Social Security Benefits for Widowed Spouse

[Joco]

I know a few Filipinas that would disagree.

Unless the Filipina widow has a Green Card or U.S. citizenship she cannot collect widows benefits, ever. She can collect survivors benefits for taking care of the couples under 16 of age children but that stops when the youngest turns 16.

http://liveinthephilippines.com/content/social-security-benefits-for-your-wife-think-ahead/

And if she stays in the Philippines, and is not a US citizen or LPR? Too bad.

She can’t collect anything. Hubby dies thinking Social Security will take care of his family and often he is dead WRONG in addition to just actually being dead.

You can apply for a US “spousal” type visa to bring your wife to the USA. If you have been married for at least two years, and you pay attention to the rules, she can qualify for a “Green Card” immediately upon entry into the USA.

Once she has that green card she can keep it for life, subject to a lot of travel and time restrictions. Social Security-wise, and in most other respects, an LPR (Legal Permanent Resident) has the same rights as a citizen.

[gringal]

BINGO!

We do the same. A knee operation for my wife that ran over $60K there was $15K here.

I think we're in "apples and oranges" territory here. Yes, people can go back NOB and use Medicare. We have discussed the difficulties involved in going that route before. There would, however, be no advantage to the U.S. in extending Medicare to Mexico, in services rendered (beyond 60 days) in Mexico. It could turn into a billing nightmare, complete with fraud temptations for providers.

As far as the concept of the "locked box" of worker and employer contributions to the Social Security fund, that box was opened some time ago and the funds raided for other uses. Many benefits were paid out far beyond the workers' contributions in the early days, and Medicare is rapidly going broke especially the Disability Benefits segment.

The comment about expats lacking a strong lobby is right on point. We don't, so things aren't likely to change.

We are fortunate to have access to reasonably priced medical care in Mexico, as mentioned re the knee operation.

[Mainecoons]

Well you have a point about fraud considering the fact the GAO just revealed Medicare is losing 10.8 percent to fraud, five times that of private insurers and over $60 billion per year.

They can't even bill competently in the U.S. I can imagine what would happen here.

Shortly they will have to decide up there if they are going to print more money to keep Medicare afloat or seriously cut benefits.

[Sumofabit]

The dirty little secret is that many employers knowing that illegals use false credentials just pocket the taxes as no one will be the smarter.

[Jim Bowie]

Unless the Filipina widow has a Green Card or U.S. citizenship she cannot collect widows benefits, ever. She can collect survivors benefits for taking care of the couples under 16 of age children but that stops when the youngest turns 16.

http://liveinthephilippines.com/content/social-security-benefits-for-your-wife-think-ahead/

They all (surviving widows in other countries), can collect benefits , if they have the Green Card. It is the responsibility of their spouse (American husband), not the responsibility of the US government to make that happen. The money is there, all that needs to be done is follow the rules. Too many people with " hands out". Take care of business. Works the same in all countries.

[gringal]

Well you have a point about fraud considering the fact the GAO just revealed Medicare is losing 10.8 percent to fraud, five times that of private insurers and over $60 billion per year.

They can't even bill competently in the U.S. I can imagine what would happen here.

Shortly they will have to decide up there if they are going to print more money to keep Medicare afloat or seriously cut benefits.

Do you remember the scheme some docs in Orange County, CA came up with to treat patients in Mexico and bill Medicare as though the treatment took place in the States? That didn't fly, but there have been the few others as well.

The latest I've read on the news is that they are thinking of phasing out some portions of Medicare, especially for new retirees.

[tycobb1020]

I think we're in "apples and oranges" territory here. Yes, people can go back NOB and use Medicare. We have discussed the difficulties involved in going that route before. There would, however, be no advantage to the U.S. in extending Medicare to Mexico, in services rendered (beyond 60 days) in Mexico. It could turn into a billing nightmare, complete with fraud temptations for providers.

As far as the concept of the "locked box" of worker and employer contributions to the Social Security fund, that box was opened some time ago and the funds raided for other uses. Many benefits were paid out far beyond the workers' contributions in the early days, and Medicare is rapidly going broke especially the Disability Benefits segment.

The comment about expats lacking a strong lobby is right on point. We don't, so things aren't likely to change.

We are fortunate to have access to reasonably priced medical care in Mexico, as mentioned re the knee operation.

Fraud is not unique to Mexico . . . it is a big challenge in the US also. Billing at the major world class hospitals here in Mexico would be rather easy with modern technology. Some major insurance companies already do that in Mexico. Don't see what difficulties are in returning to US for major medical in most cases. Open heart surgery in the US at a personal out of pocket of $2,200 with medicare and medigap . . I don't think one can get that here in Mexico.

[Mainecoons]

Yes I do.

