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Medicare for U S expats


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2 minutes ago, AllenHoffman said:

Just a short survey 

Do you  continue to pay for  Medicare Part B ?  Are you comfortable with the Mexican medical services so much so that you don't plan on returning to the U S.

Have anyone cancelled their Medicare then had to pay the added premium to resign ?

sent you a PM

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If you plan to travel at all in the U.S. sign up for part B. It will be cheaper than travel ins. in the U.S.  If there is any chance at all, even a remote chance, that you may one day move back to the U.S., do not opt out of part B.  Personal experience is my source of information. You will pay a penalty for the rest of your life. Your choice, but I would advise not opting out of part B.

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Since we are under TRICARE, hubby has no choice but MUST pay for Part B. It's a good thing, too, because while up north, he had to go to the emergency room. Long story short, some serious medical issues were addressed. Total bills so far:  over $300k. Our cost with Medicare/Tricare:  $0. It's absolutely worth keeping/paying the cost. As we get older, our health is not going to improve.

 

FWIW, the times that he's used Mexican medical (private), it's been excellent. 

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12 hours ago, court0503 said:

Tough call. Doctor bills in the US could eat up $13,000, your ten years of savings, fast ..even considering  Part A/hospitalization  Is automatic for everyone 

That's impossible. I don't live in the US. I have 100% coverage zero deductible in Mexico. 

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I dropped Part B for 1 1/2 years for financial reasons.  When I tried to get back on, I had to wait 6 months for open enrollment.  After you enroll, there is still a 6 month wait before it goes into effect AND you have the privilege of paying a penalty the rest of your life.  The penalty goes up each year you are uncovered.

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This decision is really a personal one and one size does not fit one other, much less all.

Many folks who drop paying say that they did so because 'they will NEVER return to the US so why keep paying'. Only problem is.... stuff happens and folks who they and me thought Mexico was their forever home and they would NEVER go back.... go back. I've had 5 different friends/couple who have done this and two of them said 'the only way they would go back is in a black bag'. This was after a lot of years most times too. Well, things change or in the vernacular "sh*t happens!"   

In my experience the main factors are 1) medical reasons, 2) family and 3) 'just got tired of the Mexican way of life' (for all the things that can mean).

I also have friends who said they would not go back and they HAVE NOT after 10-15 years. So one never knows. I personally look at it like paying for life insurance.... one pays it but seldom uses it. But I do understand that the cost, currently about $140/mo I think, is not chicken feed to just seemingly throw away.

 

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On 6/19/2020 at 9:06 PM, Ian Greenwood said:

A

Two friends of mine both recently had hip replacement surgery locally ...it cost them  around 20 thousand USD ,...just saying...?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shop around or bargain with doctors and hospitals like Mexicans do. 

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On 6/19/2020 at 9:06 PM, Ian Greenwood said:

A

Two friends of mine both recently had hip replacement surgery locally ...it cost them  around 20 thousand USD ,...just saying...?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was recently quoted by two doctors 135/145,pesos and 160,000 pesos for a knee replacement, this would be for cash. Any incident in Mexico will soon add up.......unless of course you try IMSS/SP   but as you get older I think you deserve a more personnel service...... and in a emergency  maybe hang around on a gurney for 3/4 hours only to be told "why not go to a private hospital"....

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  • 2 months later...
On 6/18/2020 at 8:32 AM, Tingting said:

Since we are under TRICARE, hubby has no choice but MUST pay for Part B. It's a good thing, too, because while up north, he had to go to the emergency room. Long story short, some serious medical issues were addressed. Total bills so far:  over $300k. Our cost with Medicare/Tricare:  $0. It's absolutely worth keeping/paying the cost. As we get older, our health is not going to improve.

 

FWIW, the times that he's used Mexican medical (private), it's been excellent. 

 

On 6/18/2020 at 8:32 AM, Tingting said:

Since we are under TRICARE, hubby has no choice but MUST pay for Part B. It's a good thing, too, because while up north, he had to go to the emergency room. Long story short, some serious medical issues were addressed. Total bills so far:  over $300k. Our cost with Medicare/Tricare:  $0. It's absolutely worth keeping/paying the cost. As we get older, our health is not going to improve.

 

FWIW, the times that he's used Mexican medical (private), it's been excellent. 

 

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Tingting I am planning on moving possibly to Chapala. I am a veteran with tricare and I was also born in Mexico. Are there any pointers or valuable advice you can give. I am not aware of how things are run in Mexico but I have traveled for visits quite often but it’s one thing to live there and another to visit. As a medically retired veteran with SSDI and 100%VA compensation.

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5 hours ago, Fernando Bautista said:

Tingting I am planning on moving possibly to Chapala. I am a veteran with tricare and I was also born in Mexico. Are there any pointers or valuable advice you can give. I am not aware of how things are run in Mexico but I have traveled for visits quite often but it’s one thing to live there and another to visit. As a medically retired veteran with SSDI and 100%VA compensation.

