What US Health Care Reform could mean to US Citizens living in the DR

May 29, 2006
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Peter, when you were in Vermont and got health care for free, who paid for it?
Does medical care come free to anyone? Everyone wants free stuff and no one has to pay. Sweet!

OK it wasn't free. I was paying $60 a month through my VT employer. When I had left my prior employer in Massachusetts, I was offered the option to continue my insurance through them at a mere $250/month for a healthy 30-year old male. No thanks.

I was in VT for about 10 years and put in a lot more than I got out. Still a bargain for the peace of mind.
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
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OK it wasn't free. I was paying $60 a month through my VT employer. When I had left my prior employer in Massachusetts, I was offered the option to continue my insurance through them at a mere $250/month for a healthy 30-year old male. No thanks.

I was in VT for about 10 years and put in a lot more than I got out. Still a bargain for the peace of mind.

Peter, would it be safe to say that while you were paying $60 a month in Vermont that your employer was paying quite a bit more to support the system? In other words, it was part of your salary that never went into your pocket? The care is not ever free, someone is paying for it.

The US got screwed up when the Insurance companies were allowed ultimate control while they add nothing of value to the care received.
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
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US Health Care Reform has passed

By a narrow vote of 218 to 209 the health care measure in the US has passed.
Now we will see what it means for Expats. I believe that those of us without "legal" plans in the US will pay an annual fine to abstain from coverage, but it will be a while before the full details are known.
 

bryan1258

Bronze
Dec 24, 2007
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It must suck to be an American, regarding health care. Universal health care is too commi I guess....what a laugh!!
 

Berzin

Banned
Nov 17, 2004
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All you doom mongers, libertarians and right wingers rest easy.

This "ObamaCare", if it's indeed slated to go into effect in 2014, will be repealed when Sarah Palin takes office in 2012. Politics aside she's a hottie!!!

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Then we can all go back to doing the right thing by America-lowering taxes on the richest 1% (who by the way control around 90% of America's wealth), sending more and more jobs overseas, destroying the middle-class, declaring war on Iraq, and bailing out Wall Street yet again.

Because this is really what our tax dollars should be spent on.

I don't know about you guys, but as soon as the summer hits I'll be heading to the Jersey Shore to hang out with my new friends DJ Pauly D and Mike, aka "The Situation". They know how to have more fun than the "Teabaggers", and they don't seem at all concerned about health care reform-just GTL, baby-Gym, Tan, Laundry!!!

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Kyle

Silver
Jun 2, 2006
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This "ObamaCare", if it's indeed slated to go into effect in 2014, will be repealed when Sarah Palin takes office in 2012. Politics aside she's a hottie!!!

the Sarah Palin that writes notes on her hand...yeah right....:ermm:

the only office she'll ever see is the "dumb brunette" office....
 

Chirimoya

Well-known member
Dec 9, 2002
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Guys, I know this is emotive for some on both sides of the debate, but please try and keep it focused on the DR-related angle or it will be closed.

There are many other forums out there for general discussions about the pros and cons of this health reform.
 
May 29, 2006
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Peter, would it be safe to say that while you were paying $60 a month in Vermont that your employer was paying quite a bit more to support the system? In other words, it was part of your salary that never went into your pocket? The care is not ever free, someone is paying for it.

The US got screwed up when the Insurance companies were allowed ultimate control while they add nothing of value to the care received.

My employer had to pay workmans comp but that is national as it is. They didn't pay into state insurance, and having been an business owner in VT with employees, I think I would have heard about that.

You're simply assuming health care can't work and making generalized guesses. VT has a lower than national unemployment rate and stable economy, thanks very much.
 

RacerX

Banned
Nov 22, 2009
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It will be interesting to see if I have to pay a higher fine because I can declare my wife legally as a dependent on my tax return, but she isn't a US resident.

Yea I saw that part where immigrants wont be covered, legal or illegal.
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
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Section of the Health Care plan that applies to those out of the US

I think this is a link to the bill just approved:

Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

then under the exemptions section below I found this,

`(3) INDIVIDUALS RESIDING OUTSIDE UNITED STATES- Any qualified individual (as defined in section 911(d)) (and any qualifying child residing with such individual) shall be treated for purposes of this section as covered by acceptable coverage during the period described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 911(d)(1), whichever is applicable.



I think the referrals to Section 911(d) applies to IRS rules for income excluded from Taxes in the US by those working abroad which I think is currently at $80K US. I do believe that anyone working abroad that earns less than the taxable amount will be exempt. Since I am not working, but rather am retired, I don't see specific wording for my situation but it seems that I would be exempted. Here is a section from which I got the above text. Complicated for sure. Here is the text around that section of the law:

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SEC. 59B. TAX ON INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT ACCEPTABLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE.

`(a) Tax Imposed- In the case of any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (d) at any time during the taxable year, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 2.5 percent of the excess of--

`(1) the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, over

`(2) the amount of gross income specified in section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer.

`(b) Limitations-

`(1) TAX LIMITED TO AVERAGE PREMIUM-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The tax imposed under subsection (a) with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed the applicable national average premium for such taxable year.

`(B) APPLICABLE NATIONAL AVERAGE PREMIUM-

`(i) IN GENERAL- For purposes of subparagraph (A), the `applicable national average premium' means, with respect to any taxable year, the average premium (as determined by the Secretary, in coordination with the Health Choices Commissioner) for self-only coverage under a basic plan which is offered in a Health Insurance Exchange for the calendar year in which such taxable year begins.

