No Medicare Part B penalty for some Int'l Vounteers

[JLCrab]

International Volunteers

Some international volunteers may also be exempt from the Part B late enrollment penalty. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-171) permits certain individuals to delay enrollment in Part B without a delayed enrollment penalty if they volunteered outside of the United States for at least 12 months through a program sponsored by a tax-exempt organization defined under Section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The individuals must demonstrate they had health insurance coverage while serving in the international program. Individuals permitted to delay enrollment have a six-month special enrollment period, which begins on the first day of the first month they no longer qualify under this provision.

http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40082.pdf PDF page 9

[DogNo1]

Yes, this also applies to persons employed outside of the US whose health care is covered by their employer. They have six months following the termination of their job to apply for Part B without penalty. That was my case and I was charged no penalty.

[DonaldBattles]

There is no indication that people living overseas can be covered by this program. You can be covered but not use the policy except in the USA. Does anyone have information other than this?

[JLCrab]

TTBOMK no Medicare services are available ex-USA. My question is, when one does sign up for Part B

followinng the penallty-exempt period, does the 6 month no underwriting for Advantage (Part C) also commence?

[Pib]

There is no indication that people living overseas can be covered by this program. You can be covered but not use the policy except in the USA. Does anyone have information other than this?

You are correct Medicare can not be used outside the U.S. except for certain emergency treatment while traveling outside the U.S.

However, there is at least one federal health coverage program (may be others) linked in a round about way to Medicare Part B coverage/premiums. A U.S. military retiree's health plan coverage under Tricare ends at age 65/when becoming Medicare program eligible, unless, they sign-up for Medical Part B which allows them to continue coverage under Tricare for Life (TFL) which is the same as Tricare Standard/Overseas for military retirees younger than 65...just a different name. Now, although signed-up for and paying Part B premiums the overseas military retiree under TFL still does "not" get any Medicare coverage/reimbursement but can continue to use Tricare as he did before turning 65...the overseas retiree pays the Medicare Part B premium but still continues to be covered under Tricare and sends his reimbursement claims to Tricare as he did before turning 65.

And if that military retiree happens to live within the U.S. or go back to the U.S. for medical care, both Medicare and Tricare will cover the costs. Medicare would first pickup the bulk of the cost and then forward the remaining uncovered part to Tricare for coverage. For military retirees living in the U.S. that can pretty much cover all the costs excluding any mandatory co-pays. But for retirees living overseas they will be limited to the Tricare 75% reimbursement (no Medicare coverage) after the mandatory co-pays and to get that coverage they must sign up for and pay Medicare Part B premiums.