When I was about to depart for college, some of my friends went a different route.
The “Gap-Year.”
At the time, it felt a little self-indulgent to take a whole year to travel and “find myself” before embarking on true adulthood.
What I found is that many of my friends found it transformative.
Now as I settle into the long mid-years of life, ensconced in career and family responsibilities, there’s part of me that looks wistfully back at those days when I could have taken a whole year of travel, exploration, and new experiences.
I was encouraged the other day when I read an article in The Guardian about the “Grey Gap Year”. Essentially, it’s when retirees take a whole year to travel and see the world. Some go the camper-van route, some stay in hostels, and some even backpack! They seem to find it no less transformative than my high school buds.
Mark Hainge, one of the retirees interviewed by The Guardian, said, “There’s a sense of catching up on something we possibly missed out on earlier in our lives. It’s much better doing it now: we’ve got more time, money, experience and knowledge,”
So what do you think? Do you want to join the wave of retirees hitting the road? I applaud you. I hope to join your ranks someday! Let me just fill you in on some healthcare-related details:
Outside of the USA, your red, white and blue Medicare card is useless.
Are you planning on traveling for a month? A year? Take all these factors into consideration as you plan out the healthcare for your trip. Do you want to delay Part B and risk paying a penalty or pay the premiums while you’re not using the Medicare services? These are issues to discuss with an independent agent.
Travel insurance is your friend
While many supplements and even some Medicare Advantage plans have limited overseas coverage, they will not begin to touch the HUGE expenses that come with things like chartered flights. Travel insurance is incredibly affordable and can provide you with a LOT of coverage for your adventures overseas. Not to mention peace of mind!
Traveling within the U.S.? Original Medicare is KEY
If you plan to take your Grey Gap Year within the US, stick with Original Medicare. Why? Because you can see pretty much any medical provider wherever you are. There are no plan restrictions or networks to worry about. If you really value flexibility and freedom of choice with your healthcare, Original Medicare will be your best bet. While Advantage plans have their own set of benefits, they are very geographically dependent and will not necessarily cover you across state lines.
Now that you know how healthcare works abroad and in the States, I hope you feel a newfound freedom to hit the road. If you do, send me a postcard and post a pic on our Facebook group page. We LOVE to see our clients living it up in retirement!