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5 Aug 2018
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Honduras
Posts: 175
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There are decent clinics here in Honduras, especially here in Tegucigalpa and also in San Pedro Sula. But, the overall quality of the medical care in this country is not on par with those in the USA. A fellow teacher here went to 3 clinics for her bad knee. All three suggested surgery. She went back to the USA for another opinion and they had her do PT. She's back to kickboxing and exercising regularly just a few months later...no surgery. That's just one of many many examples of over zealous Honduran doctors that I've heard stories about while living here for the past 5 years.
If I needed any serious medical care, I wouldn't have it done here.
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5 Aug 2018
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PatOnTrip
<snip>
You may already have one but I would recommend that you add a good steering damper. You shared your age above. Physical shape, endurance at 71yo is not the same as at 41yo. It is a fact of life and it is what it is. With the damper, the ural will be more stable, you'll feel less the impacts from the on/off road on the front wheel. The riding will be less tiring on you. As a consequence, you will be more alert, will be able to react faster to a situation and at the end of the day you will have more energy to enjoy your evening!
Steering dampers are not all the same, some dampens only away front the center, some dampens in both directions, some have more adjustability. Pick what is best for you.
Have a good trip,
Patrick
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Thanks Patrick. Yes, I’m a fan of dampers. All my bikes have them. I put Scott’s on my KTM and BMW. The Ural has one from the factory, similar to the setup on an R1200GS.
Re: age. You’re correct, of course. But I strength train three days a week and do cardio the other days. Just got back from a gnarly power line and single track ride with some 30 somethings on my KTM. I don’t ride as fast as they, but I do complete the ride.
__________________
Mike
Stamford, CT
www.happycameladv.com
Current Rides
- 2018 Ural Gear Up (the Happy Camel)
- 2017 KTM 350 EXC-F (the Cougar)
- 2014 BMW F800GS (the Goat)
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5 Aug 2018
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Montreal
Posts: 245
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Good for you Mike that you are in good shape. Did you plan some workouts to do while on the road?
Last year, I did not workout while riding from North to South Africa. After 7 months on the road, I could feel that I was less in shape while riding my dr650 fully loaded with extra fuel and water in Namibia's deep sand. Riding a close to 500lbs bike in deep sand is a lot of work. My arms were taking so long to recover and I was just 43yo. Next trip, I will workout regularly while on the road.
Patrick
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6 Aug 2018
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HUBB regular
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Stamford, CT
Posts: 40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PatOnTrip
Good for you Mike that you are in good shape. Did you plan some workouts to do while on the road?
Patrick
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Patrick,
Every trip e take we "plan workouts" to do on the road. Actually doing them is a different matter. 
It’s just a matter of our both keeping each other accountable for our morning routines...meditation, yoga, and strength work. We expect to do enough walking and hiking that we won’t have to plan for that.
If you’re interested, Lisa Thomas ( Home - 2RidetheWorld.com) was a trainer before she and Simon packed it in and started their now 13 year journey. She has a video on exercises specifically targeted at daily recovery and prep for long distance MC traveling.
__________________
Mike
Stamford, CT
www.happycameladv.com
Current Rides
- 2018 Ural Gear Up (the Happy Camel)
- 2017 KTM 350 EXC-F (the Cougar)
- 2014 BMW F800GS (the Goat)
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6 Aug 2018
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Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Montreal
Posts: 245
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Quote:
Originally Posted by msamsen
Patrick,
Every trip e take we "plan workouts" to do on the road. Actually doing them is a different matter.
It’s just a matter of our both keeping each other accountable for our morning routines...meditation, yoga, and strength work. We expect to do enough walking and hiking that we won’t have to plan for that.
If you’re interested, Lisa Thomas ( Home - 2RidetheWorld.com) was a trainer before she and Simon packed it in and started their now 13 year journey. She has a video on exercises specifically targeted at daily recovery and prep for long distance MC traveling. |
I already took care of my next workout routines. I have always wanted to do gymnastic.. I told myself it is now or never. So I got myself gymnastic programs for floor, rings, mini parallel bar. I love it. Much more fun than going to a regular gym and lifting weights.
I looked at Lisa's video. It is well made!
Patrick
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5 Nov 2018
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 1,232
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Quote:
Originally Posted by msamsen
I know that sounds likes a weird question, but here’s my logic (or perhaps lack of logic!)
My wife and I will be traveling through Central and South America for the better part of a year. She will be 63 and I will be 71. We are US residents. It’s nearly impossible to find travel medical insurance once you hit 70.
We will have good travel and evacuation insurance.
So, for minor medical needs, the cost of local providers is very manageable and not a big financial hit. For anything of a serious nature, the evacuation Insurance would come into play since we would want to be treated US.
That seems to leave only the immediate care for serious illness or injury prior to evacuation to contend with. Though I don’t have a good way to estimate how much that could be, it seems unlikely that it would exceed $5000 USD. Not inconsequential, but not one that would leave us destitute.
I’m interested in other thoughts and opinions. If you think I’m totally flawed in the logic or am missing something, have at it!
Thanks!
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I've worked in medical insurance the last 5 years.
If it's something serious, unless you can pay all the bills before the air ambulance arrives, you will die. The Hospitals truly don't give a shit, if you can't pay, they will throw you out on the street, so unless you can cover a minimum of a weeks medical cover, you've had it.
