DH offered job in Bermuda..... Advice desperately welcome!!

[Nuggy2013]

DH offered job in Bermuda. Our heads are spinning but highly likely he will have to take it.

I know prices are ridiculous in Bermuda but does/has anyone relocated with DC age 2 and pregnant with DC??!

Desperate for some info but can't find anything specific on blogs etc

[IAmcuriousyellow]

Ah Bermuda... there's a woman called Tracey if I remember right who wrote a couple of books about relocating to paradise. Maybe Google "tracey Bermuda?"

Sorry to not be more help. I've only visited.

[Nuggy2013]

Any advice from your visit??? Anything is appreciated!!!

[Just5minswithDacre]

PM me OP (I can't PM you at the mo as I'm on the app and I don't want to forget)

[NewIdeasToday]

With kids that age it's a wonderful opportunity. How many years would you move for and would you need to worry about schools etc?

[Nuggy2013]

Thank you Dacre, I'm on app too so will PM when I get in!!!

DD is 3 in October so I'm guessing we would need to look at schools etc as the contract is for three years??

My main worries are schools/nursery, no support and basically the cost of living etc and if it is worthwhile. I'm not going to consider it if it means using our savings to subsidise an opportunity because it's doubtful that I can/would work.

If I wasn't pregnant or had already had DC2, I think my mindset would be totally different and much more positive but gut instinct is there for a reason!!!

[OneArt]

My friend (not a close friend - more friend of a friend) moved out there with her husband. They had three DC at the time, now they have four. They seem to be having a brilliant time!

[mrsmortis]

I've only ever visited but I have several friends who are either Bermudian or who have lived on the island.

Cost of living is really high, but it's a great lifestyle with young kids. I don't think I'd want to be there with older teens as it's really quite a small community.

I don't know how health insurance works there, but, having lived in the US, I think you need to check that you are fully covered. Medical care on the island is good but if you need specialist care you may need to be air lifted to the US. One friend of mine with a really high risk pregnancy went to Boston to give birth.

If I were given the opportunity I'd jump at it. I love it there and I think it'd be a brilliant experience for my kids.

[IAmcuriousyellow]

I believe people who are fortunate enough to be offered jobs there get a very useful package including health insurance. And salary should reflect the cost of renting a suitable house. I'd go like a shot! What an amazing experience, even if it only lasts three years. Who wouldn't go and live in paradise? The very large expat community is welcoming and busy, and although spouses can't work they can volunteer and there's plenty to do. All this is second hand information - I have no personal experience.

[Just5minswithDacre]

Spouses can work if they can get a job that qualifies for its own visa. Easier to do once you're 'on the ground' in one sense, if you have the right qualifications.

[Ilikedogs]

Hi Op, I'm from Bermuda. Feel free to pm me.
Basically depending on what area your husband is in it can be a very lucrative move (despite the expensive cost of living). There is a very large expat community and if you are coming from London the work life balance is likely to be much better (job dependent).

Is private school included in his package... I would make sure it is or that you can afford the fees. The public schools (as state schools are known there) are not great.

There are lots of sahm and there is a MAMA group there.

[LaPharisienne]

OMG go! Beaches, scuba diving, sailing, dreamland! I mean, look at the weather outside... And it's SUMMER! If you hate it, you can always move again.

Just make sure the package is right, I guess? Talk to other people in similar roles as candidly as possible and make sure you're getting at least what's market, or better and that it will be enough to make the move worthwhile.

Good luck!

[Ilikedogs]

Also just a note on health insurance... His employer has to provide him with medical (the plan will depend on his insurer) and he can include you and children on his plan.

If he does take the job please advise them that you are already pregnant as usually they like you to have the policy for 10 months before becoming pregnant in order to cover the pregnancy. (His employer should be able to sort this out so you are covered).

Also just to reassure the care given for pregnancy and labour etc is fantastic (look up birth matters - Fiona dill for an nct type equivalent).

Sorry for the epic posts, I moved from Bermuda right after having my do and know how stressful all the change and uncertainty can be.

[Nuggy2013]

Thanks everyone for your advice, so useful. My DH's package is $77000 (Bermudan dollars) per year. We're not getting any financial support/allowances for schools and we have to organise our own health insurance. Does this seem feasible for a family of four? We don't get any housing allowance either????

[Ilikedogs]

You shouldn't have to organise your own health insurance... It's a legal requirement for employers to provide a policy for employees to join (some subsidise the whole amount and others just the government HIP portion).
Depending how long you would aim to stay that salary might be quite tight (although the good thing about Bermuda is that promotions can come quite easily and quickly in certain sectors).
Look at emoo.bm for an idea of rental costs and afaik private school is about $20k/yr. I think the lowest for nursery/daycare would be about $1000/mo

[Nuggy2013]

Thanks ilikedogs, just asked DH and he spoke to his predecessor (by text) and he definitely said we have to sort own medical insurance. I've never relocated for work before and I'm getting impression that it's a very much down to us to sort everything out. I'm happy to do this but I thought that his place of work might offer leaflets/info at least?! Makes it seem a lot harder when I'm not getting any answers that I need!!!

