Winter Texan numbers dropping in the Valley

As far as supplemental insurance to medicare, my MIL has a union supplement. When FIL retired it was something like $60 a month, now she as a widow is paying $3880 a year for her supplement. I'm thinking something else might be cheaper for her, it used to be really cheap.

I went on medicare for 6 months, my husband is still working and our joint premiums are cheaper then what I paid totally so I went back on his SS did tell me to keep part A as its no charge so I did.

I was in Quartzite last winter for the first time. They told me the numbers were up a bit. I thought it was crowded they said there were thousands more people years ago. Many said it was due to the 2008 recession and people not having the money to buy an RV or afford the fuel any longer. Another reason was the group that can afford RV's are getting to old. I'm sure the lack of pensions and a secure retirement will also effect it greatly. I don't know anyone else in my husband or my graduating classes in 64 that have a motorhome. Maybe a TT but none that I know of that winter someplace. There could be and we just are not aware.

Yet I'm trying to make a reservation in south Florida for 3 months and am having trouble finding someplace. I would imagine all the people running across the border could be effecting it down in south Texas.

I was on Padre Island some years ago and they said the recession just killed the businesses there, most of the businesses were closed. I know RV sales are way up so maybe things are changing. It's an expensive hobby for sure.

pawatt wrote:
....snip...... They have had about 12 inches of rain in the Valley this month so bring your mosquito repellant until it dries up. We are about a mile from 7 Oaks at Green Gate Grove.

Your "Skeeter" prediction is right on. Worst I have ever seen down here. The wind will be a blessing this year. Trouble is, it is calm now.

I am back in the Valley for the ninth year in a row and I am already beginning to see why the number of Winter Texans is declining. They are even covering the loss on the local television news. I always loved the Valley, but as Bob Dylan said, "The times are changing".

It was bad enough before but the traffic is downright intolerable. I was passed both on the right and the left while making an exit off the freeway, for instance. The other customers in HEB (grocery store) act like they don't want me there and block the aisles or push in front of me to make their point. I hope my experiences are not the norm and that others have a better time of it, but I notice a change, and not for the better.

empty_nest wrote:

pawatt wrote:
Over 65 on Medicare coverage is better than any we ever had with our private insurance. It is the younger retires that face the huge medical insurance costs. I retired at 53 and medical insurance has been my biggest cost. It is the 55 - 65 age group that we are not seeing starting to snowbird. Medical costs are one of many reasons I think we are not seeing much of this age group as well as RV parks not adapting to the interests of younger snowbirds, no or lost pensions and other reasons. In the park we go to I would say the average is well over 65, maybe 70.

I want to retire in about 18 mos. at age 63 and then migrate to Texas for the winters, but the health insurance is the one thing that is still a big ??

Insurance will be costly where ever your are until you reach Medicare age. I currently pay $515.00 a month for a $3500. deductible Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan for myself only, my wife has other insurance. This was about a $200.00 reduction in cost for me since the ACA, no subsidies. Be sure what ever insurance you get covers you in the states you plan to be, many only provide limited emergency room coverage and maybe urgent care. Tell your agent & provider your plans and make sure you have coverage. We travel all over the USA and BC/BS has plans that work but are more expensive than some.

tomman58 wrote:
pawatt, How is the valley now? We are planning to stop and shop in Mexico. Is this a good plan? We normally stay at a small park in mission called Seven Oaks, but have not been there in 4 or 5 years.
We wonder about all the bad press on Mexico but in our past experience we never had an issue in Pergresso.

We will be back in the Valley in 3 weeks, Friends there have been going to Nuevo Progreso without incident. I would avoid Reynosa but things have calmed down all across Mexico and many do spend the Winter in Mexico as well. They have had about 12 inches of rain in the Valley this month so bring your mosquito repellant until it dries up. We are about a mile from 7 Oaks at Green Gate Grove.

pawatt wrote:
Over 65 on Medicare coverage is better than any we ever had with our private insurance. It is the younger retires that face the huge medical insurance costs. I retired at 53 and medical insurance has been my biggest cost. It is the 55 - 65 age group that we are not seeing starting to snowbird. Medical costs are one of many reasons I think we are not seeing much of this age group as well as RV parks not adapting to the interests of younger snowbirds, no or lost pensions and other reasons. In the park we go to I would say the average is well over 65, maybe 70.

I want to retire in about 18 mos. at age 63 and then migrate to Texas for the winters, but the health insurance is the one thing that is still a big ??

pawatt, How is the valley now? We are planning to stop and shop in Mexico. Is this a good plan? We normally stay at a small park in mission called Seven Oaks, but have not been there in 4 or 5 years.
We wonder about all the bad press on Mexico but in our past experience we never had an issue in Pergresso.

I also retired early, at 52. I was able to keep my medical insurance as that was part of my retirement package. I am now 69 and I agree with pawatt that Medicare is better than my company paid insurance ever was. For me the company insurance became a Medigap policy that picks up all the co pays and deductibles.

When I retired I went to all the snowbird areas with my RV.... CA, TX, FL, MX, AZ. Every place I went it seemed the RVers were much older than I was. I was always told "you are too young to be retired". Well, when I hit South Texas 8 years ago I stayed and return every winter. The winter Texans were old then and they are old now. The only difference is nobody tells me I am too young to be retired any more.

Over 65 on Medicare coverage is better than any we ever had with our private insurance. It is the younger retires that face the huge medical insurance costs. I retired at 53 and medical insurance has been my biggest cost. It is the 55 - 65 age group that we are not seeing starting to snowbird. Medical costs are one of many reasons I think we are not seeing much of this age group as well as RV parks not adapting to the interests of younger snowbirds, no or lost pensions and other reasons. In the park we go to I would say the average is well over 65, maybe 70.