How Obama Healthcare Affects Expats

[hulagirl]

Hi,
It is probably too early but would anyone have a clue as to how the Obama healthcare will affect expats? Do you think we will have to pay taxes too even though we have French health insurance?

thanks,
hulagirl

[Bevdeforges]

I'm not sure anyone involved with the new law has a clue what to do about expats. Someone will think of it first time we get the tax forms that include whatever to check for insurance.

Basically, I'm taking the position that French national health care more than exceeds anything they have proposed so far as a "minimum coverage" plan. If they ask for the name and address of your insurer, just give them your local CPAM office and let them sort it out. Chances are, it's a non-issue. (Or, if all us expats treat it as such, it will be.)
Cheers,
Bev

[hulagirl]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I'm not sure anyone involved with the new law has a clue what to do about expats. Someone will think of it first time we get the tax forms that include whatever to check for insurance.

Basically, I'm taking the position that French national health care more than exceeds anything they have proposed so far as a "minimum coverage" plan. If they ask for the name and address of your insurer, just give them your local CPAM office and let them sort it out. Chances are, it's a non-issue. (Or, if all us expats treat it as such, it will be.)
Cheers,
Bev

I hope they take expats that are already in universal healthcare countries into account. I am definitely not "paying twice."

Thanks Bev for your input.
hulagirl

[GALLUS]

Why would a non US resident already covered pay additional taxes fr ealth care at home?

US cannot be compared to Canada or Francec. Why worry at this stage?

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by GALLUS

Why would a non US resident already covered pay additional taxes fr ealth care at home?

US cannot be compared to Canada or Francec. Why worry at this stage?

The new healthcare program in the US calls for US taxpayers to declare their health insurance coverage as part of their tax returns - or pay a penalty. This is not scheduled to go into effect until 2014, however - with the tax returns not due until April (or for expats, June) of 2015.

Have seen nothing so far on the exact mechanism for the necessary declarations of health insurance coverage. But the whole thing is predicated on the necessity of US citizens resident overseas to file tax returns, which is something of an anomaly anyhow.
Cheers,
Bev

[GALLUS]

some say it is a tax

Obama health care reform imposes 3.8% tax on all income from home sales and home rental income (update 2)

Undeniably Obamacare is a tax - Fort Lauderdale Christian Living | Examiner.com

President Mandela said, "if you think education is costly, try ignorance". I would modestly say , if you think health is costly, try misery , suffering and disease.

In Switzerland where I am, we pay 860 euros per month, for basic compulsory health care for a family. Organised crime in my view.