| Author |
Message |
Tony
Guest
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 Posted:
Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject:
Question about Medicare *only* for U.S. expatriots |
|
|
I have been trying hard to find a decent info but,
unfortunatelly, most people who responded to my original
post about Medicare seem to know even less than I do. Or
maybe, I can't manage to explain myself well.
So, if you are U.S. expatriot who moved to anther country
after retirement (meaning as a minimum that you are eligible
to receive Social Security) can you please tell me how, if
at all, can you use Medicare?
For example, is there any procedure to get partially
reimbursed when buying some medicine in a foreign country?
Or can you order directly from the U.S. and get discounts?
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L K Williams
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:00 am Post subject:
Re: Question about Medicare *only* for U.S. expatriots |
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|
Tony" <tonkoj@gmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | I have been trying hard to find a decent info but,
unfortunatelly, most people who responded to my original
post about Medicare seem to know even less than I do. Or
maybe, I can't manage to explain myself well.
So, if you are U.S. expatriot who moved to anther country
after retirement (meaning as a minimum that you are eligible
to receive Social Security) can you please tell me how, if
at all, can you use Medicare?
For example, is there any procedure to get partially
reimbursed when buying some medicine in a foreign country?
Or can you order directly from the U.S. and get discounts?
|
Medicare does not pay for any medical expenses incurred
outside the U.S. -- period! Expats can draw social security
outside the U.S. but they get nothing from Medicare. They
can, of course, return to the U.S. and get medical care
which would be covered by Medicare but this would not likely
be economical if living in a reasonably modern society.
There have been recent changes to Medicare which provide
coverage for medications. I am not familiar with this
coverage but I believe you have to enroll in a supplemental
plan with an approved provider.
Lanny K. Williams, CPA
Nawarat, Williams & Co., Ltd.
Income Tax Services for Expatriate Americans
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only >>
<< and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting >>
<< messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2005) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >> |
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Phil Marti
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:00 am Post subject:
Re: Question about Medicare *only* for U.S. expatriots |
|
|
"Tony" <tonkoj@gmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | I have been trying hard to find a decent info but,
unfortunatelly, most people who responded to my original
post about Medicare seem to know even less than I do. Or
maybe, I can't manage to explain myself well.
So, if you are U.S. expatriot who moved to anther country
after retirement (meaning as a minimum that you are eligible
to receive Social Security) can you please tell me how, if
at all, can you use Medicare?
|
This isn't a tax law question, so you're not likely to find
a Medicare expert here. You might try www.medicare.gov or
www.aarp.org.
--
Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only >>
<< and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting >>
<< messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2005) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >>
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Andy
Guest
|
| Posted:
Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:00 am Post subject:
Re: Question about Medicare *only* for U.S. expatriots |
|
|
Andy replies:
Your're asking in the wrong place.
The government has a phone line where you can get answers to
just about anything.
go to www.ssa.gov and click on the medicare links
to get the number you can call...
Asking on a newsgroup is about as good as asking around in
the bus station. You will get a lot of answers, but no way
to know if any of them are right......
However, NO you cannot get medicare reimbursement for normal
procedures.
It MIGHT be possible to get reimbursement for EMERGENCY
treatment, but that is something you need to talk to the
government dude about....
NO, it ain't fair. However, the deductible you would pay
for medicare is, in most countries, equal to the TOTAL
hospital bill there.
If you go to a mexican expatriate webboard , such as
www.chapala.com you can verify this by asking US retirees
who live in Mexico, and use Mexican hospitals for their
treatment.
The fact is, MEDICARE was introduced in order to guarantee
payment to US hospitals for caring for people who cannot
affort to pay. Helping out seniors is only a collateral
effect, and of less importance, except in political
debates....
Andy
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only >>
<< and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting >>
<< messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2005) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >> |
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Victor Roberts
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 09, 2005 9:00 am Post subject:
Re: Question about Medicare *only* for U.S. expatriots |
|
|
"Tony" <tonkoj@gmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | I have been trying hard to find a decent info but,
unfortunatelly, most people who responded to my original
post about Medicare seem to know even less than I do. Or
maybe, I can't manage to explain myself well.
|
Perhaps some here do know less about Medicare than you do,
but many of your posts seemed to be about your "certainty"
that you would not need Medicare later years (I whish I had
such a good crystal ball) and the fact that the Medicare
tax is therefore unfair.
| Quote: | So, if you are U.S. expatriot who moved to anther country
after retirement (meaning as a minimum that you are eligible
to receive Social Security) can you please tell me how, if
at all, can you use Medicare?
|
A very short search turned up the following information from
www.medicare.gov:
"Medicare does not pay for services outside the United
States, except for some emergency situations in Mexico and
Canada. The Medicare regulations define the United States as
the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the
U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern
Mariana Islands, and for purposes of services rendered
onboard ship, the territorial waters adjoining the land
areas of the United States. For more information, please
view our FAQ on Does Medicare Cover Me When I Travel Outside
the US?."
And, here is a longer answer with more information. At least
the first part is simple:
***Start of quote ***
The Original Medicare Plan generally doesn't cover health
care while you are traveling outside the United States.