Something will have to give. The country's declining economy (aside from the Wall Street bubble) cannot afford to keep us old folks alive when we get really old. I remember seeing somewhere that a huge portion of Medicare benefits are paid out in the last year of life.

There will have to be "death panels" (obviously under another name) sooner or later. Simple economics guarantees it.

[tycobb1020]

Do you remember the scheme some docs in Orange County, CA came up with to treat patients in Mexico and bill Medicare as though the treatment took place in the States? That didn't fly, but there have been the few others as well.

The latest I've read on the news is that they are thinking of phasing out some portions of Medicare, especially for new retirees.

Who is "they"?

[tycobb1020]

Yes I do.

Something will have to give. The country's declining economy (aside from the Wall Street bubble) cannot afford to keep us old folks alive when we get really old. I remember seeing somewhere that a huge portion of Medicare benefits are paid out in the last year of life.

There will have to be "death panels" (obviously under another name) sooner or later. Simple economics guarantees it.

Death panels? Now were getting silly . . . time to close down this topic. It has run its course.

[Sumofabit]

There will have to be "death panels" (obviously under another name) sooner or later. Simple economics guarantees it.

How asinine.

[Mainecoons]

Not at all. They are going to have to start limiting benefits and rationing care at some point and the logical place to do it is for those at the end of life anyway.

I don't have a problem with this. The goal should be to take care of as many viable people as possible, not spend it on those who will die shortly any way.

http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/20/4/188.full.html

This paper profiles Medicare beneficiaries’ costs for care in the last year of life. About one-quarter of Medicare outlays are for the last year of life, unchanged from twenty years ago. Costs reflect care for multiple severe illnesses typically present near death. Thirty-eight percent of beneficiaries have some nursing home stay in the year of their death; hospice is now used by half of Medicare cancer decedents and 19 percent of Medicare decedents overall. African Americans have much higher end-of-life costs than others have, an unexpected finding in light of their generally lower health care spending.

End-of-life costs are only slightly higher for persons who died than for survivors with similar characteristics.

[gringal]

Fraud is not unique to Mexico . . . it is a big challenge in the US also. Billing at the major world class hospitals here in Mexico would be rather easy with modern technology. Some major insurance companies already do that in Mexico. Don't see what difficulties are in returning to US for major medical in most cases. Open heart surgery in the US at a personal out of pocket of $2,200 with medicare and medigap . . I don't think one can get that here in Mexico.

Difficulties? I think we're looking through different lenses. Here's mine: Lets' say I'm sick and need expensive care. This means I need to find a doctor in the States who would accept a new Medicare patient. Then I would need to locate lodging for after-care, transportation, expenses for myself and spouse, and all this in a place I have no support system and haven't lived in for over ten years. That would be "difficult" in my circumstances. I'm staying put for care. YMMV.

I can see where it would be a much different story for those who have family to help and where they have already established medical care. I am guessing these are people to return to visit NOB on a regular basis.

Fraud? It happens everywhere it can. U.S. hospitals are the home of the two dollar aspirin.

I think the term "death panels" is an inflammatory way saying "limiting benefits". For instance, a recent study about continuing to give chemo treatment to patients who are in end-stage cancer has shown that the chemo does them no good at that point, and doesn't alleviate their misery. A morphine patch is more appropriate and much less costly to whoever is paying the bill.

I agree with the idea that we should spread the available funds over as many viable patients as possible.

[bmh]

"The dirty little secret is that many employers knowing that illegals use false credentials just pocket the taxes as no one will be the smarter"

Don´t you wonder where the 3 billions from the illegals come from? From companies that follow the rules . SS has the money so someone is paying .

Viajero is a US citizen he paid in the system if his wife was a citizen she would be eligible for widow benefits but because she is not and lives with him in Mexico she is not..hardly a person looking for a hand out but a rip off by the US. Viajero paid in the system and is not getting what is owed to him for his wife.

As far as death panels I do not thing it will hapen very soon.

[tycobb1020]

Difficulties? I think we're looking through different lenses. Here's mine: Lets' say I'm sick and need expensive care. This means I need to find a doctor in the States who would accept a new Medicare patient. Then I would need to locate lodging for after-care, transportation, expenses for myself and spouse, and all this in a place I have no support system and haven't lived in for over ten years. That would be "difficult" in my circumstances. I'm staying put for care. YMMV.

I can see where it would be a much different story for those who have family to help and where they have already established medical care. I am guessing these are people to return to visit NOB on a regular basis.

Fraud? It happens everywhere it can. U.S. hospitals are the home of the two dollar aspirin.

I think the term "death panels" is an inflammatory way saying "limiting benefits". For instance, a recent study about continuing to give chemo treatment to patients who are in end-stage cancer has shown that the chemo does them no good at that point, and doesn't alleviate their misery. A morphine patch is more appropriate and much less costly to whoever is paying the bill.

I agree with the idea that we should spread the available funds over as many viable patients as possible.

