Foreign national widow of American citizen Medicare?

Question

Hi, my aunt was offered government medical benefits(Medicare) but before she accepts she needs to know if it is legal. She is almost retirement age, she is a widow of an American citizen, thus she receives a small monthly check for surviving her late husband. She went to the Social security office and was told the offer for Medicare is valid and legal.
My aunt has had a visitor green card since the late 70's. She comes about once or twice a week from her country to the U.S. to shop and buy groceries and wants to continue to do so. Her fear is she will buy the Medicare coverage and when it is time to renew her visa, she will get rejected.
Does anyone here know if it is legal foe her to get Medicare deducted from her widow pension? Please help!

Answer 1

A senior is not offered Medicare. You automatically qualify if, you or your spouse have enough quarters and are age 65. If she is getting Social Security she most likely qualifies for Medicare. It would not hurt to go to the online site for Medicare an apply. All they could do is say no.



http://www.medicare.gov/

Answer 2

It is legal but if she doesn't use it in the US then it is not excepted in any other country.

We live outside the US and have contacted medicare to decline the part B coverage. It would cost us monthy to have it and we can not use it where we live.

She must not sign her medicare card or tear it off the packing material, just send it back to their office as is. She can either call or go into any ss office and fill out the paperwork to decline the medicare.

They give out part A no matter what but I doubt that is of any real use without the part B.

She will save herself at least $100. a month if she declines the coverage. If she can't use it then why pay for it.

I am not 100% sure about the enrollment dates, it is so confusing. I do know that if she later wants the coverage it is going to cost a certain % more for every years she declined having it.

We pay out of pocket where we now live for national health coverage. Everyone no matter their age or medical issues pays the exact same amount every month.

Those with jobs have the employers pay and everyone not working pays themselves or the gov. helps with low income people.

There are still private doctors and clinics that will either only except cash for services or will work with the national health plan and have lower prices then cash only private doctors.

Doctors who work for the national health expect tips for services though, in many ways going to a private doctor can be cheaper depending on how much tipping is needed. We do not tip private doctors only the ones who work for national health.

The knowing of how much and when to tip is the biggest issue here, tip too much and they take advantage and if you don't tip enough then they may skip some treatments on you.

Answer 3

If she did not work more than 5 years in the U.S. and pay Medicare taxes, she has to pay for Part A as well as Part B. If she is not living in the U.S. buying Medicare will not help her in her own country. It is only valid inside the U.S. If she enrolls in Medicare they will deduct it from her social security benefit every month. That is how everyone pays for Medicare if they are receiving Social Security benefit. Medicare does not "make offers" to enroll. If she is eligible they would automatically enroll her within 90 days of her turning 65.

Answer 4

I don't get the green card but she doesn't live here. I think an issue might be providing proof of residence. This is beyond a Medicare question



(As another answerer says, Medicare is only good in the US but if she comes here for groceries she must live close... so presumably she can get to a US doctor and facility assuming the proof of residence thing is not an impediment.)

Answer 5

Your Aunt is getting a pension which is a Retirement fund. Social Security is a whole new ball game. She is getting the widow pension from his retirement.

If her husband has/had worked so many years and gain so many points to qualify for SS then you are eligible to get the surviving spouse insurance

BUT since she is not a US citizen she should be checking this out with the SS office and tell the whole truth.IF she is eligible for Medicare she would automatically get it, but you have to be 65 and older to get it.

So my best bet is to check with the SS office and she will need to show proof of her citizenship. You just can't live in another country and come to the US just to shop and then go back..that's just not right and is consider a fraud.

Answer 6

well, if she was married when he died, i.e. she's his widow, and if she lives in the US, then she can get medicare. But only if she lives here, and from what you say she does not live here; just comes up from Mexico every couple of weeks.



She really needs to go to a social security office, hopefully with you or another member of the family, and then she can make sure that the offer is valid.

Answer 7

If you can't trust Social Security (and we're all on deep doodoo, if we can't), why would you trust strangers online? Who do you need to tell you it's real?

Answer 8

It does not work outside the US, but it is legit.