Obamacare: Do Expats Need To Buy Health Insurance?

[sinagua980]

I haven't done any research on what the rules are for U.S. citizens living abroad regarding the Affordable Care Act (aka, Obamacare). Does anyone know if we are exempt? And if so, how I can properly inform the U.S. government (the IRS, I suppose) that I live overseas?

Feel free to make this thread about any new info you find.

 

[GS_Dirtboy]

The PPACA prohibits Americans living abroad to participate in this health insurance plan. It is only available to residents of the US. Therefore, you are exempt from paying the penalty, aka tax for not participating.

That doesn't exempt you from shelling out more Dollars in income taxes every year to help pay for the program. See related thread; Why I Chose to Give Up My American Citizenship.

 

[citygirl]

The PPACA prohibits Americans living abroad to participate in this health insurance plan. It is only available to residents of the US. Therefore, you are exempt from paying the penalty, aka tax for not participating.

That doesn't exempt you from shelling out more Dollars in income taxes every year to help pay for the program. See related thread; Why I Chose to Give Up My American Citizenship.

Actually for 98% of the population, the net increase in taxes is pretty much zero.
If you make more than 250,000 USD a year, yes, you will pay more.

The IRS has some pretty good info. http://www.irs.gov/uac/Affordable-Care-Act-Tax-Provisions
This site supports the program but you can find a good overview of info here: http://www.obamacarefacts.com/

I'm not sure on the notification process for expats - that's a good question actually.

 

[John.St]

Who needs health insurance anyway?
expats never get ill, and if they do, they can select the cheapest solution and just die for free.

 

[sinagua980]

I found this really helpful article from an expat in France: http://www.lost-in-france.com/living-in-france/finance/1564-american-expats-obamacare

I'm still officially a tourist here (hopefully transitioning to resident before December) so surely I can still enroll. But, for my wife, maybe it's different as she has her work visa here. My wife (a U.S. citizen) is pregnant and we will be traveling to the U.S. in January for a month when she during her 7th month. We want her to get insurance coverage in the U.S. during that trip but no one else will cover her for her pre-existing condition of being pregnant. Are we screwed or am I missing something?

 

[camberiu]

 

[sinagua980]

Yeah, that didn't add anything of value. Try this:

http://www.foxnews.c...y-theyre-gonna/

 

[kerriem]

http://knowyourmeme.com/photos/591523-breaking-bad

 

[camberiu]

Yeah, that didn't add anything of value. Try this:

http://www.foxnews.c...y-theyre-gonna/

I am sure the majority loves it. You have no better example of how the voting majority can be absolutely stupid and ignorant than here in Argentina. They loved Peron just like most Americans love Obamacare. No matter what facts you show, Matias will continue to worship Peron, and people like you will continue to worship Obama and his terrible Obamacare, which was written by the insurance companies and for their own benefit.
Argentina is the ultimate outcome when you have well intended liberals who can't understand economics writing policy. And that is very much where the US is headed.

 

[camberiu]

http://knowyourmeme....23-breaking-bad

You might want to ask some Canadians how long they wait for their Cancer treatment. This meme generated some very heated responses in Canada.