Mid Life Crisis, perhaps!?!

Come with an armful of cash and an open mind.  Rentals are scarce on all islands right now but especially STJ which doesn't have much to begin with. Be aware if you aren't already there are no individual health insurance options in the VI right now.  Suggest you invest in a pre-move visit in low season for a few weeks first.  You can do vacation rental for that.

Thank you for your honest reply.  I have dear friends on St Thomas who are also putting out feelers for me.  I'm in a good position now to put my heart and energy into something positive, like possibly doing some volunteer work as well.   I am aware that a major rebuild is in progress in the area.  I know it will take time, but I would love to be a part of it.  

hollyfoulke: Plenty of middle aged folk have found their way to the VI over the years. ? The only advice I would give is: Don't burn your bridges back home. Don't sell everything- put stuff in storage and come for 6 months. See if living here fits you. If you have friends already, that should help. Can you come stay with them for a bit while you look around for work? As Scubadoo says, the health insurance thing stops some people.

As far as the health thing goes, she's a retired flight attendant so she probably will have flight benefits to go back and forth to the states. So that is an advantage. 

Posted by: stxsailor

As far as the health thing goes, she's a retired flight attendant so she probably will have flight benefits to go back and forth to the states. So that is an advantage. 

Flying back to the states is fine, but you STILL need to have insurance that has in network people in the USVI. I'm assuming this poster has that through their union. If so, they should check it out & get a list of providers in the USVI. 

I'm retired airline and my insurance works here. 

Thank you for your thoughts.  I will not have healthcare down there.  That is why I'm interested in working at one of the chain resorts.  I will have limited flight privileges which is a huge plus.  My only concern where it's STJ vs STT is feeling safe.  Like I said, I'm a single 58 year old woman and like to go out and socialize.  I'm not a bimbo, I've traveled a good bit.  Now that I think about what I just wrote, that's pretty funny coming from someone wanting to leave Atlanta!  ?  I don't want to sound cheesy, but my love for the islands goes way back.  I figure I can put myself to use in a place I love rather than stay here in Atlanta and inhale smog.

Posted by: hollyfoulke

Thank you for your thoughts.  I will not have healthcare down there.  That is why I'm interested in working at one of the chain resorts.  I will have limited flight privileges which is a huge plus.  My only concern where it's STJ vs STT is feeling safe.  Like I said, I'm a single 58 year old woman and like to go out and socialize.  I'm not a bimbo, I've traveled a good bit.  Now that I think about what I just wrote, that's pretty funny coming from someone wanting to leave Atlanta!  ?  I don't want to sound cheesy, but my love for the islands goes way back.  I figure I can put myself to use in a place I love rather than stay here in Atlanta and inhale smog.

I think it's wonderful that you want to come down not just for yourself but also to contribute somewhere you would be needed. I really do hope you do it. You may want to consider Med-evac insurance just in case of the rare instance where you need to get taken to a stateside hospital in a hurry.  I'm an older guy and my wife and I would not consider going without insurance. It's not just for the serious stuff, it also gives you options to go to private medical groups without worrying it's going to eat up your budget for months or years after.  

Posted by: Fishbait

Posted by: hollyfoulke

Thank you for your thoughts.  I will not have healthcare down there.  That is why I'm interested in working at one of the chain resorts.  I will have limited flight privileges which is a huge plus.  My only concern where it's STJ vs STT is feeling safe.  Like I said, I'm a single 58 year old woman and like to go out and socialize.  I'm not a bimbo, I've traveled a good bit.  Now that I think about what I just wrote, that's pretty funny coming from someone wanting to leave Atlanta!  ?  I don't want to sound cheesy, but my love for the islands goes way back.  I figure I can put myself to use in a place I love rather than stay here in Atlanta and inhale smog.

I think it's wonderful that you want to come down not just for yourself but also to contribute somewhere you would be needed. I really do hope you do it. You may want to consider Med-evac insurance just in case of the rare instance where you need to get taken to a stateside hospital in a hurry.  I'm an older guy and my wife and I would not consider going without insurance. It's not just for the serious stuff, it also gives you options to go to private medical groups without worrying it's going to eat up your budget for months or years after.  

Serious question - where do you evacuate to if you don't have medical insurance?

BTW it's not your choice to be med evac-ed, it's up to local doctors who determine you cannot be treated locally. 

Really truly think long and hard about moving to the VI without medical insurance. Maybe you could take an extended vacation with a travel insurance plan while looking for a job with benefits. 

At age 58, chances are you have assets to lose and one illness or injury could bankrupt you. Medical insurance is asset insurance as well as health insurance.

Ditto Gator's Mom... People think that if they get MASA or Aero MD insurance, they will be whisked away for any small issue. First, you have to have a problem that can't be dealt with here. Open heart surgery and neurosurgery are probably the two biggest problems. Second, you are taken to the closest facility that can handle your issue. That is usually Puerto Rico. Third, you have to have an accepting facility and physician. You need to have insurance to get you the last of these. Even if you do have health insurance and air ambulance insurance (both recommended), your fate is not guaranteed.

