Health Insurance Issues For US Citizens Living In Subic

Information for US Citizens in Subic sent in by a reader:

U.S. Sen Baucus recently released health care reform proposal would require all U.S. citizens to enroll in one of several health care plans--the new health insurance, Medicare (if eligible), or Tricare (if eligible) and a few other options not relevant to citizens living outside the U.S. While those who are eligible for Tricare can use that coverage to cover medical and dental costs incurred outside the U.S., the new health insurance will not cover medical and dental costs incurred outside the U.S. for those who would be otherwise be eligible for the new health insurance.

Of course, otherwise eligible U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. are not now eligible to enroll in Medicare, nor will they be eligible under Senator Baucus proposal. Even though, under Sen Baucus bill, persons living outside the U.S. will not be able to avail themselves of the new coverage or Medicare for medical and dental costs incurred outside the U.S., Sen Baucus proposal, starting in 2013, would impose penalties on U.S. citizens living outside the U.S. for failure to pay for the new coverage or Medicare--a minimum of $750 per year per head (for those whose retirement income is under 3x the poverty line)-$1500 for couples.

U.S. citizen ex-pats need to be either exempted from the new insurance requirement, or, alternatively, the new health insurance and Medicare be extended to U.S. citizen expats, the latter with premium reductions reflecting the lower cost of medical care in the P.I. and other foreign countries.

Anybody have any pull in D.C.?