US Medicare in Thailand

[Pedrogaz]

I just received and application form to enrol for Medicare Part B as I recently turned 65. It came from the DHSS office in the Philippines. I understood that if you lived outside the US there was no Medicare cover. Can someone enlighten me? Thank you.

[Rhys]

News for sure.... keep us posted...

[Pib]

That correct.  You can not use Medicare outside the U.S. 

 

However, if your are authorized Tricare medical coverage (i.e., medical program for active and retired military) which can be used worldwide, if you want to maintain Tricare coverage once turning 65 you must enroll in Part B.   If paying Part B you are automatically transitioned to Tricare for Life which is the same coverage as Tricare just with a slightly different name.   You will still not receive any Medicare coverage while outside the U.S. while paying the Part B premium in order to have Tricare coverage , however when in the U.S. you will have both Medicare and Tricare coverage....leave the U.S. and you are back to just Tricare coverage.

 

 

[Langsuan Man]

Just curious, are Tricare recipients, who are forced to enroll in  Part B, subject to MAGI (modified adjusted gross income) penalty if they go over the income limits ?

 

Unusual,  but not impossible when folks hit RMD (required minimum distribution) when they hit 70 and 1/2

[Pib]

Yes...Tricare recipients are still subject to MAGI regarding Part B premium.    No one is forced to pay Medicare Part B to maintain Tricare at age 65...it's just if you decide to not pay Part B then your Tricare coverage ends until you start paying Part B.

 

Although the wife and I have a very comfortable income from pensions, savings, and investments our annual taxable income falls short of the MAGI trigger point for increased Part B premiums.  We just need to ensure we avoid any big withdrawals from taxable investments which would take our income over the premium increase trigger point....currently $170K for a joint return.  Or $85K if filing as a single where the MAGI trigger point would probably be more likely....easier to reach by withdrawing too much taxable investments in one year.

 

Edited September 1, 2018 by Pib

[ubonjoe]

13 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

 I understood that if you lived outside the US there was no Medicare cover.

No coverage outside the US. Unless you want to pay for part B that you cannot use here there is no need to apply for it.

I got the basic medicare card and the application form for part B a few months before I turned 65 in the mail. Put the card away and ignored the application.

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

It should be allowed but they are worried about “fraud, waste and abuse”

What waste? A heart operation in The US is 150,000 dollars, then they kick patients out of the hospital after a few days.

The same surgery is $7500 in India they could fly you there round trip business class and give 1 month recovery in private room and it would be way cheaper.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

No coverage outside the US. Unless you want to pay for part B that you cannot use here there is no need to apply for it.

I got the basic medicare card and the application form for part B a few months before I turned 65 in the mail. Put the card away and ignored the application.

 

Joe, isn't there a potential downside to that approach, depending on whether the person ever intends on moving back to the U.S.

 

From what I recall, if a U.S. person opts out of Part B once turning 65, but later in life wants to sign up for it, let's say, after moving back to the U.S., doesn't Medicare assess some kind of a premium penalty at that point for future years?

 

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Joe, isn't there a potential downside to that approach, depending on whether the person ever intends on moving back to the U.S.

I was just stating he did not have to do it. It is his choice.

There is a penalty and a delay to get it later.

In my case I have no intention of returning to the states. If I did I think the years I have not paid for it would probably cover the costs of getting it.

[Langsuan Man]

6 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

From what I recall, if a U.S. person opts out of Part B once turning 65, but later in life wants to sign up for it, let's say, after moving back to the U.S., doesn't Medicare assess some kind of a premium penalty at that point for future years?

 

Yes, a 10% penalty PER YEAR for missed years, so if you delay applying until you are 70 your premiums will be 50% more 

 

Quote

Medicare Part B late-enrollment penalty

As mentioned above, many beneficiaries are automatically enrolled in Original Medicare, both Part A and Part B. If you’re not automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B, and you don’t enroll when you’re first eligible for Medicare, you can be subject to a late-enrollment penalty, which is added to the Part B premium. You may have to pay the late-enrollment penalty for as long as you have Medicare Part B. The penalty amount could go up 10% for every 12-month period when you were eligible for Part B but didn’t enroll. For example, if you waited for three years to sign up, your penalty could be 30% of the premium. In this example, you might pay your Part B monthly premium, plus 30%, for as long as you have Part B.

source: https://www.ehealthmedicare.com/medicare-enrollment-articles/when-to-apply-medicare-late-enrollment-penalties/

[watcharacters]

6 hours ago, ChiangMaiLightning2143 said:

It should be allowed but they are worried about “fraud, waste and abuse”

What waste? A heart operation in The US is 150,000 dollars, then they kick patients out of the hospital after a few days.

The same surgery is $7500 in India they could fly you there round trip business class and give 1 month recovery in private room and it would be way cheaper.

 

And they may not need a return ticket..         

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

1 hour ago, watcharacters said:

 

And they may not need a return ticket..         

Some of the Doctors are the same! You just cant sue them

I read some have returned to India they save on income tax and insurance  have higher living standard and not worried about frivolous Malpractice suits! 

 

https://www.firstpost.com/world/indian-doctors-return-home-to-thriving-medical-tourism-industry-1566865.html