I understand you most likely aren't interested or have Social or other options but are you going to take the free Part A Medicare that you're entitled to?

I was actually referring to the Mexican equivalent of Social Security, but I should be hearing back from the U.S. embassy in a couple of months about my U.S. benefits, and I'll take everyone's kind advice into consideration. Muchas gracias.

IF eligible, we see no reason not so sign up for part A.

Yup, which was the point of my original post.

IF eligible, we see no reason not so sign up for part A.

Medicare usually doesn’t cover health care while you’re traveling outside the U.S. There are some exceptions, including some cases where Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) may pay for services that you get on board a ship within the territorial waters adjoining the land areas of the U.S. However, Medicare won't pay for health care services you get when a ship is more than 6 hours away from a U.S. port.

Medicare may pay for inpatient hospital, doctor, and ambulance services you get in a foreign country in these rare cases:

You're in the U.S. when a medical emergency occurs, and the foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition.
You're traveling through Canada without unreasonable delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another U.S state when a medical emergency occurs, and the Canadian hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat the emergency.
You live in the U.S. and the foreign hospital is closer to your home than the nearest U.S. hospital that can treat your medical condition, regardless of whether an emergency exists.
Medicare may cover medically necessary ambulance transportation to a foreign hospital only with admission for medically necessary covered inpatient hospital services.

The first qualification is that you have to be a legal resident of the USA. For tourists, with a part B supplement there is a lifetime benefit of $50000 for emergency care only.

Every US Citizen is qualified unless incarcerated. Of course, you need to have the accumulated credits to get no-cost Part A. Part B wouldn't be worth paying for when living abroad. Especially if you're cool with using your country of residence's medical services.

Got my old folks' card from the government today. I'm officially an old fart, and I just may have to dance the Old Folk's Boogie tonight. Can't believe I lived this long, or that I still feel and look this good. No major pieces missing yet, though my heart belongs to a certain woman. And she's the reason I still feel like the 16-year-old I was when I first fell in love with her. Every day she makes me feel like the luckiest Gringo in Mexico.

It didn't seem as hot this Wednesday as it was Tuesday. Still waiting on the rain, though we're pretty sure it's going to rain like hell next week when a hurricane rides up the coast and smashes into us, if the current forecast holds. Stay alert, folks and keep an eye on the weather.

Ranchers, farmers and public administrators are concerned that the lack of rain will affect their livelihoods once the dry season returns. A shame we don't build homes with extra-large cisterns and a roof-drainage system that saves rainwater, like traditional homes have in the Caribbean. It would help ease a lot of our water problems.

Zihuatanejo Vacation Rentals

¡Cuidemos nuestro patrimonio!
#NoQueremosMuelleParaCruceros
#NoQueremosBlueFlagEnLasPlayas
#PreservemosPlayaManzanillo

Las pangas de los pescadores ocupan casi la mitad de Playa Principal. Los pelícanos están siempre muy atentos por migajas.