3 Hacks For Living in Dominican Republic 🇩🇴

Grubernation!! Tomorrow is the 2-year anniversary of our move to the Dominican Republic!

In this week’s newsletter, I wanted to share 3 hacks I’ve learned for life in DR that I hope makes your future move easier!

If safety and logistics are a concern for you, then this is the newsletter you needed!

Hack #1: Traveling Mailbox

I get questions often about what to do with the mail while living abroad. For some, it’s a permanent move and for others it may be a month’s long annual trip to DR.

Most people will put a hold on their mail, or maybe forward to a friend or family member.

That works.

We use a service called My Traveling Mailbox.

All of our mail is forwarded to a PO Box they provide and then we get notification through their app when we receive mail with some options.

• Open and scan

• Shred

• Delete and Shred

• Forward

The service is $15/month (40 pieces of mail) to $25/month (100 pieces of mail) and they don’t charge for junk mail.

Of course we made sure any vendor sending us mail regularly had updated settings to send electronically which left junk and some important random mailings from the IRS, the DMV and so on for the Traveling Mailbox.

When a package comes through, we forward to someone that will be visiting or that I’ll be visiting in the US in the coming weeks or months.

You’ll pay extra for the forwarding, but it’s REALLY easy to navigate your mail with the app and the price is VERY reasonable.

We pay $15/month - no issues in 2 years! ✋ 

Hack #2: TWO Health Insurance Plans

The truth is, there are many ways to purchase a single health insurance product that is accepted in both the United States and Dominican Republic.

Hospital groups in DR like IMG accept AETNA and I believe Blue Cross.

After an expereince a year ago, and stories from many others, we’ve opted to have a local insurance policy in DR … and we keep a US based plan as well.

I’ll explain how, with what carriers and cost since I know you’re curious 😉 

Let me start with this … and this is NOT an exaggeration.

The most important item that I have on my person at all times is NOT my ID, cell phone, or even my credit card/cash.

It’s my local insurance card.

If ever I was in need of emergency medical care and was not conscious, the system will do with me what it wants.

That may mean a public hospital in DR, which isn’t great.

OR it may mean a private hospital that has all of the capabiltiy to care for me, but their first question is ‘how do we get paid?’. 

My gringo face is not a currency like many may believe, so if a quick dig into my wallet reveals my local insurance card - I feel protected.

When my 9 year old had to be admitted a year ago for Dengue Fever, we were almost sent through the ‘non-local’ process which was not ideal at all.

Once we showed insurance, we were escorted quickly to a room for him to get the treatment he needed.

Here’s the thing..

You can rely on AETNA or Blue Cross and you can lean on the fact that it’s accepted.

You can even buy an international plan and it’s probably fine.

But if you’re out, and can’t explain your coverage, and need medical care - you’re now relying on a $3/hour Dominican employee in a culture that does not value customer service (we laugh about that at the bank, not funny at the hospital) to understand this international plan you have in your wallet is relevant.

I KNOW I’m planning for the worst possible outcome, but I get the local coverage that they all recognize, make sure there are no questions, and know that I’m going to get great treatment in the excellent private system that exists here.

My purchase is simply eliminating barriers and it’s worth my peace of mind.

We use Humano Seguros in DR and have the MAX plan.

Now for the United States…

When I left my job, I learned of an insurance alternative called a ‘health share’.

A health share is a cooperative system where members pool their resources to share the expense of medical bills.

Most are based on religious principles (I’m NOT a religious guy .. I’m ‘spiritual’ as they say) and they act like insurance with some differences for sure.

With my health share I have:

• Teladoc

• Preventative care

• Prescription medicine plans

And more.

Again, it’s NOT insurance but acts like it - so you’d need to do research to see if it’s applicable for you.

We use Zion Health for our US ‘insurance’ needs.

Here’s the cost breakdown:  

That’s a total of $608/month for a family of 4 to have coverage locally in both countries.

Traditional insurance will cost that much for a family.

If retired and have medicare in the US, I’d still recommend a local plan if you can get one depending on age to avoid any issues!

Also, Humano often covers me regardless of the reason for treatment.

I wanted to do some preventative work on vital organs and my heart.

I went in on my own for a stress test, ultrasound of vital organs and comprehensive blood work .. all covered! 

There’s a Doctor I’m visiting when I return that is more of a naturaopath so that I can see where my hormones are, get supplements, an executive scan - essentially conceirge medicine that is NOT covered by insurance in the US.

Humano covers it!

On the flip side, my kids allergist is not covered by Humano - go figure!

Hack #3: My Phone’s Lock Screen

I guess I’m ‘that’ guy.

If I’m reading the above and especially what I’m about to type, I’d assume the author (me) has powdered food, ammunition and bottled water in the basement for doomsday.

Somewhat guilty 😏 

But hey .. better to be prepared!

On the topic of something tragic happening, I use my phone’s lock screen as an alert!

Here’s the scenario that scares me…

My wife and I are out on a date, driving back at night and something terrible happens on our way home.

Of course our kids have an adult with them, but I want everyone that needs to know, to know .. right away!

Even if it’s just me, I want authorities to contact my wife so she’s aware right away of something bad that happened.

So I did this with my phone’s lock screen:

Now I think this is genius!

My wife?

She says it’s over the top 😄 

I’ll let you decide and let me know.

Either way, these are three ways I ensure we get the information we need and protect ourselves in the event of a catastrophe .. which will probably never happen!

But as they say, better to be safe than sorry!

Which of these hacks helped or made you think the most?

Also, feel free to forward this to your friends that may be interested .. wonderful if they click here to subscribe as well 😉