Hi Fernando,

I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to write them down and PM me. I'll answer all that I can.

It's a bit tough to be exact since I don't know your particular situation, but using TRICARE here is to pay out-of-pocket for authorized services and then get reimbursed the 75%, minus the deductible, if any. TRICARE is actually pretty good (and fast!) about processing your claim and doing it online is a piece of cake. Be sure that it's a procedure that they cover. So far, we've had no problems with our claims. Normally, most doctors and the hospitals want 50% upfront before surgery and the remainder before you leave the hospital...many times before you're admitted. Hospital San Antonio does accept TRICARE and they're pretty good for basic medical treatment, but for reasons I don't think are relevant here, hubby and I dropped out and returned to Hospital Ajijic, even though they don't have any insurance affiliation. HSA isn't bad, but getting a specialist is often hit-and-miss. One actually only comes in once a month and flies in from MEXICO CITY...good luck ever getting an appointment with him. They charge $100mxn per visit (about $5USD) and it is convenient if you rely on your insurance to cover costs. I mention this because you may need a specialist on a recurring basis and that might involve going to Guadalajara --about an hour+ each way. Of course, if you find a doc you like and respect and the condition is not something that requires immediate attention, it's totally worth it. There's also a new hospital going up, but we're waiting to see if they'll also accept insurance.

Two quick examples to show the US/Mexico conundrum you're probably in:  1) a couple of years ago, hubby stumbled over a drop in the floor at a restaurant. He fell and shattered a bone in his elbow. The ortho specialist was through Hospital Ajijic (great place!) and the surgery was done in a very nice hospital in Guadalajara. He stayed overnight in a small, private room (with a comfy couch for me to conk out on) and got great treatment from all. The total cost for doc and hospital? Approximately $2100.00USD total--you couldn't get your toenails clipped for that at a US hospital. We paid and then were reimbursed75% by TRICARE. Had it been more complicated or a lot more expensive, we would have flown north to have it done in the US. 2) We went up north on a shopping trip and hubby had to go to the ER. Long story short, he had emergency surgery that probably saved his life. Since he has my TRICARE coverage, his MEDICARE, and we were in the US, our share of the $96,000USD bill was $0. So, cost of living here is definitely cheaper, but you have to weigh that up against what treatment you may be receiving/need to receive. Please know that MEDICARE is not accepted outside of the US.

Whew! I guess what I'm trying to say is that living here with TRICARE truly depends on your particular situation.

Sorry this is so long, but I hope I didn't confuse you too much. Again, I'm more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Just PM me with them. I've also found that the TRICARE helpline number is actually quite good. The wait time isn't that bad and each time I've called, they've been very friendly and professional.

Cheri

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Hi again :) No, we don't have IMSS, so maybe others can give you their own personal experiences and/or opinions. For us, we haven't had anything pop up, or continue, that wasn't covered by TRICARE.  I know I'm stating the obvious, but the website is pretty informative when you're looking to see if "X" is covered. It's not the best design and can be frustrating as hell to navigate, but if you have some time on your hands, it pays to browse around it (a government site being poorly designed? Imagine my shock!). If you're planning on coming down here on another visit to check out the area, you might want to talk to the folks at HSA to see if they can provide the care that you require without having to wait weeks for an appointment with a specialist (if needed) or having to go to Guadalajara to use their affiliate for an MRI or other specialized testing. They're still going through early growing pains, so many of these things may be resolved in the near-future. Meanwhile, If your particular requirements aren't too uncommon, then you may find that HSA is a good fit for you.

Hope that helps!

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bills for cancer treatment in Mexico will eat up your 13 000 in no time, just hope you are lucky and do not need some really serious treatment. I have a Mexican friend who had a wife who had cancer for several years and the treatment ate a whole lot more than that...It is a question of luck...you can gamble or not..

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On 6/17/2020 at 6:50 PM, Mostlylost said:

In 2020 $870 so far. through June

previous 10 about  $13,000  

 

 

With respect that amount in Pesos is what 275/300,000 is peanuts, I recently had 2 quotations for "cash" knee replacement , 155,000 and 175,000 pesos dependent on different replacements...and as you get older you can bet on the need for more "fixing up" 

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8 hours ago, slainte39 said:

Tingting could you explain this a little further.  Who charges 100 pesos and for what?

The 100 pesos is your co-pay at HSA if you have inurance that they accept and you're enrolled with them. As a TRICARE patient, if Fernando came down here and enrolled, that's what he'd pay per visit. Sorry for the confusion.

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11 hours ago, lakeside7 said:

With respect that amount in Pesos is what 275/300,000 is peanuts, I recently had 2 quotations for "cash" knee replacement , 155,000 and 175,000 pesos dependent on different replacements...and as you get older you can bet on the need for more "fixing up" 

I have 100% medical in Mexico. I live in Mexico. I don't need insurance in other countries. So paying for something I will never use would be foolish. 

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