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La Isla

Mar 24, 2010, 12:40 PM

Post #1 of 23 (7675 views)

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What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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Here's the link to the above article which appears in today's New York Times. It's a short article with lots of comments from expats from all over the world and other interested parties:

http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/...or-americans-abroad/

(This post was edited by Rolly on Mar 24, 2010, 1:31 PM)

Manuel Dexterity

Mar 24, 2010, 12:47 PM

Post #2 of 23 (7662 views)

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Re: [La Isla] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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Looks like our resident "indigent" can relax.

La Isla

Mar 24, 2010, 12:54 PM

Post #3 of 23 (7651 views)

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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A little off the topic I just posted, but I wonder if I'd qualify as "indigent" in the US based on my very modest Social Security pension and my even more modest Mexican income....

Demonio

Mar 24, 2010, 1:14 PM

Post #4 of 23 (7640 views)

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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In Reply To

Looks like our resident "indigent" can relax.

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one Manuel. I think our "indigent" friend maybe a chronic worrier. But, let's hope the best for him.

"What we've got here is a failure to communicate."

JohnnyBoy

Mar 24, 2010, 1:38 PM

Post #5 of 23 (7626 views)

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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Who, pray tell, is this indigent? Is he/she also here illegally?

Anyway, as regards the article: the thing that struck me is that the information seemed to assume that Americans living abroad are gainfully employed abroad. It did not seem to apply at all to those of us abroad who are not employed here, not earning any money here, who are drawing Social Security and paying for Medicare Part B (and possibly more, such as MediGap insurance, as I am.)

I wonder if it would not follow that Americans living abroad, insuring themselves abroad for health (as the article seemed to intimate is universally the case), if those of them who are also 65 or older and are paying for Part B ought not be granted an exception/exemption and not be required to pay it, in the sense that if they opt out of Part B because they are insured abroad, they would not be penalized if later they return and want to opt back into Part B. I assume there are no such penalties for people who would be exempted from the requirement to insure themselves under the new health reform laws but who later return and need to participate.

Does that make any sense?

Gringal

Mar 24, 2010, 2:44 PM

Post #6 of 23 (7600 views)

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Re: [JohnnyBoy] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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Actually, it does make good sense that those who opt out of Part B while living abroad "should" be allowed to re-up without penalty if they return to the U.S.
But when did logic apply to such matters?

Don't weep too long for our "indigent" poster. Not likely.

(This post was edited by Gringal on Mar 24, 2010, 2:49 PM)

Brian

Mar 24, 2010, 3:31 PM

Post #7 of 23 (7582 views)

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Re: [Gringal] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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Since there can no longer be an exclusion for pre-existing conditions, I guess an expat could abstain from participation in Part B. When care is needed, return to the US and apply. Then receive the treatments and when finished, return to Mexico and quit the program again. The process could be repeated as often as necessary. If everyone did that it, of course, it would bankrupt the insurance companies . Then single-payer could be implemented as it should have been done in the first place.

This current law is a bunch of half measures. If healthcare is a right and not a privilege, it should be administered by the government. Public safety is also a right. Police, judges and prosecutors are all public servants. It isn't administered by the private sector. Likewise all hospital workers, doctors and nurses should be government employees. It would control costs and insure standards of treatment across state lines.

(This post was edited by Brian on Mar 24, 2010, 3:33 PM)

Gringal

Mar 24, 2010, 4:03 PM

Post #8 of 23 (7566 views)

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Re: [Brian] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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Have you looked into the penalties involved in getting Part B after dropping it? It isn't that attractive a prospect. Then there are the logistics involved in returning to the U.S., getting Part B, getting a place to have your treatment, finding a physician and finally, paying for the costs of getting there, living there while treatment happens and you are recuperating, and finally, returning. This is assuming you have your place here being taken care of while you're gone. Seems like it would be less stressful to get Mexican insurance and be treated in Mexico. Stress and illness are not good bedfellows.

mevale

Mar 25, 2010, 8:20 AM

Post #9 of 23 (7466 views)

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Re: [Manuel Dexterity] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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In Reply To

Looks like our resident "indigent" can relax.

You'd be indigent too if you posted a question like his on the other thread. He stated that he has Medicare and then he asked if the government was going to require him to have health insurance. He also seemed to be a bit confused about the difference between Part A and Part B. If you don't realize Medicare is an insurance program, that doesn't bode well for your earning power in the marketplace.

(This post was edited by mevale on Mar 25, 2010, 8:23 AM)

chinagringo

Mar 25, 2010, 8:48 AM

Post #10 of 23 (7451 views)

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Re: [JohnnyBoy] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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The "indigent" is a personal friend and the comment was a bit of tongue-in-cheek aka sarcasm for those that must take everything literally!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

arbon

Mar 25, 2010, 12:57 PM

Post #11 of 23 (7397 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

"The "indigent" is a personal friend and the comment was a bit of tongue-in-cheek aka sarcasm for those that must take everything literally!"

