Matilda,
Buyer beware. Universal's stated position is that they won't issue coverage to anyone applying over the age of 64. I'm not aware that any of the big companies will either.
There used to be a guy who acted as a referrer for a commission and advertised cheap medical insurance in the Playa Magazine here in Sosua. I think he passed away within a year of me meeting him. That coverage cost less than 1/2 of what I was paying. When I checked into the Company further, and asked for reference clients, I was not referred to anyone who had been covered for anything more significant than a simple doctor's office visit, sprains, aches and pains. At the time my Spanish wasn't all that great but I could tell that the contract did not even come close to the coverage options offered by Universal. I passed on it despite the significant monetary savings.
At least for the time being, I would not be comfortable suggesting to anyone who is older than 63 that relocating to the DR to take advantage of cheaper medical care costs is feasible unless they have the means to fully fund their medical treatment themselves. Those that succeed in procuring insurance coverage here but need to file regular claims will find that their premiums rise quickly and eventually coverage will be withdrawn or capped at a limit that leaves a gap between the services they need and what the insurance will actually cover.
From those expats that I have spoken with, the insurance offered by the big boys here is ok to pretty good for those that need emergency care or treatment for one off injuries, infections and diseases. However, when one needs coverage for chronic conditions, even newly presenting conditions it doesn't take long for the insurance companies to try and limit or recoup their ongoing expenditures. Like insurance everywhere, the best coverage is afforded to those that don't need it and don't use it.
Those looking for policies that include dental and prescription reimbursement quickly discover this coverage is even less robust than the medical coverage. As far as the company is concerned, a claim to have a cavity fixed is the same as a claim for a hospital stay. All claims have some sort of cumulative effect and more than the occasional claim can have a major impact on future costs and coverage. This is the nature of gringo medical insurance here as it exists today.
Buyer beware. Universal's stated position is that they won't issue coverage to anyone applying over the age of 64. I'm not aware that any of the big companies will either.
There used to be a guy who acted as a referrer for a commission and advertised cheap medical insurance in the Playa Magazine here in Sosua. I think he passed away within a year of me meeting him. That coverage cost less than 1/2 of what I was paying. When I checked into the Company further, and asked for reference clients, I was not referred to anyone who had been covered for anything more significant than a simple doctor's office visit, sprains, aches and pains. At the time my Spanish wasn't all that great but I could tell that the contract did not even come close to the coverage options offered by Universal. I passed on it despite the significant monetary savings.
At least for the time being, I would not be comfortable suggesting to anyone who is older than 63 that relocating to the DR to take advantage of cheaper medical care costs is feasible unless they have the means to fully fund their medical treatment themselves. Those that succeed in procuring insurance coverage here but need to file regular claims will find that their premiums rise quickly and eventually coverage will be withdrawn or capped at a limit that leaves a gap between the services they need and what the insurance will actually cover.
From those expats that I have spoken with, the insurance offered by the big boys here is ok to pretty good for those that need emergency care or treatment for one off injuries, infections and diseases. However, when one needs coverage for chronic conditions, even newly presenting conditions it doesn't take long for the insurance companies to try and limit or recoup their ongoing expenditures. Like insurance everywhere, the best coverage is afforded to those that don't need it and don't use it.
Those looking for policies that include dental and prescription reimbursement quickly discover this coverage is even less robust than the medical coverage. As far as the company is concerned, a claim to have a cavity fixed is the same as a claim for a hospital stay. All claims have some sort of cumulative effect and more than the occasional claim can have a major impact on future costs and coverage. This is the nature of gringo medical insurance here as it exists today.
