[Anonymous]

Dear Mark,

I am 62 years old and live in the US but I am planning to buy a property in Spain and retire there. I have 2 questions.

1. Can you advise me on how to go about arranging private health insurance in Spain?

2. The Dollar is falling against the Euro. Does this mean it would be wise to take out a mortgage against my property in the US to finance the purchase of a property in Spain?

Many thanks

[Anonymous]

Start by having a good look at the Sanitas website, which you can see by clicking here: http://www.sanitas.es/websanitas/ing/index.html. Sanitas is part of BUPA international and have special private health plans for foreigners in Spain. You will be able to contact them for more information using the contact instructions at their website.

On the question of how to finance your purchase I don’t think it would be sensible to mortgage your property in the US and pay cash for a Spanish property. The reason being that doing so leaves you much more exposed to exchange rate movements in the future than you would be were you to finance your purchase with a Spanish mortgage. Using a Spanish mortgage you would have the asset (property) and liability (mortgage) in the same currency thus minimising your exposure to adverse exchange rate movements. The Dollar may be falling against the Euro today but who knows what level it will be at when the time comes for you to sell your property in Spain and repatriate your funds?

Once you have contacted Sanitas and found out about health plans let me know. If it looks like you will get the cover you need we can then take the next step.

Kind regards

Mark

[Author]

Posts