I am pushing 50 and work in NY. I am in love with life in the DR and cannot wait till I am 65 and getting medicare to move to the DR. I want to go when I am 55 , take whatever I can from the 401 k plans and CDs I have and start up shop in La caleta or Boca Chica. I know some people there for a while now ( Dominicans) and I am sure they would help me get around. However, what worries me is the health system and what I might or might not be entitled to. I am in fairly good health, no major problems,yet....but who knows? If I should get sick over there, would they take care of me? Would I need totake up residency and pay taxes to get the benefits- which I would gladly do? Any advice is much appreciated as I want to start my building plan right now... cheers MIke