9 Countries With Better Healthcare Than The U.S. That Offer Retirement Visas

If you're retiring out of the States it's important to find quality healthcare services.

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You can dream of moving to another country, but if there’s no viable path to remaining long-term, there’s not much you can do about it. 

Sure, you could visit, then overstay your tourist visa, but that’s not recommended. At best you’ll receive a fine, and at worst you’ll end up in jail (or booted out of the country without any hope of returning). Overstay a European visa long enough and you might be barred from returning to the rest of the Schengen Area.

Student visas are viable, but you must first be accepted into a local university. There are work visas, though most businesses prefer hiring locals whenever possible. Bringing a foreigner onboard means a load of additional HR paperwork, which is why, unless you specialize in computer engineering, medicine, or another in-demand position, it can prove difficult to secure such a visa. 

Digital nomad visas are fantastic, and great for those who work remotely, but if you’re retired and receive your income via a pension, Social Security, disability, or similar means, a nomad visa is out of the question. This, in most instances, leaves you with either a golden visa, or retirement visas. 

If you have hundreds of thousands of dollars sitting around, go the golden visa route, as the process is straightforward and usually offers a streamlined approach towards residency (or citizenship). However, if you aren’t flush with cash, a retirement visa is the way to go. 

Naturally, if you want to retire in a foreign nation, you’ll want a destination with quality health coverage. Now, in the United States you’ll find larger, plush waiting rooms (complete with televisions, tropical fish tanks, and somewhat recent magazines), doctor offices that fit several people, and often more receptionists than doctors. Outside of a select few countries, that’s not something you’ll typically find. Waiting rooms are smaller, there’s no exotic fish, and the support staff will be limited at best. 

However, with all that said, it doesn’t mean you’ll receive inferior medical attention. In my experience, while the examination rooms are smaller, the doctors will answer every question without constantly checking their watch or rushing off to another patient (as doctors don’t overbook their time). In South America, there’s a friendlier atmosphere, as conversations with doctors felt like I was catching up with a frequently-visited barber or hair stylist. 

Friendly medical professionals aside, the quality of service you receive is paramount. A joke-cracking dentist won’t do you much good if they’re slicing gums and drilling into cheeks. That is why you should consider retirement visas in countries that outperform the United States’ medical infrastructure. 

There are many ways to compare national healthcare systems. For this article, we’ll use the Legatum Prosperity Index (2023). Located in London, the organization ranked 167 nations based on service accessibility to maintain health, the overall quality of health (how healthy is the average citizen), and the kind of healthcare services provided. 

Using the criteria, the top ten countries were Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Israel, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Not too many surprises there. However, according to the Legatum Prosperity Index, the United States ranks 69th, just behind Bulgaria, Albania, Jamaica, and Armenia (and just ahead of Algeria, Mexico, and Romania). 

Of the 68 superior countries (at least according to this list), a number of them offer retirement visas. Let’s take a look at each.

Costa Rica (30th)

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• Minimum $1,000 Income

• $150 Cost

Known as the Pensionado Visa, Costa Rica offers a retirement visa at the affordable rate of $1,000 a month. This number has not increased in several years, so don’t be surprised to see it raised at some point in the coming years (always double-check visa requirements as these can change without much warning). 

With the Costa Rica retirement visa you will be required to contribute to the “La Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social,” which is the national social security fund. 

Thailand (31st)

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• Various deposit requirements

• Costs $340

There are several monetary requirements to qualify for the Non-Immigrant Retirement Visa in Thailand. You must first deposit no less than 3 million baht (around $89,000), or you must deposit 1.8 million baht ($53,400) and have an annual retirement income of no less than 1.2 million baht ($35,600). You also need to have health insurance.

This is one country that will require some medical records to apply for this visa, as you cannot have a prohibitive disease, such as tuberculosis, elephantiasis, syphilis, or leprosy.

This visa is good for a decade and can be extended as long as you still meet the requirements (or you can switch to a different visa).

Uruguay (35)

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• Minimum $1,500 Income

• No listed costs

This is a visa you will apply for while in Uruguay. When traveling to Uruguay (which is by far the wealthiest and most organized country in South America, with a standard of living superior to much of Europe), you’ll apply for a temporary residence ID card. After three months, you become eligible to apply for the Uruguay Retirement Visa.

This is probably the easiest South American retirement visa to apply for, and it’s perfect for anyone who desires a European lifestyle with South American weather.