PFV
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Thank you! This means that one can acquire US residence for a bit more than 6 months, sign up for Medicare and Medigap, and then move back to Thailand.
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Maine, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. I understand that Massachusetts handles Medicare differently from other states.
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I suppose that I could indeed sign up for B. Then, upon repatriating try to sign up for Medigap. If unsuccessful, go live in one of the 4 states that won't block me for pre-existing conditions, or be content with Medicare Advantage's limitations.
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That is exactly the point. You can enroll in MediGap without going through a medical screening process only during the initial 6 months after signing up for Part B, Folks with pre-existing conditions will either be denied coverage or required to pay a higher premium, depending on the condition. There are a few exceptions such as having existing qualified insurance, a change in benefits, after a Medicare Advantage Trial period, or if you live in ME, CT, MA, or NY. I suppose that I could sign up next summer, when I turn 65, and then move to Maine for Medigap. I have always liked Maine, but spending the winter there is not what I had in mind. Do you really need to be physically present at least 6 months a year, or would it be sufficient to rent a place for 12 months and pay local and state taxes?
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For me, getting MediGap is almost more important than Part B. Here in Chiang Mai, my cardiologist told be that I will probably need bypass surgery at some point in the future, given current calcification issues, and without MediGap it would be very expensive. At that point in time I would have no problem in moving back to the US, but would not want to move now just waiting for something bad to happen. So postponing enrollment in part B seems to be the only option for now.
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I agree entirely, except that you need a permanent, as in life-long, US address to enroll in Medigap that I am currently lacking. I was specifically looking at a high-deductible G, since F is no longer available, or perhaps a K or N.
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I realize this, but being able to enroll in Medigap as a diabetic is my primary concern, and therefore cannot enroll in Part B until I decide where to live in the US, since I don't believe that the mile-high city (where I moved from 15 years ago) is appropriate for aging folks.
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I believe that the only exceptions are the 4 "Guaranteed Issue" states in the Northeast. Consequently, they have higher premiums. I think I would prefer delaying enrollment than renting a pied-a-terre there due to the weather. Another option could be Medicare Advantage where I don't believe they can deny coverage, but I might be wrong.
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I am assuming that once you enroll, you stop paying additional penalties. For instance, if you delay enrollment until full reterment age at 67, your new premium will be approximately 21% higher and remain 21% higher going forward. This extra 21% is offset by the 200% you saved while not paying premiums at 65 and 66, until you reach 76, when you will have broken even.
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Thank you Jingthing and cmarshall for your replies. Since the only time you are guaranteed enrollment in Medigap is immediately after enrolling in Part B, if you have pre-existing conditions that is, the best course of action for me is probably to delay enrollment in Medicare until I have a place in the US where to spend at least part of the year (if ever) and to rely on travel insurance for short visits. The 10% penalty is roughly equivalent to the monthly premium saved.
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Apologies if this is not the proper forum to post this message. I trust a Moderator to change forum if necessary. With eligibility for Medicare a few months away, I am trying to figure out if it is worth enrolling due to lack of coverage outside the US, or if it is even possible without a US address. In my situation with pre-existing conditions, buying insurance in Thailand has been impossible, which would suggest the need for Medicare. On the other hand, traveling to the US for anything but a major issue could be uneconomical due to hotel/apartment rental costs, transportation costs, etc. Furthermore, I would also need to sign up for Medigap coverage due to the 80% limit. I expect to be able to bear the cost of almost any service here in Thailand, including heart bypass surgery, although I am not excited at the idea of spending >1M baht and have doubts about the quality of treatment. Some options I have considered are delaying enrollment in Part B, despite the penalty, and choosing a high-deductible (plans G-HD or K) to limit costs for services that I would use very rarely (fingers crossed). Then again, if I were forced to return permanently to the US for health reasons, all of it would have been very worthwhile. I was hoping that a kind reader in a similar situation could share their thoughts and provide some guidance. Thank you
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My experience with Swiss last month was entirely different. Originally booked CNX-ZRH-CNX, then domestic flights were cancelled and Swiss emailed a new confirmation without the CNX-BKK segment. For the return, decided to avoid the Bangkok quarantine and try the Samui sandbox. Swiss cancelled the BKK-CNX segment on WE and booked a BKK-USM on PG, also changing the departure from ZRH to the following day for a shorter connection (was originally booked on LH). Total cost 500 baht.
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I hope I am misinterpreting the new regulations, posted below, but it would seem that anyone entering Thailand, married to a Thai or not, on any type of visa or visa exempt, will need at least 50K Baht of health (not simply covid-19) insurance. This pretty much means that anyone with a pre-existing chronic condition will not be able to enter Thailand legally (unless willing to lie on the insurance application) or unless they can obtain such insurance abroad .