Do you have medicare?

[Dong]

The biggest lesson to learn about American politics, is this. It's a 2 party system, and both parties are in the pockets of big business.

I don't care if the candidate is left, middle, or right in their ideology, big daddy war bucks, will always pull their strings from behind the scenes.


Drug and oil companies, defense contractors, banking/insurance conglomerates, and the court/justice system are who really run America. The politicians are just their whorish mouth pieces.

[Dong]

Health care in America won't change much. Too much money involved. People like to get all upset, with folks on the other side of their political ideological spectrum. Funny really, because it doesn't matter weather the politician of the moment is left, center, or right, big daddy war bucks is still behind the scenes pulling their strings.

Those with megabucks, like the oil, drug, defense, banking/insurance fat cats, ain't gonna let go of their power any time soon, regardless who is in the White House, or which party controls the Senate.

[Steve4910]

What's the story on Medicare might be allowed in the Philippines? I heard that Arroyo wants it approved. What is the news about that? I have not heard much. It's not fair that thousands of retired and disabled Americans can't use their Medicare benefits in the Philippines especially when we paid into the system.

[Pedro]

Keep dreaming. When most of our fellow citizens dont have the good sense to support a public health care option do you really think they would support extending Medicare to americans living abroad? Not in our lifetime. Maybe if you picked a country with a public health plan like Canada, Australia and so on to live in you might find you like it and realize what we are missing. As long as we let the Insurance industry run our health care, this is what we get, a lot of nothing.

Of course it does not make economic sense to let citizens have the same benefits they can get at home while living in another country, its kind of asking for trouble and there is the issue of quality of care and whether it can be controlled outside of the country paying for the benefits.

[Steve4910]

I didn't post anything to get into a debate on health care. I do know sooner or later medicare will have to offer services to Americans in the Philippines. This health care bill will not effect people until 4 years later. Since there has been a royal stink about health care and to require all Americans to get health care, how can the United States justify that by not providing health care services to retired and disabled American citizens in the Philippines. So, I do know it's coming, the big question is when?

[Kenny]

Steve,
I hope your right. I have medicare A and pay for B also my union provides a supplemental insurance and Part D prescription coverage. In the States the VA takes care of me. None of it does me any good here. It is costing me several hundred dollars a month for health care here, mostly prescription drugs. I'd still rather be here.

[Steve4910]

I don't blame you for wanting to be in the Philippines Kenny. The United States is a great place to earn money and I bad place to retire if your on a fixed income. In the Philippines people care about old or disabled foreignors, not like in the States that wants to discard them.

[Gass]

Originally Posted by Steve4910

In the Philippines people care about old or disabled foreignors.

... exactly to the day your wallet is drained. For your last US$100 they will have a pamily - reunion and cry some tears before they kick your ass out with a "useless"-branding.

My prayers are with you, that you never ever run short of money or need "REAL" help.

[Kenny]

Gass,
You must be having a really bad day. On your other post the sausage and ham was rubbish and now Filipinos are only after your money. I have no illusions that having money isn't part of the equation but there is a lot more going on. In 1993 my business in Cebu went belly up and the word went out pretty quick that I was busted. A lot of the hangers on disappeared in a flash but my real friends stuck with me. We had dried fish and rice for dinner that Christmas and no one complained. I sold a piece of property to get a stake and returned to the States to make some money. When I returned 2 years ago my friends welcomed me back and expected nothing. In my absence they acted as uncles to my daughters who remained here to finish their education.
I hope you have a better tomorrow.
Kenny

[Pedro]

OK I do see the requiring coverage angle but I don't see requiring Expats to have coverage would have any teeth. Was this from the US or PI press? If Arroyo is involved it must be about covering all the Pinoy expats returning home with their SSN checks and she is after the icing on the cake. I just can't believe she would be concerned for non Pinoy retirees.