Foreign National Green Card Holder

[somarco]

Citizen of Ireland. Lived in the US for 20 yrs on a green card. Retired 2016, collecting SS and has Medicare Part A. Declined Part B.

Since 2016 maintained a US residence but "lived" in Ireland more than US.

I am aware of the 5 yr residency requirement for foreign nationals, but this is a different situation. He has lived here over 5 years but not as much over the last 3 years.

SS has his address listed as Georgia and it has been that way for some time.

He will owe an LEP.

Question is, can he enroll now or must he wait on the GEP next year with Part B effective in July?

 

[goillini52]

Citizen of Ireland. Lived in the US for 20 yrs on a green card. Retired 2016, collecting SS and has Medicare Part A. Declined Part B.

Since 2016 maintained a US residence but "lived" in Ireland more than US.

I am aware of the 5 yr residency requirement for foreign nationals, but this is a different situation. He has lived here over 5 years but not as much over the last 3 years.

SS has his address listed as Georgia and it has been that way for some time.

He will owe an LEP.

Question is, can he enroll now or must he wait on the GEP next year with Part B effective in July?

Since he declined Part B, I'd think he has to wait on the GEP.

 

[DS4]

Employer coverage only for SEP for Part B.

 

[somarco]

No employer coverage since 2016 when he retired. Only Medicare A (which doesn't work when he is in Ireland) and whatever Socialist plan they have there. NHS?

 

[goillini52]

No employer coverage since 2016 when he retired. Only Medicare A (which doesn't work when he is in Ireland) and whatever Socialist plan they have there. NHS?

Republic of Ireland

Considering its shared land border with the UK, the Republic of Ireland has a strikingly dissimilar healthcare system and structure to Britain's NHS. The new Irish NHS (as it is known) was launched at the start of 2005, as a result of the Health Act 2004, and is controlled by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

While state-subsidised healthcare is universal, it is subsidised in two tiers. Waged citizens earning below a certain threshold, currently about 200 euros a week (£177), are entitled to a medical card from the HSE. This allows the holder to receive many health services, including GP visits, free of charge. Generally, a dependent spouse or partner and/or children are also entitled to receive free services, and British citizens with a free Ehic card receive the same benefits as an HSE medical card holder.


Funding for healthcare in Ireland is made through a Universal Social Charge, normally deducted from wages at 2% for the first 10,000 euros a year, 4% on the next 6,000 euros and 7% above that.

Hospital stays cost 100 euros per night, capped at 1,000 euros each year, with A&E visits charged at 100 to 120 euros a time, although GP referrals to emergency departments are normally given rebates of between 25% and 50%. Maternity care is free, up to the point where baby reaches six months of age.

GP visits are subsidised, but chargeable at the point of care, typically 60 euros per visit. There is a GP visit card system, with income limits of around 300 euro a week, and which offers free GP treatment. Prescriptions are 50% subsidised, subject to a complex means-tested (sliding scale) monthly cap per family.

Most Irish hospitals are HSE-run, although there are some voluntary units with hybrid state/charitable funding. As in the UK, there is a booming private healthcare market with a number of private hospitals - mostly because insured patients are usually reimbursed with HSE co-payment (excess) fees. Outside of cities, most GP/hospital out-patient services are offered by health centres, which have a much greater importance than in the UK.

 

[somarco]

I suspect he is coming back here to get better care. He mentioned all his medicine was "free" and he has developed some serious health issues since retiring.

Sometimes free isn't all it is cracked up to be.

Nice guy. Brother to existing client. Very patient. Said if he has to wait until next year that is fine as long as he doesn't have a crisis in the interim.