A real estate agent who moved from California to Mexico to prepare for later-life care found himself relying on the country’s healthcare and nursing services within months, as his former partner’s condition rapidly deteriorated.
The man, known as Sandy, had been the agent’s partner for 38 years. Although they had separated, they remained close and shared a daughter, Anna.
After Sandy began showing symptoms associated with dementia, the agent began considering what care he might need. He was also reassessing his own future after more than three decades working in California property.
He chose Puerto Vallarta as a new base, having visited the Mexican city for almost 25 years. The move was intended to provide greater flexibility in how he lived and worked, rather than mark the end of his career.
The decision was also shaped by the cost of living. For about a year, he rented a two-bedroom flat in San Francisco for $3,800 a month. In Puerto Vallarta, he found a considerably larger four-bedroom house with a swimming pool for about $3,000.
He continued to own property in Sonoma County and Texas, and stressed that living in Mexico did not require him to abandon his investments. He also continues to work in real estate in both California and Puerto Vallarta, meaning he may benefit professionally when people relocate or buy property through him.
Care in Puerto Vallarta
The need for a care plan became urgent when he returned to Sonoma to bring Sandy to Mexico. Sandy had been waiting months for specialist assessments in California.
With help from a medical concierge recommended by colleagues, the pair secured a neurologist’s appointment within ten days of Sandy’s arrival. The consultation cost about $60, while an MRI cost approximately $300.
At first, they established a routine in Puerto Vallarta. They walked to shops and the beach, attended social events and took part in community activities. Sandy also began yoga classes and made friends.
His health then worsened after he apparently became disorientated while out alone, fell and struck his head. Although initial examinations found no major injury, the agent later discovered him on the bathroom floor, unable to get up.
Nursing support was arranged, but Sandy became seriously unwell after the agent briefly left him at home with a private nurse. A urologist found an obstruction linked to a medical device implanted following earlier prostate cancer treatment.
Sandy underwent emergency surgery and spent three days in a private hospital. When he returned home, a hospital bed was installed and round-the-clock nursing care was brought in.
The hospital treatment and surgery cost about $8,000. Eight days of continuous home care came to roughly $7,000, while doctors’ appointments and pain medication added around $1,000, taking the total to approximately $16,000.
The agent said the figure was substantial and acknowledged that the same treatment might have involved different out-of-pocket costs in California, depending on insurance. What mattered to him was being able to arrange private medical and nursing assistance quickly and provide care at home.
As Sandy’s condition declined, the agent contacted his sister and Anna, who travelled from Madrid. Nurses cared for Sandy while the family gathered around his bedside.
Anna arrived two days before Sandy died. She slept in the room containing his hospital bed and was beside him when his breathing changed early one morning.
The agent said the support available had allowed the family to spend time with Sandy rather than take responsibility for every aspect of his care. The home he had created in Mexico as a long-term option had instead become the place where the family said goodbye.
Insurance and retirement abroad
The experience has not removed the financial and medical risks associated with living overseas. Original Medicare generally does not cover treatment in Mexico, although some Medicare Advantage plans provide cover for qualifying emergencies and urgent care abroad.
The agent maintains Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage cover for time spent in California and separate international health insurance through VUMI. He generally pays privately for routine treatment in Puerto Vallarta, while acknowledging that both policies have limitations.
His family submitted Sandy’s medical expenses to Kaiser for possible reimbursement, but a decision was still pending. He said anyone considering retirement abroad should examine insurance terms, emergency arrangements and whether they could pay for treatment upfront.
Beyond the lower living costs, the agent said the most important benefit of the move had been the community he built through work, volunteering and friendships. Those relationships became particularly valuable during Sandy’s illness.
He accepts that moving abroad can involve distance from relatives, unfamiliar systems and language barriers, and says he continues to value his connections in California.
But Sandy’s illness changed his view of retirement planning. Having options meant being able to find a specialist, arrange nurses and bring a hospital bed into the home when circumstances changed.
It also meant Anna and the rest of the family could sit beside Sandy during his final days. The agent’s experience has left him convinced that the resources and relationships available in a chosen home can matter as much as the amount saved for retirement.
