About Expat Retire Guide

Most expat content sells a dream. This site covers the costs.

Search for "retiring in Portugal" and you'll find beautiful photos, cost of living comparisons measured in coffee prices, and plenty of enthusiasm about the weather. What you won't find is a clear answer to the questions that actually matter when you're 64 and seriously considering the move:

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  What happens to my Medicare if I leave the US?

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  Can I drop Part B to save $200/month, or will that decision cost me forever?

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  What does health insurance actually cost when you're 67 and living abroad?

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  Will Portugal tax my Social Security? What did that famous tax break actually cover — and is it still available?

These aren't edge cases. They're the decisions that determine whether retiring abroad works financially — and they're genuinely hard to get straight answers on.

Medicare is the part nobody explains clearly.

Medicare is built entirely around US-based care. It pays almost nothing outside the country. Yet most retirees spend decades paying into it — and face real, permanent consequences if they make the wrong enrollment decisions before they leave.

The information exists, scattered across CMS documents, SSA publications, and insurance fine print. I read all of it and turned it into plain language. That's what this site is.

How this site covers things

Every figure on this site — Medicare premiums, visa income requirements, tax brackets — comes from a primary source. I link to it directly so you can verify. I update key figures annually each fall when CMS publishes the new year's Medicare rates, and track what's changed.

Some pages include affiliate links to international health insurance providers. If you request a quote through one of those links, I may earn a commission at no cost to you. I only list plans that are genuinely relevant to US retirees abroad — I don't accept payment to include or exclude providers.

AI tools assist with research and first-draft synthesis on this site — useful for pulling signal out of dense CMS documents and visa fine print. Every page is reviewed, fact-checked against primary sources, and edited by me before publishing. Those calls are mine.

This site doesn't replace personalized legal, tax, or financial advice. For decisions specific to your situation — especially around Medicare enrollment windows and tax planning — talk to a licensed professional who specializes in expat finances.