With MASA you can choose, PR, Miami or region of your choice. 

Yes, but you pay extra for each "tier". And you still need insurance, an accepting facility, and physician.

We paid the extra for the hospital of choice. Worth it if i ever need it. Let's hope i don't. cool thing about MASA is you get a discount shopping at plaza with the card. I'n hoping that's all I ever use my card for. 🙂

I wasn't suggesting she use Med Evac insurance by choice, which obviously isn't possible, or else a very expensive option on the policy, but as a just-in-case. I plan on buying it but I will have health insurance, including Medicare. 

I'm just curious, East Ender you said you need an "accepting" doctor at the destination. Does that mean you need to set things up in advance with a stateside doctor? That seems kind of odd considering you may not get to pick your destination. I plan on researching the policies soon. 

Posted by: Fishbait

I wasn't suggesting she use Med Evac insurance by choice, which obviously isn't possible, or else a very expensive option on the policy, but as a just-in-case. I plan on buying it but I will have health insurance, including Medicare. 

I'm just curious, East Ender you said you need an "accepting" doctor at the destination. Does that mean you need to set things up in advance with a stateside doctor? That seems kind of odd considering you may not get to pick your destination. I plan on researching the policies soon. 

 

We have SkyMed and pay the fee to be flown anywhere in the Mainland or PR. I have used the program twice for non life threatening emergencies, as they commit to providing necessary medical services if they are not available in the territory. First use was based on partial retinal detachment and bc there was no retina specialist on island at the time, they flew me to PR. I chose PR bc a relative who lives there highly recommended his retina specialist and I had a place to stay. The second time, I needed a cardiology consult ASAP for diagnostic purposes and the earliest cardiology appointment on island was 3 months off. Plus, bc of Maria, he had no basic diagnostic equipment, including halter monitors. Skymed flew us to my old MD in the Mainland. I did not have to provide info re: accepting MDs, perhaps bc I have insurance and did not require hospitalization. That being said, we are permanently moving away from the USVIs, largely due to poor health services. We want to live in an area with excellent medical care and establish health care and community relationships while we are still in our late 50’s and early 60’s.  

Posted by: M&M

Posted by: Fishbait

I wasn't suggesting she use Med Evac insurance by choice, which obviously isn't possible, or else a very expensive option on the policy, but as a just-in-case. I plan on buying it but I will have health insurance, including Medicare. 

I'm just curious, East Ender you said you need an "accepting" doctor at the destination. Does that mean you need to set things up in advance with a stateside doctor? That seems kind of odd considering you may not get to pick your destination. I plan on researching the policies soon. 

 

We have SkyMed and pay the fee to be flown anywhere in the Mainland or PR. I have used the program twice for non life threatening emergencies, as they commit to providing necessary medical services if they are not available in the territory. First use was based on partial retinal detachment and bc there was no retina specialist on island at the time, they flew me to PR. I chose PR bc a relative who lives there highly recommended his retina specialist and I had a place to stay. The second time, I needed a cardiology consult ASAP for diagnostic purposes and the earliest cardiology appointment on island was 3 months off. Plus, bc of Maria, he had no basic diagnostic equipment, including halter monitors. Skymed flew us to my old MD in the Mainland. I did not have to provide info re: accepting MDs, perhaps bc I have insurance and did not require hospitalization. That being said, we are permanently moving away from the USVIs, largely due to poor health services. We want to live in an area with excellent medical care and establish health care and community relationships while we are still in our late 50’s and early 60’s.  

That's really good to know. Thanks for sharing.

Your cardiology narrative confirms the "accepting MD" requirement since you were flown to an appointment with an MD with whom you already had a patient relationship.

My point, perhaps not clear, is that I while I had to provide documentation about the fact that a) I had specific medical needs and b) those needs  could not be met in the territory,  I did not have to provide documentation from treating/accepting MD’s in either PR or the Mainland. They took my word for it. I thought that was awesome. 

Fishbait: What I meant is that if you have a situation that can't be cared for here, you have to have a physician and a facility that will accept you. If you don't have insurance, for example, and you need neurosurgery, they will try to get you Medicaid. Then they (social workers and human services) will try to find a facility that will take you and a physician that will do the surgery. If you can't qualify for Medicaid, oops. If you have Medicare or private insurance, you won't have trouble finding a facility and physician.

M&M: Did you have medical evacuation or regular commercial flight? I'm gathering you were not a hospital to hospital transfer?

East Ender: My husband and I took a commercial flight as these were non life threatening issues.  They cover airfare for a companion. 

have you decided on a location to move to?

In all likelihood Naples, FL. 

Thanks East Ender.  I'm one of those people who doesn't step out the door without insurance.  ?  ?