Obamacare For Those Living Abroad

[Aussiesuede]

Mods, after the fiasco of the past couple days, feel free to lock this. But we now have a definitive answer from the govt to the original question posed. Obamacare does NOT apply to Americans living abroad more than 330 days/year.

Americans who live abroad at least 330 days of the year will be treated as if they have qualifying insurance coverage and won’t owe any tax penalty, according to the Internal Revenue Service. That’s true regardless of whether the U.S. citizen actually has health insurance in the country where he or she lives.


The IRS reasons that it would be unfair to force Americans living abroad to buy a policy on one of the new health-insurance exchanges that opened Tuesday, because most domestic policies don’t cover anything more than emergency care overseas. This IRS document has more information (see #12 for the information on U.S. citizens abroad).
There are a few other cases where people are exempted from the insurance mandate. These include federally recognized Indian tribe members, prisoners and some religious groups whose beliefs might contradict the law’s requirements. States can also provide hardship exemptions to individuals or families.

U.S. Citizens Abroad Avoid Health-Law Mandate - Wall Street Journal - WSJ.com

[SV THIRD DAY]

Yet another good reason for us to get back to Mexico sooner rather than later.....

[svmariane]

Agree with post #1: We don't have to participate if we live overseas.

From live chat at https://www.healthcare.gov (My emphasis added below.)

[10:06:23 am]: James
Wife and I are retired and live abroad the entire year. Have NOT been to the USA in more than 5 years. Won't return to USA in foreseeable future. Must we apply for ACA ?

[10:08:51 am]: Maria
To buy health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you must live in the United States, be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present, and cannot currently be incarcerated. Residents of a U.S. territory are not eligible to apply for health coverage through the Marketplace. U.S. territories can decide whether to create their own Marketplace or expand Medicaid coverage.

[10:09:04 am]: Maria
If you are a U.S. citizen living in a foreign country, you are not required to get health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. If you're uninsured and living abroad, you don't have to pay the fee that other uninsured U.S. citizens may have to pay. Generally, health coverage in the Marketplace covers health care provided by doctors, hospitals, and medical services within the United States. If you're living abroad, it's important to know this before you consider buying a Marketplace plan.

And there it is, folk.

[MBLittle]

So as a resident of the USVI, we're exempt from ACA.

Good to know!