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0 pointsremyp1y ago0 comments

I did. Healthcare was a big part of that decision. My older siblings have been through hell both medically and financially because of the US healthcare system.

I decided to learn from their experiences and GTFO while I could. I miss my family and friends dearly, but it’s a massive relief (and privilege) to be able to get the care I need and not worry about whether the cost is going to bankrupt me.

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qwerpy1y ago

Where did you end up going? I have some savings and would like to retire early, and getting health insurance is an impediment to that. Need somewhere that doesn’t require a work visa and is a good place to raise a family. I have enough to do it in the US but would be happy to consider alternatives.

remypOP1y ago

To Portugal. If you have enough assets to retire in the US then you probably qualify for the passive income visa.

It’s not all smooth sailing, though. The immigration agency here (AIMA) currently has 300,000 cases in the queue. It’s so difficult to get an appointment that people are making hundreds of calls per day, standing in queues for hours only to not be seen, and filing lawsuits.

Most people here make about €1200/mo and there’s a severe housing crisis that I have contributed to with my presence. The influx of people like me with vastly higher purchasing power is creating resentment: the far-right party quadrupled (5% -> 20%) their seats in parliament by running against immigration.

Having said that, I do love it here. I’ve been considering blogging about my experience since there’s a dearth of clear-eyed information from real people who moved to Portugal and aren’t selling something.

Anyhow, I’m happy to share more info and resources with anyone who wants to learn more. Please feel free to reach out - my contact info is in my profile.

tills131y ago

Thanks for sharing your experience. And thanks for acknowledging your part in "the problem" -- truly, a lot of people in your position e.g. immigrate, and then try to pull the ladder up after them.

mancerayder1y ago

How's the healthcare?

I have Portuguese friends who relocated to the US (for the salary, rest assured they own homes there to go back to). They're saying there are waits and quality issues.

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