If you retire overseas, you can get your Social Security payments, but Medicare respects national boundaries that render it useless outside of the United States. In other words, retirees abroad aren't covered unless they return to American shores. Essentially, you have three options: buy private insurance, paying into a government-sponsored system in your country of residence, or do without. While you can opt out of the automatic Medicare enrollment to save that monthly premium deducted from your retirement benefits, you can only re-enter Medicare during an annual window. That said, health care options can vary widely overseas. Prescription drugs are frequently available over-the-counter and cost less. Before you retire Mexico or anywhere else, find out what kind of health care is available.

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