Apologies if this is not the proper forum to post this message. I trust a Moderator to change forum if necessary.
With eligibility for Medicare a few months away, I am trying to figure out if it is worth enrolling due to lack of coverage outside the US, or if it is even possible without a US address.
In my situation with pre-existing conditions, buying insurance in Thailand has been impossible, which would suggest the need for Medicare. On the other hand, traveling to the US for anything but a major issue could be uneconomical due to hotel/apartment rental costs, transportation costs, etc. Furthermore, I would also need to sign up for Medigap coverage due to the 80% limit.
I expect to be able to bear the cost of almost any service here in Thailand, including heart bypass surgery, although I am not excited at the idea of spending >1M baht and have doubts about the quality of treatment.
Some options I have considered are delaying enrollment in Part B, despite the penalty, and choosing a high-deductible (plans G-HD or K) to limit costs for services that I would use very rarely (fingers crossed). Then again, if I were forced to return permanently to the US for health reasons, all of it would have been very worthwhile.
I was hoping that a kind reader in a similar situation could share their thoughts and provide some guidance.
Thank you