Boa tarde Everyone. Please let us know how this works for you. Every country is different.

It's different here in the UK. We get a much smaller state pension, about £9600 a year. But we have the free health care, which although not perfect is still really good. I guess if you never get seriously ill the US version wins but if you do then UK wins as health care costs in the US is scary.

Hi guys! Great video and we really enjoyed the day out with you in Porto da Cruz!! 🙂

Great video 📹 👍 👏 keep up… the good work

Hi Alan and Leslie. You have good videos with a lot of information. Do you still have Medicare?

Hallo new frien salom from indonesia supo you fist view🇮🇩🇮🇩

Thanks for another great video, Alan. It really provides retirees or people planning to retire with a great deal to think about in terms of alternatives to trying to cope with the cost of living in their home country. Cheers.

Oi! Alan,
Bom Dia! Tudo bem?
Beleza! (Beauty! – Beleza is a common expression used by Brazilians as a greeting like: "Is everything OK?", or simply means "a friendly hello". The answer is Always "Beleza".
Alan, I am so glad you chose Madeira for your new life journey (In Lisbon, they do not want Americans (young Californians)… Heard of the protests??).
Love your video and its content. Keep Up the good work!

As you said, do your homework before taking the leap. There is so much information online about the process to retire or live in Portugal including Healthcare. In Portugal any living being has the right to Free Emergency healthcare and if you do not have insurance, you are still being looked after. You may have to pay a small fee in certain cases. If you have a constant health issue it is better to have insurance (like anywhere else it can be expensive but in Portugal is very reasonable).

If you have questions you can ask the Embassy of Portugal and/or a Consulate of Portugal in your country (There is online info about where to find one near your City).
Again, do your homework/research before taking a leap to live in any country. Please, do understand the Portuguese Laws are not the same as in your home country! Some laws are similar but usually are not the same. Yes! There are backlogs and like any country it takes long to process them all.

Remember, Portugal is a small country and gets overwhelmed with applications they receive every day from refugees, migrants, illegals, tourists (they want to stay), expats, retirees etc.. So, be aware your application may get a bit longer to process and if you do your homework, it will go smoothly.

Madeira awaits you. Be curious.
Take care.
Enjoy your New Life Journey!
Forca! Saude!
Tchau!
CARL (Toronto, Canada)

Hello Alan and Leslie,
I have a quick question which Mr Google cannot answer.
Does the ferry between Portimão and Funchal still run and if so, which company runs it?
Sorry for posting this unrelated comment to your video.

Just a quick comment on living costs. With the huge increase in energy costs across the world, the fact that you can practically live without any domestic heating for the whole year must be a significant saving for many potential retirees. Another very informative video and some lovely camera work.

Very important information thanks! ….. question: do you still have your Medicare or Medicare Advantage in USA? 😊

Hi Alan and Leslie
Thanks for your great videos.
I'm Portuguese but I live in the US
From what I know in Portugal even if you don't have health insurance you still can get treatment in hospital paid by the government

Hello, it’s a pleasure to see and hear your stories. We are in the early stages of planning to retire and move to Portugal. You scared us today with your comment about private health insurance cost. My husband would be 72 by the time we move. We look forward to your video on this subject. Thank you for sharing!

Your comment "Life is short – we should have done this sooner" speaks volumes! I own a home-based business and could continue to work and delay taking Social Security but I plan to start when I turn 62 at the end of this year. Relocating to Malaysia and having an enjoyable retirement is more important than the extra money. I'm lucky my benefits plus a small pension are enough to live on in other countries (and I could start another business if I really need/want to).

I have not heard of anyone so far being charged 800 a month for private insurance….the most I have heard is 100 per month. I am wondering if there might be another option for you.

If I but a place, I will need a mortgage but it will be paid off quickly due to age limits in Portugal.

I waited until full retirement age and am lucky that my social security will be closer to a couple's social security than a single person's who retires at 62.

I'm planning to survive on a State Pension, Social Security, and I put a lot of money in cash over the last few months and converting it to euros. Otherwise we're screwed!

I'd be interested to knowing, from a cost perspective, how does assisted living works there. The same for alzheimers care. Does the state health system help with that? This is something I'm trying to compare across the countries I'm considering.

Thanks Alan. Any ideas on the Taxes owed in Social Security when living in Portugal. We are moving soon. Thanks JP

Hi Alan and Leslie. Thanks again for an interesting video. Trish, my wife and I, receive 25% of the basic Canadian old age pension (without supplement) based on the years of residence we spent in Canada between age 16 and 30/ 31, respectively, when we left Canada, and a small Canada pension based on our earnings during that same period. After that we have lived in Norway, where we have earned a pension that is more than adequate to meet our needs. Our Canadian pensions are only large enough to cover our expenses when we visit Canada on holiday. It would be interesting to know if you will be eligible for any Portuguese benefits (health care, pension) after you become Portuguese citizens in five years time?

😍😍

Thank you for the information 🙂

Boa tarde, Alan and Leslie. I appreciate the information on Social Security. As an expat, would I still have to pay US taxes (including on Social Security)? Would I have to pay Portuguese taxes? How much do you suspect would be the percentage I should allocate from Social Security to go towards taxes? Many questions, but I appreciate your thoughts on the matter. Best regards from San Antonio!

Quote from this video: "The US ranks in the bottom 33% of the developed countries of the world in the percentage of an average worker's wage that is replaced by the public pension program. In the same 2022 article, Portugal ranks fourth among developed nations." – this can be read in more than one way, can't it? For instance, Portugal ranks fourth in the percentage of an average worker's wage that is replaced by the public pension program because most Portuguese have no income from other sources (i.e. investments). If you read it like this then the USA being at the bottom 33% becomes a good thing, right?

Where's the Walmart?

hey guys saw your bug at leivie today and I wanted to put a message on your window but I didn't have a pen and paper lol. Amanda and I would love to meet up with you guys! that is all🙏🙏
let me know how I can Whatsapp u👍

Great video!

Good breakdown for Americans. We spoke to an American guy on holiday who told us he was retired, but worked 3 days a week for the benefits, I shook my head in disbelief. We could live easily in Madeira on our Dutch pension and the additional pension we both worked for.

Did you know that the average wage in Madeira is about €800 to a €1000 per month. They seem to manage, don't know how, but they do!

Travelling for us is easy in Europe, get in the car go north, south or east, no borders, enjoy. We love Madeira and Portugal, but have no desire to live there, we visit, spend, support the economy and leave.

I'm wondering what the thoughts of the locals are on the expats coming to Madeira. Paying more for renting a lovely house than the locals could ever afford with their average monthly wage? Genuinely interested in their thoughts, I will ask these questions too, when we visit again in October.

Hi Alan and Leslie. Really appreciate the information you share. Very practical and useful information that helps in thinking about the future, and contributes to expanding the thinking in that there are more options than one would normally think of. Appreciate you both very much. Thank you. PS. There is another couple (Doug and Monique) living about where you are who have a Channel called Track Us Down. I think the four of you will enjoy connecting with each other.

I do wonder: what is the music you use?

Your videos are so informative. I really enjoy your dry sense of humor!

Very interested in the cost of private insurance for older people!