The much anticipated Medicare Portability bill for tens of thousands of Filipino American seniors who plan to retire in the Philippines was recently reintroduced as a budget rider in the U.S. House of Representatives.

It was sponsored by Guam Delegate James Moylan (R), who is the co-chair of the bipartisan PH Friendship Congressional Caucus. He is a US Army veteran who sits on the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees. The proposed legislation would benefit American retirees in twelve countries including the Philippines.

“The Committee urges the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS), to ensure that all American taxpayers are entitled to receive their earned Medicare benefits regardless of geographic location, where such allowance may result in cost savings associated with the Medicare Trust Fund. 

In accordance with such authority under Section 1115A of the Social Security Act and other applicable statutes, the Committee urges CMS to design a pilot program enabling Medicare-eligible Americans who choose to reside abroad to retain and access their earned Medicare coverage, leveraging the differential cost of providing benefits between the US and pilot countries. Such a pilot may include Americans currently residing overseas who can demonstrate that Medicare is their primary healthcare benefits provider. 

The Committee recognizes an estimated 9 million Americans permanently reside overseas, and that Medicare Portability is of particular concern to over 1 million Americans. In consideration of this, the Committee intends and advises that the pilot design be limited to: 1) international locations that offer healthcare systems generally equivalent to the United States, such as The Dominican Republic, Canada, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Panama, The PHILIPPINES, South Korea, Thailand, and Ghana; 2) Have large current American citizen populations; and 3) Are strong allies of the United States. 

The Committee further urges CMS to design such a pilot program in a fashion that alleviates additional burdens on the US healthcare systems over the next 10 years. CMS should design such a pilot program with guaranteed savings for the Medicare Trust Fund. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of CMS shall submit a report to Congress detailing such pilot program.“

The legislative language was provided by Moylan’s staff to the Washington DC-based advocacy group, U.S. Medicare Philippines, Inc. that has led the portability campaign since 2011. 

According to Eric Lachica, the group’s organizer, “the chances of final passage are excellent. We anticipate the enthusiastic support of 1 Million American seniors overseas – including the 9 Million US voters in twelve countries. More importantly, our sponsors estimatebillions of dollars in Medicare costs being saved in the coming years.” The pilot program legislation is expected to be “marked up” or approved in the Appropriations Committee in late July.

Lachica urged supporters to join their campaign by emailing their congress members after visitingwww.usmedicareph.org and following on FaceBook.com/USMedicarePHInc.