Obama "sending healthcare dollars (your money) offshore?

June 20, 2012 | Self

[zerosix]

Does anyone know about a "law" (perhaps Obamacare) that allows "Obama (government) to send tax dollars to other countries to allow citizens of other countries who have lived in U.S., pay for doctors, hospitals and/or medicine?

A Filipino lady was telling me today that one of the reasons she likes Obama is that "he signed a law that will send Medicare money to my country to pay for my people who used to live in U.S. but have returned 'home' and need medical attention but couldn't afford it."

[zerosix]

She continued with, "After all, it's really cheaper for them to see doctors in the Phillipines than in the U.S. so you really save money that way."

I told her I knew of no such law but it might have been included in the Obamacare abomination.

I also informed her that it's illegal for American taxpayers to be forced to pay taxes to send money to other countries to pay for medical bills for non-citizens who lived or visited the U.S. for a time.

I told her that if I was visiting her country and got sick, it would be up to me to pay for my medical care.

She looked at me and smiled and I said, "If I went to your country and returned home sick, would your country send money to my doctor here to pay for my care?"

She said, "no, but America is much richer than my country and they can afford it."

Does anyone know about any law that proposes to do what she claims she and others like her living in the U.S. believe and celebrate?

[arrogantsob]

If someone paid into the Medicare system they may well have certain rights even if they moved into another country. Heck, the Philippines is practical the Training Ground for American medicine supplying large portions of he doctors and nurses in our hospitals. In our Bizarro World some of this might make sense.

[tsowellfan]

I don't know about that but a Somalian told me that his other wives with his children who live in Europe are covered by ObamaCare. Since polygamy is not legal in the United States the other wives normally stay in Europe.

Many (not all) of Somali "refugees" are actually the refugees Europe had taken in but they have since moved to the United States under a European Visa, then they apply and get permanent status in the USA.

I did not doubt this since I also know that Somalis their children who still live in Europe with their multiple wives are claimed as dependents on their income tax.

[Jane Long]

...a Somalian told me that his other wives with his children who live in Europe are covered by ObamaCare.

Well, isn't that special?

May this Obamination be completely overturned.

[Truth29]

"If someone paid into the Medicare system they may well have certain rights even if they moved into another country. Heck, the Philippines is practical the Training Ground for American medicine supplying large portions of he doctors and nurses in our hospitals. In our Bizarro World some of this might make sense."

Well, I don't know about Obamacare, but I thought Medicare did not cover any medical expenses outside of the US. That is one of the reasons seniors need international health care policies when traveling outside the US.

[zerosix]

Do non-citizens pay into Medicare?

If so why?

[arrogantsob]

If they have jobs here then they do. The collections are attached to the jobs.

[arrogantsob]

I don’t know about any of that. I seem to have heard that you can have medicare coverage of citizens abroad but can’t swear that it isn’t just my imagination.

If what you say is true one would think no one would retire abroad.

[kp2hot]

It makes sense. Many ex-pats retire abroad because they can enjoy comparatively better lifestyle even with limited budget. Their health care would cost lot more in USA compared to other countries too. So its a win-win for both sides.

[Truth29]

From the State Department:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1215.html

[zerosix]

These people that this lady was speaking of are not “ex-pats” but rather Filipinos who lived here for a time and not all even worked while here but are over 65 and “retired of sorts” but according to the lady, now qualify for Medicare, thanks to Obama!

[arrogantsob]

Thanks for the info.

[khelus]

Non-citizens do not necessarily pay into Medicare when they work here.

Because they are employed by the consulting firm that recruited them,"many of these foreign workers are paid either in cash or by check – and no money is withheld for U.S. income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state, or local taxes.

[arrogantsob]

Thanks for posting.

Totalization agreements ensure that the workers are paying SS (or SS type) and other forms of taxes somewhere, either here or their home country. Legal non-citizen workers not covered by those agreements generally do pay SS taxes.

It also points out Illegals screw themselves by being illegal since they often pay into SS (or their employer claims he is paying for them) but do not collect.

Interesting stuff.