Does "indigent" mean he is only lacking part of his health care coverage, rather than totally lacking.

The Red Cross can look after a bit tongue, for a small donation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hound Dog

Mar 25, 2010, 4:01 PM

Post #12 of 23 (7369 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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The "indigent" is a personal friend and the comment was a bit of tongue-in-cheek aka sarcasm for those that must take everything literally!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Actually, the "indigent" is a far right, famously sarcastic, Nebraska-born, Texas loving poster of reknown and resident of the Lake Chapala community who very well knows that he is baiting readers with inferences that the SSA bureacracy is unresponsive to his reported attempts to remove himself from Medicare Part B. What he wrote about having been frustrated by his attempts to deal with the SSA was pure poppycock intended as an anti-government diatribe delivered by a wannabbee "tea party" adolescent minded flag waving malcontent. Now, it happens that, despite the fact that Steve and Dawg could not be farther apart politically, I enjoy Steve´s colorful, if misguided, commentary and love disparaging his false notions of freedom and individual responsibility which are taken from the same Republican playbook that nearly destroyed Democratic attempts to provide health care for millions of citizens formerly and disgracefully without health care coverage. If Neil feels the need to support Steve´s doggerel then that is his privilege. Birds of a feather flock together on the plains of Texas and in the adjacent mountains of New Mexico but this Alabama boy sees through those right wing birds without the need for a spyglass. Don´t forget that Dawg was raised in a Democratic stronghold that turned Republican after the passage of the civil rights laws in the 1960s as foretold by Lyndon Johnson. I recognize country club kluxers from miles away.

This does not mean that I do not love you guys Steve and Neil.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on Mar 25, 2010, 4:12 PM)

chinagringo

Mar 25, 2010, 6:00 PM

Post #13 of 23 (7334 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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Coming from the "king of sarcasm" I almost take the comments as complimentary!

As we got through life, some friends are developed through other avenues than politics Whether I happen to agree or disagree with Steve's politics makes little difference. The fact is that I admitted to our friendship and nothing beyond that!

I was simply trying to point out that this "indigent" person may not have been in the country illegally and probably wasn't living under a cardboard box outside of Wallyworld in Ajijic!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Hound Dog

Mar 25, 2010, 6:29 PM

Post #14 of 23 (7314 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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Coming from the "king of sarcasm" I almost take the comments as complimentary!

Well, thank you, Neil.

It´s always a pleasure to excel at something; even sarcasm and I respect your opinion.

I enjoy Steve´s posts even though he and I are at opposite ends of the political spectrum and I have elways enjoyed your comments as well.

I must say that without the commentary provided by posters willing to engage in controversial discussions and have a little fun, MexConnect might very well devolve into another expat (Chapala) oriented forum of note that is primarily a collection of soporific inanities with such stellar discussions as those covering speculation as to the driving time to Costco once the new Jocotepec libramiento is opened.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on Mar 25, 2010, 6:35 PM)

stevebrtx

Mar 25, 2010, 10:26 PM

Post #15 of 23 (7246 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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As is often the case, several posters need to get over themselves, the baggage some insist on dragging along would certainly qualify for mental treatment in most, if not all, insurance programs of any genre- I 'regret" to say.

The questions asked were honest as were the proffered scenarios, they carried no political insinuation, they favor neither right nor left, each potentially real, each questioning what "benefits" are, or would be available to an old gringo in a time of need. They exposed the obvious uncertainty in our supposed, existing, would be, hopefully will be, and likely won't be, new healthcare system. I would venture to conjecture the answers will be no more clear a year from today than they are this date.

For me this was day #24,472 and if nothing else, I’ve learned, as most of us have, you must address the basic causes before attempting to solve a problem, you cannot begin draining a flooded basement until you preclude the source of the incoming water, the easiest way to quench a flame is to starve its source of fuel, and my favorite (being a boater) plug the leak before bailing the boat – hence logically you cannot reform a healthcare system without addressing its basic flaws.

Several of the base problems of the healthcare debacle were hardly acknowledged and almost immediately glossed over, hence for all the euphoria, the system is systemically flawed and unlikely to succeed in a necessary function, that being to provide affordable healthcare to those in need in a timely fashion - like one old gringo currently resident in MX.

As of today it's obvious even the primary players did not know what was in the new bill when it was discovered, one of the primary selling points was not covered, specifically children with pre-existing conditions - yet several of you are sure I have no problem getting hit by a truck in Alabama and subsequently being diagnosed with cancer and subsequently being treated - I would sincerely want to believe none of us ever has to put that scenario to the test - but, as it pertains to retired gringos, what else don't we know?
http://www.chapalaweather.net

Camille

Mar 25, 2010, 11:29 PM

Post #16 of 23 (7240 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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Oh Dawg, you have absolutely nailed the term "country club kluxxers" and all I can say is FORE! Tea, anyone?

