US couple 58/52 y.o. Currently in Portland, OR. Want to live in Mexico, return to US occasionally. In our future vision we’d live in Portugal or Spain & go back and forth to US. How to select health insurance?

My husband and I are considering retiring soon, selling our house, taking our dog and going to Mexico to live on the cheap(er). Our dog is only 2 and we’re thinking Mexico would be an easier expat experience (than Europe) for all of us to try given that we can drive there. We’ve been to several places in Mexico and we both communicate passably in Spanish. Eventually we’d like to spend time in other countries AND (due to health care insurance) not be cut off from returning occasionally to the US.

I’ve been doing research but would love any insight or tips from people knowledgeable about this kind of scenario. We’re too young to qualify for Medicare. The provider I keep encountering for expat policies is Cigna for their International plans. Three tiers that are worldwide + USA are these: silver, gold, platinum. Plus an additional category (Close Care) that sounds bare bones an only coverage in Mexico & USA. The Silver plan quote I’m getting is a range of $725-$902 for our ages depending on cost share (0-30%) and out of pocket ($0-$5000).

Am I on the right track? Does anyone know if the Cigna International plan sounds like a good one for us? I have read a little about being sure to enroll in Medicare when we’re eligible and to sign up for part B so we don’t find ourselves out of the enrollment period upon returning from abroad, but those concerns are further in the future.

My other question, aside from generally am I going the right direction is this: I’ve read that if you wait until you’re over 60 it’s harder to get a policy. Anyone know anything about this? In case we end up working until DH is over 60 before we implement this sell it all and go plan.