I understand your problem. I'd just go to a world class hospital in Texas . . . like Houston where you will find some of the best hospitals in the world. They all take Medicare. Then return to your home in Mexico for recuperation. If there is a will, there is a way. However, if you have the resources to pay out of pocket for your care here in Mexico . . go for it.

[Mainecoons]

Gringal, we've found it worthwhile to establish ourselves with U.S. docs who take Medicare plus United Health Care supplemental which is very cheap. Texas is a great place to do this. We go to Arlington but you can easily do this in McAllen or Houston as Ty suggested as well.

There's a very big medical community in McAllen serving the very large retiree population. Houston is home to some of the best hospitals in the world and serves the world community.

We view that setup in Texas as our first go to if we can get there and out-of-pocket care here as the backup. At our ages, there's no insurance available here, even for catastrophic care as the few that might be available have so many exemptions as to make them worthless.

Medicare plus supplemental for us is still much cheaper than paying for operations out of pocket.

Just a comment on the Social Security question about non citizen spouses, some of the sideways political comments above are incorrect as these rules have been in effect in some form for much longer than the current administration or the Tea Party for that matter.

If they were modified by the current very immigrant friendly administration I hardly would assume that is because they are somehow anti-immigrant. Rather, I would think is is about combating fraud, which is a problem with both Social Security and Medicare. Given that neither program is doing a very good job combating fraud within the borders of the U.S. like Gringal notes I can't imagine how they would do better in dealing with it from outside the U.S.

Perhaps that is the rationale behind the rules changes being discussed here.

[cbviajero]

.Viajero is a US citizen he paid in the system if his wife was a citizen she would be eligible for widow benefits but because she is not and lives with him in Mexico she is not..hardly a person looking for a hand out but a rip off by the US. Viajero paid in the system and is not getting what is owed to him for his wife.

My employers paid,as an employee I paid and as an employer I paid into the system,that said, I've never expected much from the government and I've made my own arrangements for my familys financial well being.

[cbviajero]

If they were modified by the current very immigrant friendly administration I hardly would assume that is because they are somehow anti-immigrant.

Unless I'm mistaken the current administration has deported more undocumented immigrants than any other administration in the past.

[rogerm]

If they had deported "ALL" the system might have enough money to for those who deserve it. Only a mentally disoriented person would think that all 13 million undocumented (illegals) pay into social security.

[gringal]

I understand your problem. I'd just go to a world class hospital in Texas . . . like Houston where you will find some of the best hospitals in the world. They all take Medicare. Then return to your home in Mexico for recuperation. If there is a will, there is a way. However, if you have the resources to pay out of pocket for your care here in Mexico . . go for it.

Well, first you need to find that doctor in Texas who wants to deal with a new Medicare patient. Then, you need to be well enough post hospital to immediately return to Mexico without waiting for follow up care. I know there are great hospitals in Texas, but I'd rather stay home.

I'm one of those people who cancelled Part B 11 years ago and simply put the money in a medical savings account which has now grown to an amount which would pay for any "reasonable" procedure short of a heart transplant, in Mexico, so I do have the resources to stay put and pay. Also, I've followed a pretty strict health regimen, and it's paid off by my not needing much medical care.

IMO, I think one idea for reducing Medicare costs would be to reward those who take care of their health. If you're going to have french fries with your meals, start drinking at noon, smoke and carry enough weight around to attract diabetes, you should pay more for care.......since you'll need it.

[cbviajero]

If they had deported "ALL" the system might have enough money to for those who deserve it. Only a mentally disoriented person would think that all 13 million undocumented (illegals) pay into social security.

FYI,bigd,millions of "illegals" pay into SS for years and NEVER recieve any benefits.

[rogerm]

good

[tycobb1020]

Mainecoons: "Medicare plus supplemental for us is still much cheaper than paying for operations out of pocket."

I agree wholeheartedly. There is no question that quality medical care is cheaper in Mexico than the US. But it's not free and quality medical care using Medicare and MediGap in the US is cheaper than the out of pocket cost here in Mexico. There is a Medigap plan High Deductible D Plan)that limits your financial exposure to about $2,200 . . . and the cost is about $50 to $60 a month.

[El Saltos]

Add all of that up and it exceeds the cost of my private insurance in Mexico. I love the way it works here. You call a specialist on his cell phone and he/she will see you tomorrow or the next day, no waiting weeks and no pre-approval needed.

[gringal]

Add all of that up and it exceeds the cost of my private insurance in Mexico. I love the way it works here. You call a specialist on his cell phone and he/she will see you tomorrow or the next day, no waiting weeks and no pre-approval needed.

.....and then, there's the international rating system that puts the U.S. on the chart as the most expensive, but way down in the 20's for quality.

I also like the fact that you can get your care promptly here in Mexico. That makes a huge difference in the outcome of illness.