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Diana

May 16, 2005, 9:38 PM

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Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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I am wondering if one can apply for either or both social security and medicare from Mexico or does a person have to return to the U.S. to apply?

Thank you.

jennifer rose

May 16, 2005, 10:18 PM

Post #2 of 22 (2280 views)

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Re: [dianao] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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Yes, application to those programs can be made in Mexico.

Papirex

May 16, 2005, 10:49 PM

Post #3 of 22 (2277 views)

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Re: [dianao] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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I don’t have the answer to your questions, but there is a Social Security Administration office in The American Embassy in Mexico City. You might want to contact them for information re: applying for both.

When I applied to start my Social Security pension, I was in The United States. I did it all by mail. I had them send me all the forms, filled them out and mailed them back. I passed on Medicare, as we knew we were moving to Mexico after retirement.

While I was able to make my application by mail a few years ago in The United States, there may be more stringent requirements here, in a foreign country. You may be able to find out what is possible when you contact the SS Office at The Embassy.

Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

Anonimo

May 17, 2005, 3:49 AM

Post #4 of 22 (2267 views)

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Re: [dianao] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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You should be able to apply for SS benefits online; I did so in the US.

Saludos,
Anonimo

Brian

May 17, 2005, 5:22 AM

Post #5 of 22 (2257 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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According to the SSA, there is a subset of expatriate retirees who cannot apply for Medicare Part B while living in Mexico. Many ex-government employees did not contribute to social security during their working years and are ineligible for Part A. See the third example in the following reference. The good thing is that anyone returning to the US in the future will not have to pay a penalty for late enrollment:

Question I live outside the U.S. I do not have Part B. If I get Part B, will I pay more?

Answer When you can enroll in Part B and whether you will have to pay higher premiums will depend upon your individual situation. There are 3 possible scenarios, each of which is described below: (1) If you are over age 65, currently entitled to social security retirement benefits and Medicare Part A, and you declined Part B when first eligible, enrollment may only occur during the January 1 - March 31 General Enrollment Period and you may have to pay higher premiums. You do not need to live in the U.S. to enroll. (2) If you are over age 65, and are eligible for social security benefits, you may file an application for monthly benefits and Medicare Part A. You will be deemed to have filed for Part B during the January 1 - March 31 General Enrollment Period (unless you decline Part B at the time of filing.) You may have to pay higher premiums. You do not need to live in the U.S. to apply. (3) If you are a U.S. citizen, over age 65, are NOT eligible for social security benefits and lived in a foreign country when you turned age 65, you must reside in the U.S. in order to file for Part B. You are first eligible to enroll in Part B the month you return to the U.S. to establish U.S. residence. If you enroll in Part B when you return to the U.S. to establish residence, you will not have to pay higher premiums. You should call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to enroll in Part B.

gpk

May 17, 2005, 7:21 AM

Post #6 of 22 (2228 views)

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Re: [dianao] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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My partner did that about 3 years ago. If you live near Guadalajara, you can apply at the US consulate there. Otherwise, you need to go to the US Embassy in Mexico City. (There may also be a consulate available to you if you live up north--I'm not sure.) This may have changed. I think all he needed was his birth certificate and SS card. If you use your Mexican address, you will receieve a letter every year, AT YOUR MEXICAN ADDRESS, that you will have to return within 60 days or so or your benefits will be terminated--so make sure you keep the SSA advised of your correct address.

lmaxine

May 17, 2005, 9:24 AM

Post #7 of 22 (2201 views)

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Re: [gpk] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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I was 62 and living in Mexico when I applied at the Consulate in Guadalajara for SS. No problem. It is direct-deposited to my US bank. I had to use my Mexican address since I was applying in Mexico. Before I turned 65, I received a letter from SS saying that I could apply for PartB but to know that I can't use it here. I applied for Medicare at LCS when the Consulate was there for their monthly visit. I am eligible to use Medicare but only if I return to the US for the services. I never heard about having to return to the US within 60 days.
A friend of mine did NOT apply for Medicare and Part B when he became eligible because he was living in Mexico and had a private Mexican major-medical health insurance policy. However, he had a stroke here-got wonderful medical care covered by his Mex. insurance. But, he could not get the necessary SPEECH therapy in English that he needed. So, he had to apply for Medicare, wait till it kicked in, and pay the fines and whatever else to get into the program. Then he and his wife moved back to the US to avail themselves of the services he needed and couldn't get here.
So, I chose to apply for Medicare and Part B although I plan to live in Mexico for the rest of my life. I'd rather pay the $78/month-JUST IN CASE!
"He upon whose heart the dust of Mexico has lain will find no peace in any other land." Malcolm Lowry

