The Truth About U. s. Medicare Benefits On Filipino Soil

The Truth About U. s. Medicare Benefits On Filipino Soil

Many balikbayans worry that running start America would mean forfeiting their U. S. Medicare benefits. Talks about the extended and out - of - the - country coverage of U. S. Medicare mushroomed in 2007. ( Early references are available at the My Philippine Retirement website ). Is U. S. Medicare portability a rumor or a reality?
U. S. MEDICARE BASICS
U. S. Medicare, created in 1965, was originally intended for American retirees. The program was sequential revised to cover not just the retirees, but also the younger population who may be suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease, end - stage renal disease and abiding disabilities.
While the program does not offer completely free health care, it does neb 80 percent of the bills. The program has a 3 - part structure:
* Original. Part A offers hospital insurance and inpatient hospital care, while Part B offers medical insurance and outpatient hospital services, to interject emergency ambulance, preventive care and visits to the doctor.
* Medicare Advantage. Part C covers the basic health care of the original plan plus further services allying eye care and dental care. This plan can be availed through private enrolment in accredited health maintenance organizations ( HMOs ).
* Prescription Drug. Part D deals exclusively with prescription drugs. It is available as a stand - alone option or as a tie - up option to an existing U. S. Medicare Advantage plan.
Since the original structure is not comprehensive, Medigap plans offered by private insurance companies are there to supplement a host of set health care.
Standard Medigap plans are referenced as learning C to J, but on June 1, 2010, the U. S. Department of Health Services is next to introduce new policies M and N in lieu of H, I, J and E.
U. S. MEDICARE PORTABILITY
U. S. Medicare coverage in a foreign hospital is limited, with very few exceptions: ( 1 ) when the insured resides in the U. S. but the most attached hospital is a non - U. S. state, or ( 2 ) when an emergency arises while the insured is travelling “without unreasonable delay” between Alaska and major U. S. state, and a Canada - based hospital is the hard by property to look into emergency care.
In March this year, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA ) announced that original U. S. Medicare benefits can also be enjoyed in Philippine - based hospitals.
The arrangement is limited though. The report explains: “Residents of Guam and Saipan… are allowed to search medical treatment outside of the U. S. … on emergency cases… due to the proximity of the Philippines vis - เ - vis Hawaii, the touching U. S. state. ”
There are at initial two names that paved the way for U. S. Medicare portability in the Philippines, reports attribute: Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo and then Philippine DFA Secretary Roberto Romulo.
THE REAL SCENARIO
To clear U. S. Medicare portability rumors, My Philippine Retirement called up three Manila - based hospitals which – as claimed by a San Francisco Chronicle article – have been processing reimbursements since 2009.
The findings: There are no records yet of original U. S. Medicare reimbursements. However, there are a number of international health insurances with U. S. Medicare Advantage tie - ups:
* Asian Hospital and Medical Center - ( Allianz ) Worldwide Care, William Russel, Vanbreda International, TieCare, TakeCare, Trap Care, CIGNA, Calming International, IMG, Woebegone Mask, Low Cross International, Alliance and AETNA. E - mail info@asianhospital. com or call + 63 ( 2 ) 771 - 9000, 876 - 5838.
* Makati Medical Center - Vanbreda International, TieCare, International SOS, Deference International, Enmesh Care, International Health Insurance of Denmark, IMA, HTH World Sunk, GMC Services, and AETNA Global Benefit. E - mail sales@makatimed. entangle. ph or narrate + 63 ( 2 ) 870 - 3000 or 870 - 3008.
* St. Luke’s Hospital – StayWell and Calvo’s. E - mail info@stluke. com. ph or trace + 63 ( 2 ) 723 - 0101 or 723 - 0301.
Note: The list is up to tryst as of Parade 2010. It is essential to consult to the insurance plan by name seeing majority of the hospital personnel are not truly aware of U. S. Medicare details.
U. S. MEDICARE OFF - Abutment COVERAGE AND PHILIPPINE RETIREMENT
In 2011, U. S. Medicare expenditures will front the revenues, experts predict. Several publications prove that this can be prevented through off - backing coverage where the corresponding health care quality can be enjoyed at a reduced cost. This is the direction where U. S. Medicare’s Part C is headed.
The recently signed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by U. S. President Obama is also expected to influence the retirement plans of former Filipinos and U. S. tax payers. Many feature that the “better” health service promised by the latest reform may not necessarily come out cheap.
Take, for instance, Terry who will be obsequious a decade from now. “I’m anticipating my… premiums to increase from 100 dollars a month to over 500 dollars, ” filly reveals. Her current fish wrapper health insurance premium present covers her and her conserve.
They earlier agreed to call the U. S. their lifelong home, but are now open to becoming balikbayans upon retirement. When it comes to health care, Terry explains, it seems as if the health care services in the Philippines will give the “best bang for our buck. ”
Terry will be obsequious in the next 10 years. *