[Ilikedogs]

I don't want to be totally negative as Bermuda is a fantastic place to live but...
It sounds a bit sketch to me. Most companies (as was the case for my husband when he came over) sort almost everything out for you. I'm guessing this is not a job in the financial services?
Please do not under estimate the cost of having a baby in a fully privitised medical service (circa $15-30k). If you can convince an insurer to cover your pregnancy without a company policy behind you (I highly doubt it as I tried) you will pay massive monthly premiums as they have to recoup the cost. (My premium as a healthy non pregnant 20 something was about $800/mo when not part of a company policy)
Can you go after you have had the baby?

[Nuggy2013]

To be honest, I've wondered about that myself? It's a job in marine not financial services. I know I'm asking v stupid questions but kid you have health/medical insurance, do you still have to pay out a cost??? Do you pay and claim back? I'm v sceptical about this element of it

[Ilikedogs]

It depends what it is each thing or doctors appointment or physio appointment will be different. Doctors appointments usually have a co pay of around $30 (so without ins are about $140ish?) physio or chiro etc they will usually say a specific amount of appointments per year and co pay will be about $80 - same for the dentist and paediatrician.
You only pay co pay upfront. If you are able to get medical to cover your pregnancy/birth there will be no co pay for any appointments or the birth.

[xinchao]

We are not in Bermuda but in Asia...just some thoughts on the package and insurance..

Has your husband tried to negotiate the package? Is he in a strong position to do so? Are there other candidates for the role?

My advice is to sit down and make a list of outgoings where you are now and for if you move to Bermuda. You may have to guess some costs but speak to people on this thread who can give you an idea. You then work out what you need in the package to ensure you are not in a worse off position than if you stayed in UK (or wherever you are). This is how it can be put to an employer - I need X to ensure I am not in a worse off position.

If that isn't possible (and maybe you've already tried)...on health insurance, you may not get 100% back. I have friends whose coverage is 100% but mine is not. Our insurance company has a deal with a clinic here for direct billing but I also have to give my credit card details for them to claim around an amount on each visit. It soon adds up with little kids. On the up side, with private healthcare there is no waiting around for an appointment! I recently looked into how much health insurance might be in Myanmar and the figures (from rough Googling) were around $12,000 a year. Ask the predecessor for the insurance company he used. My advice is you want to be insured to the eyeballs! This is not something to scrimp on.

Living overseas is (for us) a wonderful experience. I would try hard to make it happen but ultimately you can't ruin yourselves financially.

[KickAssAngel]

I live in the US, but it sounds like health insurance is similar. If the employer doesn't cover it, you will have to pay monthly premiums. For a family of 4 that could easily be $2,000 per month. Then there will be co-pays each time you visit your doctor, a cost towards prescriptions and a deductible (like we have in the UK for car insurance) of several thousand per year.

In the US most health insurance doesn't not cover birth at all. It costs around $5,000 for a hospital birth if all goes well. Once the baby is born, after care and care for the child will be covered by insurance.

You may also have to pay for birth control as some insurance may not cover it.

Tbh - it doesn't sound like a great salary, no relocation help, and lack of medical with a family could be a deal breaker.

[Nuggy2013]

I just feel that there doesn't appear to be any transparency with info from the prospective company and for a relocation, this is making me worry significantly!!! Thanks for the advice re:healthcare, will definitely look into it independently and ensure I am insured up to the eyeballs, not a cost I wish to incur if I can avoid. For those of you who have relocated, did you go with DH or did they go over first? Aside from the pregnancy (which is a pretty big deal!) I'm not sure how/what logistics I need to look at too

[mummytime]

I would be very excited initially too - but this doesn't sound a very good package. Hospitals in Bermuda can be very expensive (just like the US), and I wouldn't be going unless we had a comprehensive package if pregnant - it is just too risky.

Any company which doesn't offer a proper package and comprehensive advice and understanding, probably has issues in other areas. So I wouldn't want to go. From posts by locals I would be very suspicious.

[TheCactusArms]

I've been there. I used to work in Reinsurance. Does your H work in reinsurance?

[Nuggy2013]

He works in marine and shipping industry, not reinsurance. It seems like quite a hotbed for finance/insurance professionals but the only contact we really have is DH's predecessor. He's been helpful but is relocating due to family commitments. He's been helpful re advice and information but is very much of mindset it's a fab place and you just get used to the expense of it.

[Cornflake15]

Doesn't sound like a huge amount of salary if you aren't working as well. I used to work in Bermuda over 10 years ago, and as a single person then I was earning a little less then your husband has been offered now. Rent was a lot, a 2 bedroom small apartment (not fancy) was around $2000+ a month, so rental costs must be more than that now, and there will be high food costs etc with 4 of you, everything is imported and way more than you might expect for basic items like bread and milk. I don't know anything about school costs.