jennifer rose

May 17, 2005, 9:55 AM

Post #8 of 22 (2190 views)

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Re: [lmaxine] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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GPK referred to returning the letter of address confirmation within something like 60 days -- not the corpus of the recipient.

Gwynne

May 17, 2005, 11:43 AM

Post #9 of 22 (2161 views)

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Re: [lmaxine] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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Just remember that once you sign up for Medicare part B, you can NEVER get rid of it. It will be a permanent deduction from your SS check no matter where you are and what you're doing. The projected cost increases are around 12% to 15% going forward. I even read one article that predicted that this premium would reach 50% of the gross payment of the average SS check within 10 years. Scarey!
Is it worth the risk not to have it? That has to be something for each individual to decide. Medicare doctors in my area of the states don't speak English and appointments are hard to get. My competent, English speaking doctors don't take Medicare patients.
Alcohol (ingested) might be a solution :-)

MazDee

May 17, 2005, 3:19 PM

Post #10 of 22 (2126 views)

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Re: [donlott] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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You can cancel Part B. I took part B because I thought I was required to by my medical insurance policy. I later found out this was not the case, because I live in Mexico and cannot use it. I called customer service at SS and they told me what to do. I may have to pay a penalty if or when I reenroll, but am not going to worry about that now because I expect to stay in Mexico.

Gringal

May 18, 2005, 12:05 PM

Post #11 of 22 (2035 views)

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Re: [donlott] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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Diane Hulen is correct in saying that you can cancel Medicare Part B. I did so in January and it took about 2 months to take effect, but my April 1 check did not have that deduction any longer. You will need to write a letter to cancel.

Rocky57

Jul 12, 2005, 2:14 PM

Post #12 of 22 (1922 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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Is it true that it takes six months after one starts drawing social security before it actually shows up in the bank account? A friend went through the whole process in Guadalajara and was told that his checks should show up in his bank account (Mexican) as soon as he was eligible. When nothing showed he checked with the office in Guadalajara and they mentioned told him that it would take six months. This seems like a long time to wait. Any experiences with this?

Thanks
.
.
The Elusive Grandpa Laugh

lmaxine

Jul 12, 2005, 3:57 PM

Post #13 of 22 (1893 views)

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Re: [Rocky57] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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That was not my experience. I was going to be 62 in January. I went to the Consulate in Guadalajara in November, I think. Got my first check direct deposited either in January or February of that year (don't remember). No problem at all.
"He upon whose heart the dust of Mexico has lain will find no peace in any other land." Malcolm Lowry

ignacio

Jul 15, 2005, 10:02 AM

Post #14 of 22 (1807 views)

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Re: [lmaxine] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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You may apply for SS via internet; however, one of the yes/no questions that you answer is that you state that you live in the USA at the time that you are applying. If you answer NO, then you are NOT eligible to start the benefits.

Apparently, once you are getting the benefits, then they don't care where you live.

It seems contradictory to the fact that you can apply from a consulate, while living in a foreign soil, and then all is OK. But then again, I don't make the rules, nor am I asked if I like them.

MARIA CUERVA

Jul 15, 2005, 1:48 PM

Post #15 of 22 (1770 views)

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Re: [donlott] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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All the posts are considered and well thought out. But in the case of a friend who never paid much into the system because she was an artist and didn't make much money, well all she is going to receive in S.S. benefits is $218.00 a month. With Don's projected estimates on the costs of Medicare and even the present cost of $78.00 a month that someone mentioned, it doesn't make much sense to pay into plan B. And the reality that one can never get out of it! What's the point? TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT from birth to the grave.