Bear in mind also that in order for an evacuation to take place, you have to be well enough to evacuate, even by air ambulance. If you're really sick they may not want to take that risk until you are better, fit to fly, so you could be looking at several weeks you have to pay for.
A budget of $10000 a day would be more realistic. I have seen people have to sell their houses to pay and, like I say, in some countries (including ones in central and south America) they won't treat you until either you have paid a sizeable deposit and continue to pay upfront, or your insurer has put a guarantee in place. I have had to place guarantees in 30 minutes because they were going to throw people who would die, out onto the street. They truly don't care, it's all about the money.
__________________
1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014
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27 Jun 2019
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 27
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The way I think about medical insurance is better safe than sorry. Hopefully, you would not have to use it, but in the case of extended travels, it's likely that you will seek medical assistance. It's just wiser to have one if it were me.
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28 Jun 2019
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 85
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I have been an expat in several Latin American countries for a few decades.
In most countries, when you show up, the clinics or the hospitals want to get paid. if they have doubts that you can pay, they would not admit you, if they admit you, you have to pay before you get release.
Buying the best insurance coverage, will not instantly solve this is issue.
On the other hand, it is mandatory to buy insurance (SOAT)when entering a country with a motor vehicle. In an event of an accident, no worries to have medical attention.
Still some foreign riders try to escape to get the SOAT ...
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28 Jun 2019
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 85
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf
The topic of this thread, established by the OP, is the value of health insurance while traveling in Central and South America.
Anyone wishing to post screeds about current American political figures can feel free to do so elsewhere. Since I'm getting tired of saying the same old stuff over and over again, I'm considering doing what I'm actually supposed to do in response--which is issue infraction points which lead to temporary and/or permanent bans.
Note that this has nothing whatsoever to do with my own political opinions, of which I have many.
Thanks for your attention.
Increasingly dictatorial moderator Mark
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chill out, nothing out of place here.
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28 Jun 2019
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Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,983
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Quote:
Originally Posted by poorbuthappy
chill out, nothing out of place here.
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Thanks for your input (and for your previous, on-topic post). If there is nothing out of place, it's because I edited out a bunch of stuff. You'll have to use your imagination.
Mark
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30 Jun 2019
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Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 326
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Medicare does not cover out of country medical expenses at all. But 3 of the multiple choices of Medicare supplements do cover 80% of “appropriate” expenses (i.e NOT plastic surgery!!) up to $50k , but only in the first 60 days of travel. I have plan G.
Speaking of plastic it sounds like 2-3 paid up $50000 limit credit cards could save one’s life.
__________________
Unimog U500 w/Unicat
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17 Jul 2019
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 85
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cholo
I'm not sure that SOAT covers you; Ive read up on the Peruvian website and it isn't clear if it is third party only,
Ecuador has no SOAT it is included in the road tax for locals, so it may not cover foreign motorcyclists.
Brazil and Argentina should be free.
So going back to the opening post, if you can, get an extention on your existing local cover (if you cannot buy a separate insurance because of your age)
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Cholo I'm afraid you are dead wrong. Ecuador, Brazil argentina soat is mandatory. There is an agreement between the countries of the Mercosur. T
When I buy the soat for the motorcycle in Brazil I'm covered when I traveled in other countries of the mercosur.
here is no such free healthcare to motorcyclist.
Ecuador had a new law that requests a vehicle be submitted to a revision before being able to buy seguro. That seguro is a must to buy the plates. This has nothing to do with a road tax. Everytime I travel to ecuador with my colombian motorcycle, I don't need to buy seguro because there is an agreement between both countries. Other vehicles extranjero must be covered by a 30 days soat.
I would like to share something. 3 years ago I buy a new MC in Colombia. I requested for a seguro. they told me no problem, but when I went to pick the motorcycle I was told that because I couldn't show my cedula de extranjero, I could not buy seguro.
I told that to my colombiana wife, she called a friend that is an insurance broker. She an insurance documento that, a passaport was a valid ID to buy seguro and I bought my soat through her. Obviously it was a lie.
Why she lied, only God knows.
be careful
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18 Jul 2019
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Registered Users
HUBB regular
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Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 85
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cholo
"Cholo I'm afraid you are dead wrong. Ecuador, Brazil argentina soat is mandatory"
I am not dead!
nor am I wrong.
we are mixing up stuff here?
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You are mixed up not I. Not sure of your Spanish or Portugeese understanding? Show me any text in Portugeese and Spanish.
Looks like you have never been in these countries solo un dia when you suggest to call the embassies. You need an insurance broker, nothing less nothing more.
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26 Jul 2019
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Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 85
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Colo, don't polute my mail box, write it here what you have to say. I don't give a dam where you lived, and how long . So be kind and explain to us what is the agreement between the countries of the Mercosur concerning the soat, and what happen if a motorciclist in any of these countries has an accident without the soat since you seem to say, no importa,in Brazil and Argentina healthcare is free.
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21 Jan 2021
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Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 2
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I am living in Nicaragua and health care is free. I have had to go to the hospital a couple times and had excellent care. I am always surprised at the time they take and the high level of competency.
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Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
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helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
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