama that will aid both the native and foreign inhabitants. The Panama Canal is being expanded with a third set of locks that will accommodate the world’s largest ships. New roads are going in throughout the country. Several regional airports are in the early planning stages, and there is even talk of putting in a subway in the metropolitan Panama City area.

As I said previously, there are probably as many reasons for a prospective retiree to choose a particular retirement destination as there are people. Those economic reasons I have listed are by no means all, but are the major ones that I consider significant for me.

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Choosing a doctor is not always easy. You first need to find a doctor that takes your insurance. If you have medicare or medical then it may takes some time to find a perfect match. Not all doctors accept this but you can be assured that there are many that will.

First you need to make a list of doctors that you want to visit. You may find doctors by searching online in your area or you may get recommendations. After you have a list then you need to call there office and see if they accept medicare of medical. The ones that do not you can mark them off your list.

Next you want to take the list of doctors that do take your insurance and interview with them. It is important to feel comfortable with your doctor and you should be able to talk with them about anything. There needs to be level of comfort and trust, so make sure that you check out several doctors before making a final decision.

Finding a doctor can be hard enough but getting one that takes medicare or medical can takes you some time. It is important that you find a doctor that not only accepts your insurance but that they are one that you feel comfortable with.

Finally once you spend the time searching for a doctor that fits you needs then you will feel great that you took the time to have a great provider. There are many doctors that accept this type of insurance. It is always a good idea to check with family and friends to get a reference because they can tell you if there doctor is good or not.

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Finding a doctor who accepts Medicare or Medicaid is not hard to find but you need to call around and check who accepts it. Because of restrictions some doctors do not accept it anymore. It is crucial that you have a physician that will accept your insurance or it may cost you a lot of money when making a visit.

First you want to make a list of doctors in your area so that you know where to start. You want to call and mark down only the doctors who accept Medicare or Medicaid. Once you have the list narrowed down then you can start the interview process. You must feel comfortable with the doctor you choose.

Next you want to visit the remaining doctors on your list to see if they will be good for you. You are in control when it comes to finding a doctor so make sure that you interview them and do not be scared to ask a lot of questions. There needs to be a relationship built between them and you and taking to them is the best way to see if you like them or not.

When a doctor accepts Medicare or Medicaid they may have to wait longer to get paid so more doctors are reluctant to accept it. You can find ones that will but it is up to you to spend the time to search out a physician that will take your coverage and one that you feel will do a good job when you are sick.

Finally it is important to remember that finding a doctor is not hard but you need to search around and not choose the first one you find that accepts Medicare or Medicaid. Also you need to be comfortable with the doctor you select and the best way to do that is to interview them until you find the best one for your needs.

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Electronic health record system is definitely a better way to do store patient’s medical health records. It allows for accurate record keeping, increased level of healthcare and a reduction in malpractice insurance premiums. It involves doing away with the pen and paper system of keeping medical records and embracing the digitalizing of all information. Like every new thing, change is not always welcome. A few physicians are stuck in their ways and are not embracing this new system without a fight.

The good news is that you can work around disadvantages to turn them into positive territory or find a replacement. Some of the disadvantages include:-

Privacy Protection

There will always been privacy issues in the healthcare system on who has access to your medical records. With a pen and paper system, with the physical file located at a particular institution there is a limit to who can see your records. Even if there was a security breach and your information is not secured, it is only available to people in that proximity.

But in a situation where your information is sent to a centralized information repository in digital format, all bets are off. This privacy concern is a big issue with many people and will continue to be an issue until it is addressed for good.

Medical records synchronization

Until recently with centralized information repositories, individuals being treated at different facilities could not have their information updated at the same time which could lead to healthcare providers not having updated information when they become available. However, with centralized repositories this problem has been solved, but it has given rise to the above mentioned issue of data security and protection.

High start up cost

There is a high start up cost when transforming a pen and paper system to EHR. Some physicians do not see any immediate benefit to their practice in the short run and drag their feet in implementing EHR.

Legal issues

Taking the healthcare industry to court has in the past few decades been a lucrative venture for attorneys trying to right the wrong done to a patient, whether by omission or commission.

Doctors are already practicing defensive medicine and electronic health record system brings a new potential avenue for litigation and revenue stream for lawyers. With a new system, anything can go wrong, the system could fail or the stored data stolen. Improper uses of collected information are all potential avenues for a law suit.

Gradually, electronic health record system is gaining traction. More and more doctors are embracing it, and depending on the part of the country you are looking at, conversion could be as high as 40%. With government involvement and the amount of resources it is investing, the time will come when digital medical record keeping will be the norm.

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Keys to Financial Planning (2) Speaker: Martin Brown, CIO FIRST Financial Direct Group OHG Created July 2011

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