VSOP

Jul 15, 2005, 2:35 PM

Post #16 of 22 (1760 views)

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Re: [cuerva] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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Your friend might want to check this out, but someone told me that her Social Security check is so low that when the increases in Medicare Parts A & B take effect, her check is never reduced. Neither, apparently, does it increase with cost-of-living. She says this is a policy at Social Security.

At least your friend would have the insurance that Medicare provides.

No hay rosas sin espinas . . .

Elaine

Jul 16, 2005, 9:35 AM

Post #17 of 22 (1694 views)

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Re: [dianao] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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My one comment is for anyone that is considering turning down the medicare options. If you have private health insurance and/or insurance from a retirement, check with them first. I found out the hard way that if you are eligible for medicare some insurance companies require medicare be the first insurance and will only pay what medicare does not pay.

In Mexico this might not be such a big deal, however, if you end up with a major health problem and have to summit claims to your states insurance, you might find a large part of the claim denied.

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When one door closes, another opens. Some people are so busy looking at the door that has closed, they don't see the door that has opened. Keep looking for those open doors.
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mitchp41

Jul 19, 2005, 4:49 AM

Post #18 of 22 (1576 views)

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Re: [Brian] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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I cancelled part - B while living in costa rica ,upon my return stateside i renrolled in part B I was informed that i would be assesed a penalty fee of 10% to my monthly check ,which while not a killing blow is quite expensive,my thoughts,are one should keep part B far better to be safe than sorry,for who knows what tomorrow might bring,Mitch

hassen_ben_sober

Jul 19, 2005, 5:24 AM

Post #19 of 22 (1571 views)

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Re: [Elaine] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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The wife and I do not plan to make use of the Medicare options. With our many visits and planned retirement to Lakeside, we have adopted the Mexican and very Catholic point of view: Tomorrow will take care of itself. [Not everyones cup of tea of course] Secondly, efforts here in the U.S. seem to point to an increasing means test and higher premiums as the future wave of controlling costs to the program. Just one more thing to eat into your SS payout. The individual states up here have just found out they have to pick up part of the cost of the new drug benefit as envisioned by President Bush and they are mad. Higher and higher property taxes will be the in the future as states deal with another underfunded Federal mandate. Scary at my age when you counted on Social Security as part of the retirement package and see the politicians attempt to unravel it. Other than supporting AARP in an attempt to block undesirable program changes, I see the politicians steamrolling over retired Americans in the future in the usual "Let them eat cake" mode. Viva la Mexico!!

Elaine

Jul 19, 2005, 7:30 AM

Post #20 of 22 (1549 views)

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Re: [hassen_ben_sober] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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I couldn't agree with you more, there are a lot of scary things going on right now. One of the scariest, to me, is the recent Supreme Court ruling about being able to take your property away from you for reasons other than for public use.

I hear people say every day about how worried their loved ones are about the move to Mexico. I don't see how living in Mexico, or numerous other countries, could be so much more to worry about than what we face right here in the USA.

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When one door closes, another opens. Some people are so busy looking at the door that has closed, they don't see the door that has opened. Keep looking for those open doors.
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mitchp41

Jul 19, 2005, 1:16 PM

Post #21 of 22 (1510 views)

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Re: [Elaine] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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having lived and worked in a lot of the armpits of the world,it comes to mind even tho i did not always enjoy the surroundings i always enjoyed the people and got along well with them.The USA is and always be myhome of heart its good bad or what the current crop in washington make it,as it is in mexico and most anyother place 1 goes. I try to enjoy life in all its aspects,including soc.sec.which most of us have paid dearly to get,yet congress can go into secret session and pass themselves a heaftyraise,life goes on,tune in again soon for further adventures.Mitch

Elaine

Jul 19, 2005, 6:45 PM

Post #22 of 22 (1460 views)

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Re: [mitchp41] Applying for Social Security and Medicare

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Interesting view, Mitch. I know that there is a lot of good in the USA, but there is also a lot of good in other countries. And, the armpits? Seen a few of those myself. :)

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When one door closes, another opens. Some people are so busy looking at the door that has closed, they don't see the door that has opened. Keep looking for those open doors.
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