Hound Dog

Mar 26, 2010, 6:18 AM

Post #17 of 23 (7208 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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As is often the case, several posters need to get over themselves, the baggage some insist on dragging along would certainly qualify for mental treatment in most, if not all, insurance programs of any genre

Ah, Steve:

Self-diagnosis, even indirectly delivered, is often flawed but in this case, you are right on. Do not fret, however, as everyone I know past the age of 60 is burdened with all sorts of personal baggage and would benefit from mental treatment as long as the therapist is considerate and not too imprudent in diagnosing the patient to the patient´s face thereby causiing the whole charade to crash down upon the head of the recipient resulting in irreparable harm to his/her mental balance or what is left of the pretense of same. Almost everything either you or I write has an underlying political context - even, I suspect, your Riberas Del Pilar weather reports and my written accolades to the weather here in the Jovel Valley. Your attempts to disguise political posturing as reasonable and balanced rhetoric do not fool the Dawg and once you get to the surreal political landscape of Alabama and its faux-Republican civility you will know the Dawg sees through political life as euphemism. A white Alabamian´s solution to having been run over by a truck is to find a physician who can assure him all is well and The Lord works in mysterious ways all for the benefit of his minions.

As for the health care "overhaul", nobody on either side really knows what will come of it but the one thing we do know is that those of us elderly types planning to stay here in Mexico and depend on its medical establishment for survival are unlikely to materially benefit or be materially harmed by the movement ´cause we´ll be dead before it "takes ahold" as they say in Nebraska.

chinagringo

Mar 26, 2010, 4:28 PM

Post #18 of 23 (7121 views)

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Re: [Hound Dog] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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Last night, I talked to the "indigent" on the satellite phone that he uses for communication from the cardboard box he is living under just outside of the Ajijic Wallyworld. His DISH network setup is still working fine and he still maintains contact with the outside world through his network of computers and the Chapala Weather Station. renewed

He also reported that his FM3 was recently renewed for another period of indigent living in Paradise.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

(This post was edited by chinagringo on Mar 26, 2010, 4:30 PM)

stevebrtx

Mar 27, 2010, 12:30 PM

Post #19 of 23 (7028 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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Actually Neil is, as usual, pulling your collective legs. I was actually out looking at houses for sale that day and had been up on Rio Dragon #28 at the top of Los Arroyos. I like it, a nice place for me and Max the weather gato, they're asking $1.4M but in MX, all things are negotiable. While it's furnished, the rather heavy style is a bit over the top and not to my liking, so it has to go, but the decor in generally nice. The pool has a great view, but is crying for a negative edge as it overlooks the village and lake (and John's little cluster of casas). I looked at another in Vista Alegre which was nice, but basically one story and backed onto a vacant area which violates one of my top 3 rules, never never buy bordering a vacant area unless you own the vacant area.

Here are a few shots, nice views http://www.flickr.com/...57623714756740/show/

So, that being said the questions still remain as the mystery we call healthcare unfolds. I notice today they found a previously hidden "benefit" for when I'm too old to wipe my drool, it's due to kick in as a payroll deduction in '12 for young workers it will probably only be about $150/mon, some estimate higher. I do hope it applies to MX by the time I need it.

But indigent, or my current financial state, the original question remains "do I have to buy healthcare" and while it would seem we expats will not be required to do so, I would venture to bet they also assume we get our healthcare out of country, so the question remains; when I get hit by the truck in Alabama, in country, etc. what happens?

You know, already I find the new healthcare bill a lot like an onion, you peel it off in layers and sometimes you cry.
http://www.chapalaweather.net

mevale

Mar 27, 2010, 4:25 PM

Post #20 of 23 (6983 views)

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Re: [stevebrtx] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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In Reply To

But indigent, or my current financial state, the original question remains "do I have to buy healthcare" and while it would seem we expats will not be required to do so, I would venture to bet they also assume we get our healthcare out of country, so the question remains; when I get hit by the truck in Alabama, in country, etc. what happens?

You know, already I find the new healthcare bill a lot like an onion, you peel it off in layers and sometimes you cry.

The original question only remains in your universe. Like everyone else has explained to you, YOU ALREADY HAVE HEALTHCARE. It's called Medicare. When you get hit by the truck, you use your health insurance. It's called Medicare.

At least an onion has layers.

Gringal

Mar 27, 2010, 5:21 PM

Post #21 of 23 (6955 views)

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Re: [mevale] What the Health Care Overhaul Means for American Abroad

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"Don't confuse me with facts: my mind is made up", anyone?

Now let's see how this works: Hit by a truck in Alabama. Taken to hospital. Medicare kicks in. Hit by a truck in Jalisco State. Better have some Mexican insurance. Gee, this is hard. My brain is hurting. It's an ONION.

(This post was edited by Gringal on Mar 27, 2010, 5:26 PM)

tashby