Jingthing

Sorry but you misunderstood the issue. I am not asking about the penalty. I am asking about the ENROLLMENT PERIOD. The normal enrollment period is the first quarter of the year with benefits starting in July. The question if if simply returning after living abroad gives the option of a SPECIAL enrollment period based on the fact that you were living abroad. I think not but I'm still not 100 percent certain.

None of these exceptions are just simply moved back to the US. Possibly but it seems unlikely it could be covered under: Missed a chance to sign up because you experienced other exceptional conditions I say unlikely because if just moving back to the US alone did it they probably would have mentioned that because moving back is common. https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/sign-up/when-does-medicare-coverage-start#SEP

OK I found this which to me strongly implies that simply moving back to the US does not get you a special enough period. https://www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/medicare-health-coverage-options/medicare-and-living-abroad/medicare-coverage-for-those-who-live-abroad-but-plan-to-move-back-to-the-united-states-or-travel-back-frequently If you do not enroll in Medicare during your IEP or elect to keep Part B if you were already enrolled, you may have to wait until the General Enrollment Period to sign up for Part B coverage.

Yes I agree if you're actually going to use it you need A and B.

I'm aware of exceptions if you could prove qualified alternative medical cover while abroad. Yes I looked but not too deeply. You're right that the key here is about special enrollment period. I will check that out.

Some background. I have enrolled in both Part A (free) and Part B (not free and not usable abroad) but am considering dropping Part B. I well understand there is a 10 percent penalty for the rest of your life for each year Part B isn't paid. At this point, that is starting to sound OK. HOWEVER, it's also my impression that if repatriating you are subject to the open enrollment period to start or restart Part B which is Jan through March annually which doesn't actually kick in coverage until the following July. So in that case if you repatriated in April you wouldn't have use of Part B until July of the following year! That could easily be financially ruinous. I've googled a bit and that is what seems to be true, though I'm seeking more confirmation. Now IF expats were allowed to a special break to enroll outside the normal open enrollment period, that would be much better, but it doesn't seem to be the case. Why is this a concern? Well it's my impression that in many cases people do repatriate for medical reasons and medical crises can happen anytime not fitting with an ideal time to start with Part B. That's the point I think of paying Part B to avoid such timing problems.

Too nauseating for words. Crimea a river for the barbaric choices Putin was made to make (which of course he wasn't).

He's hurt too many people, he'd divided his country too severely, to be deserving of any sympathy.

I support that the convicted felon loses and then receives fair trials without SCOTUS intervention for ALL of his other indictments. Better yet I support that the fake strong man dotard takes a one way flight to Budapest or the pro Putin asylum haven of his choice.

Our tax dollars at work! I knew that the U.S. is expat unfriendly, but this takes the cake.

Not to mention all the non-orphaned children he stole to be taken to Russia to be brainwashed to grow up to fight against their own country.

Well it's pretty good considering the dreck he has to work.with.

Likely India would join China in nixing Russia if they use nukes.

A certain poster is giving me the impression that this is his profession (to disseminate highly polished Kremlin disinformation). Just sayin'

You're wrong.

Putin the paper tiger and his "colleagues" in Moscow are smelling the failure. Watch out for windows!

It's mostly Hungary and Slovokia, isn't it? Putin loving countries. I heard Turkiye just switched energy source from Russia to the USA. Good on Turkiye!

They should have never listened.

It is an empty threat. China would cut them off totally and immediately. You think sanctions are harsh now? Russia is already a pariah state.

Haley maybe I suppose. But that would be weird. Vance is the most pro Russia, anti Ukraine "republican" in the senate. Haley is aggressively anti Russia, pro Ukraine. I don't think Trump's base would go for Haley. They call her a war monger. Vance was good in theory for Trump's base as long as he was going to win anyway with Biden running. A switch like that would make Trump look desperate but of course he IS desperate.

Grin and bear it, I suppose.

The only "cabinet" that conspiracy theory addled fruitcake is qualified for is his kitchen cabinet.

Couch bonking aside, he's tripping cat ladies with blonde wigs. For a VP "debate" the American people are down for ONE and only ONE. He knows there won't be more than one.

Putin is not going to use nukes. That's his game to threaten that.

Sometimes Russia loses.