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa,
and the Northern Mariana Islands are considered part of the
United States.
There are some exceptions. In rare cases, Medicare can pay
for inpatient hospital services that you get in Canada or
Mexico. Medicare can pay only if:
1. You are in the United States when a medical emergency
occurs and the Canadian or Mexican hospital is closer than
the nearest United States hospital that can treat the
emergency.
2. You are traveling through Canada without unreasonable
delay by the most direct route between Alaska and another
state when a medical emergency occurs and the Canadian
hospital is closer than the nearest United States hospital
that can treat the emergency.
3. You live in the United States and the Canadian or
Mexican hospital is closer to your home than the nearest
United States hospital that can treat your medical
condition, regardless of whether an emergency exists.
Medicare also pays for doctor and ambulance services you get
in Canada or Mexico as part of a covered inpatient hospital
stay.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may provide worldwide coverage
benefits for health care needs when you travel outside the
United States. You should check with your Medicare Advantage
plan prior to traveling outside of the United States
regarding worldwide coverage benefits.
** End of quote***
Medicare Advantage is apparently private insurance that is
integrated with Medicare for an extra cost. As stated above,
the Medicare web site says that some Medicare Advantage
plans may pay benefits when you travel outside of the US,
but these plans seem to be sold by your state of residence
in the US. I have no idea if a US citizen living outside
the US can purchase a Medicare Advantage plan that will
cover them as a non-resident citizen. However, this seems to
be the only option left to you.
| Quote: | For example, is there any procedure to get partially
reimbursed when buying some medicine in a foreign country?
Or can you order directly from the U.S. and get discounts?
|
You will have to do your own research on this one. The
Medicare prescription drug plan is new and complicated
enough without getting into non-resident status.
--
Vic Roberts
Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only >>
<< and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting >>
<< messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2005) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >> |
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A.G. Kalman
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 09, 2005 9:00 am Post subject:
Re: Question about Medicare *only* for U.S. expatriots |
|
|
Tony wrote:
| Quote: | I have been trying hard to find a decent info but,
unfortunatelly, most people who responded to my original
post about Medicare seem to know even less than I do. Or
maybe, I can't manage to explain myself well.
So, if you are U.S. expatriot who moved to anther country
after retirement (meaning as a minimum that you are eligible
to receive Social Security) can you please tell me how, if
at all, can you use Medicare?
For example, is there any procedure to get partially
reimbursed when buying some medicine in a foreign country?
Or can you order directly from the U.S. and get discounts?
|
I merely wish to comment that your original post asked about
the payment of medicare taxes. There was no mention of
whether you were eligible to receive medicare benefits if
you resided outside the U.S.
You asked why you should have to pay the tax for the next 15
years if you were never able to get any benefit. It
certainly sounded as though you already knew that an ex-pat
could not collect medicare benefits. Your original question
was answered. I'll repeat it. Work for a foreign employer
and you won't pay the tax!
--
Alan
http://taxtopics.net
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only >>
<< and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting >>
<< messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2005) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >> |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
L K Williams
Guest
|
| Posted:
Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:57 pm Post subject:
Re: Question about Medicare *only* for U.S. expatriots |
|
|
Tony" <tonkoj@gmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | I have been trying hard to find a decent info but,
unfortunatelly, most people who responded to my original
post about Medicare seem to know even less than I do. Or
maybe, I can't manage to explain myself well.
So, if you are U.S. expatriot who moved to anther country
after retirement (meaning as a minimum that you are eligible
to receive Social Security) can you please tell me how, if
at all, can you use Medicare?
For example, is there any procedure to get partially
reimbursed when buying some medicine in a foreign country?
Or can you order directly from the U.S. and get discounts?
|
I have reread your posts and come to the conclusion that you
know less about Medicare than you may think.
Are you aware that there are now three parts to Medicare?
1. Medicare A covers hospital charges for inpatient
services. It does not pay for doctors or outpatient
charges. If you qualify, you get this coverage at 65 (or
your retirement age) without any further costs.
Medicare B covers doctors bills and outpatient services. If
you qualify for Medicare A, you can get this coverage for an
additional monthly premium (currently about $60 for most SS
recipients) usually deducted from the monthly SS benefit.
Medicare drug coverage. This is new and also provided at an
extra cost.
However, none of these three plans pays 100% of your costs.
Medicare A and B have benefit schedules. Amounts provided
by these schedules are the maximum that will be paid, and
you must pay any charges that are higher than this or the
doctor or hospital must agree to accept the Medicare
payment. This is why many doctors and hospitals resist
accepting new Medicare patients. Most hospitals actually
lose money on them.
If you live outside the U.S. you can always go back and go
to a U.S. hospital and Medicare will pay its share of such
services. You still have to pay the cost of returning and
your share of the fees, of course.
Given these limitations, I recommend that my clients who are
living (and retired) outside the U.S. to not subscribe to
Medicare B.
Lanny K. Williams, CPA
Nawarat, Williams & Co., Ltd.
Income Tax Services for Expatriate Americans
<< ======================================================= >>
<< The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only >>
<< and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting >>
<< messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2005) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ======================================================= >> |
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