`(ii) FAILURE TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL- In the case of any taxpayer who fails to meet the requirements of subsection (e) with respect to more than one individual during the taxable year, clause (i) shall be applied by substituting `family coverage' for `self-only coverage'.

`(2) PRORATION FOR PART YEAR FAILURES- The tax imposed under subsection (a) with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year shall not exceed the amount which bears the same ratio to the amount of tax so imposed (determined without regard to this paragraph and after application of paragraph (1)) as--

`(A) the aggregate periods during such taxable year for which such individual failed to meet the requirements of subsection (d), bears to

`(B) the entire taxable year.

`(c) Exceptions-

`(1) DEPENDENTS- Subsection (a) shall not apply to any individual for any taxable year if a deduction is allowable under section 151 with respect to such individual to another taxpayer for any taxable year beginning in the same calendar year as such taxable year.

`(2) NONRESIDENT ALIENS- Subsection (a) shall not apply to any individual who is a nonresident alien.

`(3) INDIVIDUALS RESIDING OUTSIDE UNITED STATES- Any qualified individual (as defined in section 911(d)) (and any qualifying child residing with such individual) shall be treated for purposes of this section as covered by acceptable coverage during the period described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 911(d)(1), whichever is applicable.

`(4) INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN POSSESSIONS OF THE UNITED STATES- Any individual who is a bona fide resident of any possession of the United States (as determined under section 937(a)) for any taxable year (and any qualifying child residing with such individual) shall be treated for purposes of this section as covered by acceptable coverage during such taxable year.

`(5) RELIGIOUS CONSCIENCE EXEMPTION-

`(A) IN GENERAL- Subsection (a) shall not apply to any individual (and any qualifying child residing with such individual) for any period if such individual has in effect an exemption which certifies that such individual is a member of a recognized religious sect or division thereof described in section 1402(g)(1) and an adherent of established tenets or teachings of such sect or division as described in such section.

`(B) EXEMPTION- An application for the exemption described in subparagraph (A) shall be filed with the Secretary at such time and in such form and manner as the Secretary may prescribe. Any such exemption granted by the Secretary shall be effective for such period as the Secretary determines appropriate.

`(d) Acceptable Coverage Requirement-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The requirements of this subsection are met with respect to any individual for any period if such individual (and each qualifying child of such individual) is covered by acceptable coverage at all times during such period.

`(2) ACCEPTABLE COVERAGE- For purposes of this section, the term `acceptable coverage' means any of the following:

`(A) QUALIFIED HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN COVERAGE- Coverage under a qualified health benefits plan (as defined in section 100(c) of the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009).

`(B) GRANDFATHERED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE; COVERAGE UNDER GRANDFATHERED EMPLOYMENT-BASED HEALTH PLAN- Coverage under a grandfathered health insurance coverage (as defined in subsection (a) of section 102 of the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009) or under a current employment-based health plan (within the meaning of subsection (b) of such section).

`(C) MEDICARE- Coverage under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act.

`(D) MEDICAID- Coverage for medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act.

`(E) MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND DEPENDENTS (INCLUDING TRICARE)- Coverage under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, including similar coverage furnished under section 1781 of title 38 of such Code.

`(F) VA- Coverage under the veteran's health care program under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, but only if the coverage for the individual involved is determined by the Secretary in coordination with the Health Choices Commissioner to be not less than the level specified by the Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs and the Health Choices Commissioner, based on the individual's priority for services as provided under section 1705(a) of such title.

`(G) OTHER COVERAGE- Such other health benefits coverage as the Secretary, in coordination with the Health Choices Commissioner, recognizes for purposes of this subsection.

`(e) Other Definitions and Special Rules-

`(1) QUALIFYING CHILD- For purposes of this section, the term `qualifying child' has the meaning given such term by section 152(c).

`(2) BASIC PLAN- For purposes of this section, the term `basic plan' has the meaning given such term under section 100(c) of the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.

`(3) HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE- For purposes of this section, the term `Health Insurance Exchange' has the meaning given such term under section 100(c) of the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, including any State-based health insurance exchange approved for operation under section 208 of such Act.

`(4) FAMILY COVERAGE- For purposes of this section, the term `family coverage' means any coverage other than self-only coverage.

`(5) MODIFIED ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME- For purposes of this section, the term `modified adjusted gross income' means adjusted gross income--

`(A) determined without regard to section 911, and

`(B) increased by the amount of interest received or accrued by the taxpayer during the taxable year which is exempt from tax.

`(6) NOT TREATED AS TAX IMPOSED BY THIS CHAPTER FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES- The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax imposed by this chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under this chapter or for purposes of section 55.

`(f) Regulations- The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations or other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section, including regulations or other guidance (developed in coordination with the Health Choices Commissioner) which provide--

`(1) exemption from the tax imposed under subsection (a) in cases of de minimis lapses of acceptable coverage, and

`(2) a process for applying for a waiver of the application of subsection (a) in cases of hardship.'.

(b) Information Reporting-

(1) IN GENERAL- Subpart B of part III of subchapter A of chapter 61 of such Code is amended by inserting after section 6050W the following new section:
 
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