My husband and I have always fantasized about leaving it all in New York and moving to Bonaire with our two girls. We just don't know a lot about the medical care there. Any time we have visited it hasn't been an issue. If there is a major accident or illness what happens? I would love any feedback from anyone with experience or knowledge.

Welcome to Bonaire Talk, Jennifer!!!
I live on Bonaire, and so far I have been favorably impressed with the medical care available here and on Curacao and Aruba, which are the closest places to go in the event that a condition could not be handled on Bonaire.
Specialists come from Curacao to treat patients on Bonaire. The physicians on Bonaire and on the other ABC islands are Dutch trained and excellent.
You can choose to continue routine medical care in the US or receive it here. You would be in good hands if you choose local doctors.
In the event of a major illness, if you can travel, you could also return to the US if you wanted to.
My medical insurance in the US covers me here. I am too old to qualify for affordable insurance locally. Those are issues you might want to look into if you consider relocating.
I have a lot of horror stories about doctors in NYC, so frankly, I prefer medical care on Bonaire.
The next time you visit Bonaire, get in touch and we can discuss other aspects of moving. Or come to Gibi's on Tuesday nights.
Happy New Year!

jennifer, welcome to bonaire talk. i haven't had any medical problems while on bonaire but have spoken to one of the doctors about a friends medical problem and have heard reports from others who have had to see a doctor while there. everything i've heard is positive.

I've posted a lot about this subject, especially the insurance part--so try some keyword searches re: medical care, health insurance, etc.

I have been sick lately. I have an MD that is easy to see and very kind. It is 20.00 USD for each MD visit. I had a battery of blood work, 8 tests I recall) for 100.00 USD. Odd thing was the tech did not wear gloves..she explained if she got pricked it would still go thru the glove?? I am still pondering this one..

I was very impressed with the hospital when I had ear problms several years ago. Was promptly treated & walked out with a bill 1/10th of what it would have been back in the litigious United States.

Ann, the tech is right about the gloves, for her own protection, it is not sufficient, as the needle will go right through the gloves. For your protection, her hands don't need to be sterile, the needle has to be. She just has to be careful not to touch the needle or the puncture wound with her hands. Being a technician myself, I have also learned that you are more careful and aware of what you are touching when you are bare-handed, then when you wear gloves,....
Hope you are feeling better now, btw!

ann, yes the needle will go thru the gloves...but if she has even a small cut on her hand, it could allow viruses or bacteria to get into her system even without a needlestick. when i first started working we never wore gloves but by the time i retired it was second nature.

Karin, As Pat states even a microscopic abrasion /cut in her hand or even her nail bed would be open for infection. Worse still is the fact that the patient's blood, even in microscopic amounts could be passed on to the next patient she inserts the needle in. A quick washing of hands between patients would not eliminate this problem which explains why surgeons scrub (literally scrub)with antiseptic soap solutions (even if they are to use gloves)!