American pensioners move to Latin America for a better life

Фото: Depositphotos

For casual visitors, this colonial city in the south of Ecuador looks as if it had descended directly from the pages of history. With its cobbled streets, cathedrals and busy markets, it exudes the charm of the old world.

But Cuenca is in the center of attention of American retirees who do not want or cannot financially live out their golden years at home.

The growing wave of expats of older people not only changes the concept of care, but also changes the face of the community across America. And this trend will grow.

There is no exact way to measure this phenomenon, but social security payments were sent to 380 by thousands of American pensioners who live abroad in 2014, which is 50% more than ten years earlier.

Evidence shows that older people are moving to Canada, Mexico, Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador.

The latter is home to 2850 retirees receiving benefits, according to the US government. However, these data do not show the full picture. In Cuenca, a census was recently conducted, according to which the town became a haven for nearly 10 of thousands of foreign retirees, most of whom are Americans from Texas and Florida.

For example, Susan and Michael Herron leisurely breakfast on the banks of the river Tomebamba, which crosses the city.

They lived in central Florida, Georgia, Alaska, South Carolina and Panama, before coming to Ecuador, where you can live beautifully and cheaply.

“We could survive [financially] in the United States if we moved to the countryside,” said Susan, 71.

In Cuenca, with a population of about 350 thousands of people, they found reliable public transport, an extensive museum network, good health care and markets with fresh fruits and products. Here they rent a two-bedroom apartment for less than $ 400 per month. They noticed that getting about $ 1500 per month can live and travel solidly.

“We couldn’t afford to go out in the United States,” Susan explained.

Random shelter

Countries throughout the hemisphere are trying to win over American pensioners with their pensions. Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, in particular, tried to make everything much more accessible for the elderly.

But city officials say that Cuenca has become a casual haven.

“Cuenca has never sought to attract retirees,” said Ana Paulina Crespo, director of the municipality’s international relations. “In fact, we faced a lot of problems due to not knowing how to cope with a phenomenon that we did not create.”

The city is struggling to cope with local fears over land and public health prices. The language barrier caused local irritation. In some restaurants and even districts, it seems, they only want to speak English.

“Residents feel like strangers in their city,” she added.

Starting around the year 2009, American pensioners began to arrive en masse in Cuenca.

“The Internet has changed everything,” said Dan Prescher, editor-in-chief International living, who recently moved from Ecuador to Mexico to be closer to his family in the United States. “Now you can talk to the retirees who live here.”

73% of US retirees in Cuenca, according to a survey, said they learned about the city from the Internet.

Crisis and socialism

In 1999, Ecuador was mired in a financial and banking crisis that forced millions of people to travel to the United States and Europe in search of work. Now many of them are returning home - most speak excellent English and have degrees from internationally recognized universities.

There are disadvantages of living abroad. Some older people said they felt isolated against language and cultural barriers.

Healthcare

If there is a real driving force for retirees, so is healthcare. Although the Trump administration said it would leave Medicare untouched, the president’s intention to abandon affordable medicine amid rising contributions has created anxiety among the elderly.

James Skalsky, a 74-year-old architect and builder from Minneapolis, came here three years ago with overweight, high blood pressure and a history of heart disease.

"In the United States, all they will do for you is give you medicine," he said. Here the doctor worked with him for six months, using diet, therapy and meditation. For all this he paid $1600.

“Just last month I had to go to the dentist because of sore gums. The dentist uses X-ray equipment made in Germany,” he said. X-rays, antibiotics and a visit to the dentist cost him less than $30. He called his friend from Alaska here to visit the dentist. Even if you spend money on a flight, it is still more profitable and cheaper here.

Since Medicare does not cover most of the costs abroad; some US retirees pay $ 84 per month to belong to the public health system. When Michael, an 76-year-old pensioner, ended up in an emergency room because of heart problems, the total bill was $ 133. In the past, the same procedure in the United States, subject to insurance, cost him $ 186 thousand.

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