It really is a shame that our senior citizens can't afford to live in their country and  have to look for a cheaper place after giving their best years to working for the good of the US of America.

I have been living on disability for 6 years and in that time I have supported my wife and son in LaCeiba, Honduras on the carib coast, my son is in private school, I have traveled all through-out central and south america all on $1400 a month. I eat on the local economy average $2-$2.50 for a 3 course meal to include drink. As long as you have direct deposit you never half to go back to the states. Latin America is no more dangerous than any big city in the US. and the people are more friendly and hospitable almost everywhere. I recommend three rules of thumb,learn spanish if it isn't good then just nod and smile more, dress like everyone else(jeans and tee shirts are universal clothing) so as not to put a target on your back and show everyone respect no matter how poor or uneducated they are. this is a mistake many foreigner make in thinking and acting like they are better than the locals. 

It really is a shame that people get down on this who have no sense of adventure, interest in other cultures or (apparently) the capacity to at least try and learn a new language. If you love America, stay here. No one is telling you not to. This is a fun slide show presenting a different option. And clearly, if anyone is seriously considering it they'd have to do more research than just this slide show.

 

It seems a lot of posters on this thread assume that everyone SHOULD and WANTS to stay in America. I'm sure there are people who would love to live in another country for a few years, to have an adventure before they're too infirm to travel and experience new things.

 

Personally, I don't understand the myopic view that America is "THE BEST!" and one should stay here, at all costs, living the same day over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.

Everything is relative, lifestyles are different. What it may be a "good dinner" for $3.00 for somebody,  may not be a good breakfast for somebody else.  You cannot buy a "nice dinner" anywhere in Latin America for $3.00, not even in Honduras, second poorest country in Latin America after Haiti, unless you call dinner an "arepa" you buy on the street.
I would be careful on what it seems to be "guided" advise, specially Panama. In my opinion the government is trying to "sell" the country to expats and it is using certain marketing techniques to achieve it. 
Before you do any move, I strongly recommend you take a trip and try to see as much as you can, price real state and make sure you like the area, visit supermarkets, restaurants, ride a taxi,etc. you will see that the cost of living is not as mentioned in some articles, although I know that in general, with some adjustments, cost of living is cheaper than in the USA.

You can live on even less, if you live on your boat. Which is a decent way to live in the South Pacific or Caribbean. And you have a half ways decent boat.

It really is a shame that our senior citizens can't afford to live in their country and  have to look for a cheaper place after giving their best years to working for the good of the US of America.

But it's awesome that when my employer closes in 14-16 months, I'll have the option to move to one of these places and live for free for 99 weeks.  Thanks guys.

I notice no mention of how safe these places are.   Also no mention of getting set up what the costs are.  Costs for getting furniture and appliances to these places can be quite costly.  I know because I moved to a rainforest in Panama where it is fairly safe.  However other parts of Panama do tend to have a bit of crime.  Smaller communities lot of the houses have bars on windows, doors and around the yard.  Crime can be a problem in all of these countries you mention and when you are older safety is very important.

 

Second their can be lot of fees to get the proper visa but your article mentions nothing about things like this.  There definitely are standards in the US but not in these countries so you never know what you are getting when it comes to housing, utilities and clothing.  Food in other countries on a daily basis quality can be errratic and here in Panama outside of the main city their restaurants are just so so.  In other countries it is Hurrry up and wait on everyday procedures.

I don't know about disability SS, but I am on regular SS and have lived outside the US for 8 years and have my check sent to a bank account in the US, where I have access to it via ATM card in wherever I live. Medicare is of no good, unless you return to the states for medical care. Medical care is good and available in most places in the world and at a far less cost than in the US. As for having a boat in the Caribbean, I had one there, a 44ft. sailboat, for 15 years. They are not cheap. My annual expenses on the boat for maintaining it and insurance run around $15,000/yr. and that does not include immigration and customs costs and that was with  doing a lot of the maintenance myself. Add your personal needs and you are looking at about $30,000/yr. I now live in Mexico, own my home and live here for about $800/mo. for the 2 of us, including property taxes, health insurance, cable tv, internet, telephone, entertainment, food, clothing, transportation, etc.

If the people at Medicare covered retirees in a foreign country, that would slash those costs and save millions in the medicare system.

My wife and I live part of the year near the beach in Mexico.  Yes, we can live on what we receive in retirement.  However, you are going to find none of these places are paradise.  If you live anywhere south of the U.S. border, there are health issues.  Typhoid, cholera, dysentery, dengue and in Central and S. America the kissing bug.  Also, remember that almost all third world countries have third world governments which means consider all police and politicians corrupt.  We own our home 100% unlike most people in the U.S. where the bank owns it.  We therefore pay no rent.  You may find good rentals tough to get.  Buying is an option but you must check the local laws.  Water is almost always a problem so you should check with people in the area about water.  Your drinking water will come out of a 5 gallon jug.  Be careful about the food.  Locally we are fine but again, is there water for people to wash their hands?  Do they wash their hands before serving you?  Also, those beautiful strawberries may be from "agua negra".  If you eat them, you end up in the hospital.  Then there are the creepy and crawly critters.  Scorpions and maybe snakes.  We enjoy our life here and the feeling of not having to worry come the first of the month how do we cover all the bills but the life is not for everyone.  You will need to learn to speak the local language. 

My wife and I looked into this 15 years ago when I retired Mexico is-ant the place to go  Florida?
so we stayed in Michigan my ss is $1579.00 mo +$67.00 my wife get $670.00 we had no liabilty
for 15 years, but now have bought a car and are doing just fine house is paid for no credit card debit no revolving accounts no charge cards, I think this is the way to go if you plan it is not too hard,