Comments on: Should You Carry Medicare Part B In Panama? http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/ "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."-James Dean Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:46:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/comment-page-1/#comment-52534 Don Ray Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:08:54 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/#comment-52534 Hi Diane. To this point I have not taken Part B. Time will tell if that is the right decision. Hi Diane. To this point I have not taken Part B. Time will tell if that is the right decision.

]]> By: diane http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/comment-page-1/#comment-52532 diane Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:48:53 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/#comment-52532 Nov 11 2009 - I am trying to figure out what to do . I understand completely about never saying never . Don what did you finally decide? I am staying awake wrestling with this. I do not understand why no exception for expats - we are not using the system as long as we live elsewhere. Nov 11 2009 – I am trying to figure out what to do . I understand completely about never saying never . Don what did you finally decide? I am staying awake wrestling with this. I do not understand why no exception for expats – we are not using the system as long as we live elsewhere.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/comment-page-1/#comment-47900 Don Ray Mon, 11 May 2009 11:53:18 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/#comment-47900 Hi Alex. Thanks fpr that update. That is a new option and one I was not aware of. Hi Alex. Thanks fpr that update. That is a new option and one I was not aware of.

]]> By: Alex http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/comment-page-1/#comment-47898 Alex Mon, 11 May 2009 07:59:09 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/#comment-47898 I came across this old post and wanted to give you my 2 cents update. It maybe a good option for some expats to look into getting a Medicare Saving Account (MSA). This is newish Medicare option where you sign up for Part B, pay your $96 a month, in return the government deposits around $1500 per year in a bank account for you which you are free to use (tax free) for any medical expenses. You can also use this money taxable for anything else other than medical benefits (it also goes into your estate when you die). The only catch in MSA is that while you now have Medicare A & B, you are not entitled to submit any bills to Medicare until you spend $4000 on your own first. In other words, you enroll and pay for Part B, you get that amount of money back in the form of cash into a saving account + an extra bonus of coverage with a deductible of $4000 (which maybe very handy if you get very sick and return to the US). I read somewhere that you must be living in the US for at least 6 months of the year to be eligible for an MSA. I am sure how that would work if you go back and forth. I suppose if you file residence state tax, then you can make a case for being qualified(?) (pretty sure it would be a problem if you sign up for MSA and then do not file residence state tax). As far as I know with Part D, you do not pay the late enrollment penalty if your current plan offers "creditable coverage". Your current insurance must give you a letter once per year saying that what they offer is as good or better than Part D. I came across this old post and wanted to give you my 2 cents update. It maybe a good option for some expats to look into getting a Medicare Saving Account (MSA). This is newish Medicare option where you sign up for Part B, pay your $96 a month, in return the government deposits around $1500 per year in a bank account for you which you are free to use (tax free) for any medical expenses. You can also use this money taxable for anything else other than medical benefits (it also goes into your estate when you die). The only catch in MSA is that while you now have Medicare A & B, you are not entitled to submit any bills to Medicare until you spend $4000 on your own first. In other words, you enroll and pay for Part B, you get that amount of money back in the form of cash into a saving account + an extra bonus of coverage with a deductible of $4000 (which maybe very handy if you get very sick and return to the US). I read somewhere that you must be living in the US for at least 6 months of the year to be eligible for an MSA. I am sure how that would work if you go back and forth. I suppose if you file residence state tax, then you can make a case for being qualified(?) (pretty sure it would be a problem if you sign up for MSA and then do not file residence state tax).

As far as I know with Part D, you do not pay the late enrollment penalty if your current plan offers “creditable coverage”. Your current insurance must give you a letter once per year saying that what they offer is as good or better than Part D.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/comment-page-1/#comment-40008 Don Ray Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:10:55 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/#comment-40008 Go into the link area and look under "Panama Pensionado/Retiree Benefits and Requirements". You will find a Panama Government site that specifies the different ways to obtain a pensionado visa. Medicare will not cover anything in Panama. You will be able to find some bilingual schools, but I can't speak to their quality. I doubt if you will find them online. There are several in David. Go into the link area and look under “Panama Pensionado/Retiree Benefits and Requirements”. You will find a Panama Government site that specifies the different ways to obtain a pensionado visa.

Medicare will not cover anything in Panama. You will be able to find some bilingual schools, but I can’t speak to their quality. I doubt if you will find them online. There are several in David.

]]> By: carla http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/comment-page-1/#comment-40006 carla Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:57:24 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/#comment-40006 We are thinking about moving to Panama and I'm trying to find out what options my grandmother and grandfather has She gets diability ($ and meds) grandfather retired (not military) and medicare It seems like they would have to pay for some med insurance. I saw on another web site in order to get residency you need to have $40,000 to invest over there? Is this accurate and how do they do that for grandparents and such are we concidered one family I need to find an area to live that offers a private school for my daughter she is in 4th grade. I'm having a hard time finding schools online We are thinking about moving to Panama and I’m trying to find out what options my grandmother and grandfather has
She gets diability ($ and meds)
grandfather retired (not military) and medicare

It seems like they would have to pay for some med insurance. I saw on another web site in order to get residency you need to have $40,000 to invest over there? Is this accurate and how do they do that for grandparents and such are we concidered one family

I need to find an area to live that offers a private school for my daughter she is in 4th grade. I’m having a hard time finding schools online

]]> By: Randall Smith http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/comment-page-1/#comment-37957 Randall Smith Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:41:12 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/#comment-37957 Don Ray and Company - If you wanna know about Medicare, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Tricare or VA Care, Call of email these folks below: Elsa R. de Bermudez (507) 207-8344 Massiel Campbell (507) 207-8345 or email: ebermudez@hospitalnacional.com Don Ray and Company – If you wanna know about Medicare, Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Tricare or VA Care, Call of email these folks below:

Elsa R. de Bermudez
(507) 207-8344
Massiel Campbell
(507) 207-8345
or email:
ebermudez@hospitalnacional.com

]]> By: Randall http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/comment-page-1/#comment-37954 Randall Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:16:54 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/#comment-37954 Don Ray - If you wanna know for sure - Call the Billing Dept at the Nacional Hospital in Panama City, Panama. I KNOW that they treat retired folks with Medicare Part A & B. I never met anyone there that didn't speak english and they are real familiar with Medicare. Don Ray – If you wanna know for sure – Call the Billing Dept at the
Nacional Hospital in Panama City, Panama. I KNOW that they treat
retired folks with Medicare Part A & B. I never met anyone there that didn’t speak english and they are real familiar with Medicare.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/comment-page-1/#comment-37952 Don Ray Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:38:26 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/#comment-37952 Hi Randall, As I read the Tricare requirement, it is for people that have been in the military. I haven't and don't believe I qualify. Hi Randall, As I read the Tricare requirement, it is for people that have been in the military. I haven’t and don’t believe I qualify.

]]> By: Randall http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/comment-page-1/#comment-37951 Randall Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:28:42 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/07/27/should-you-carry-medicare-part-b-in-panama/#comment-37951 Hey, Don Ray, Read my post again - my wife didn't spend a day in the service either. She has Medicare, Part A & B, using Tricare as a supplement. This is called Tricare for Life. Nacional Hospital in Panama City honors it, does all billing and waits for their payment. Hey, Don Ray, Read my post again – my wife didn’t spend a day in the service either. She has Medicare, Part A & B, using Tricare as
a supplement. This is called Tricare for Life. Nacional Hospital in Panama City honors it, does all billing and waits for their payment.

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