Katharine: SEASON

SEASON.   It's coming.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season is AWG's new cookbook.  Be there at the Launch, March 11th at Peggy R's.
For further information:  email awg.scriveners@gmail.com.

Katharine C: Health care for expats

   

The Dream of Moving Abroad in Later Life, With Good Health Care

By TIM GRAYFEB. February 21 2014, New York Times.

FOR the well-traveled, the idea of retirement abroad can seem an idyll. You pick a place you’ve loved visiting, whether it’s the thrumming avenues of Paris or the sunny strands of Panama, and jet off for the perfect permanent vacation.

But the fantasy can become less carefree if you haven’t figured out in advance what to do about health insurance. The best policies, those offering the broadest coverage and giving access to the best hospitals, can be jarringly costly. More affordable alternatives can come with exceptions that may surprise people accustomed to the comprehensive coverage offered through many United States employers. Many countries offer high-quality care — France is a prominent example — but retirees won’t be able to access it without insurance or paying out of pocket. And in almost all cases, Medicare doesn’t pay for health care provided outside of the United States.

“Health insurance really is a primary consideration when retiring overseas,” said Brendan Sharkey, director of individual products for HTH, which sells and administers GeoBlue international health insurance. “People may want sunshine and affordable living, but they’ll also want to make sure they’ll be covered adequately.” That means not just buying a policy, but also assessing the quality of health care in the country where they plan to settle.

“If you’ve had two heart attacks, you have to ask yourself if it makes sense to retire in Nicaragua, where the underlying quality of care just isn’t there,” Mr. Sharkey said. More practical alternatives might be Panama or Thailand — warm, affordable countries known for better-quality care, he said.

For health insurers, age equals risk — senescence brings sickness. So older people can expect to pay up for international health insurance, especially as they reach their middle to late 70s. “It’s the same everywhere in the world — the older you get, the more expensive the premiums,” said Steve Nelson, product development manager at Medibroker, an insurance brokerage in North Shields, England.

At Cigna, international health premiums can range from a couple of hundred dollars a month for the most basic plan to several thousand for a comprehensive one, said James T. O’Brien, head of the Americas region for Cigna’s global individual plans.

“Our product is designed to take all comers — we’ve made it modular and flexible,” Mr. O’Brien said. Cigna offers three levels of inpatient coverage, with total annual limits of $1 million, $2 million or $3 million. A customer can then choose among several deductibles, ranging up to $10,000 a year, and can add coverage for such things as outpatient care, medical evacuation and vision and dental services.

Anyone shopping around should understand that insurers individually assess applicants for international medical policies, Mr. O’Brien added. Coverage isn’t automatic, as it is with Medicare. The insurer reviews an applicant’s health, typically either through a questionnaire, an examination of medical history or both. The insurer then decides whether to offer coverage, what the premium will be and whether to exclude any conditions.

Cigna imposes no age limits on its plans, but some insurers won’t cover people who have crossed an age threshold. Allianz Worldwide Care, for example, won’t accept applications from people past their 76th birthday, said Alexander Bender, a senior manager for client relations, based in Dublin. Once Allianz does enroll people, it guarantees lifelong coverage as long as they pay their premiums, he said. HTH sets a similar limit for its longer-term GeoBlue policies.

Age also can bring ailments that complicate coverage. “The older you are, the more underlying conditions you may have,” said Mr. Sharkey. “Once somebody starts having multiple conditions — maybe high blood pressure, obesity and high cholesterol — it becomes difficult to cover them in one of our long-term plan. 

Like many insurers, HTH offers policies that can cover either short or long stays abroad. The short-term ones are intended for travelers and snowbirds, while the long-term ones are for full-time foreign residents. “For longer-term coverage, there are medical conditions that are an automatic decline — if you’re a pacemaker recipient, if you’re diabetic and insulin-dependent, if you’re undergoing cancer treatment,” said Mr. Sharkey.

Another consideration is whether you want coverage in the United States. Some international health insurers won’t cover domestic care, and others charge more for it. Allianz, for example, offers policies that provide coverage that is worldwide or worldwide minus the United States. Allianz singles out this country, sometimes even doubling its policy premiums, because health care costs more here than elsewhere, Mr. Bender said.

Despite the many factors, expatriate retirees find ways to cover their health costs that are as varied as the places they pick as their new homes.

When Joseph S. Coyle and his wife, Sigun, retired to Paris about a decade ago, they acquired coverage by joining the Association of Americans Resident Overseas, a Paris-based group that represents United States expatriates. Members can buy into a group plan insured by Swiss Life in Zurich. The Coyles pay about 10,000 euros a year (around $13,720), Mr. Coyle said.

“When we started, it was much less, but I’m 78, so the coverage has bumped up for me,” he said. It has gotten expensive enough that the Coyles are considering returning the United States. “If one of us gets seriously sick, we’re going to have to go back,” he said.

Josef D. Woodman, author of “Patients Beyond Borders,” a book that guides people on finding affordable health care outside of the United States, said that a few countries allow retirees who have established residency to participate in their national health plans. But gaining access to these plans can entail the use of public hospitals and lengthy waits for nonemergency services, he said.

Mr. Woodman cautioned against going without coverage, and said most retirees should consider buying at least a high-deductible policy covering catastrophic illness.

“Even in places like Thailand where good health care is really cheap, cancer is going to be expensive,” he said. “I can’t think of any country where cancer or a serious car accident wouldn’t be financially disastrous.

Maggie: Valentine's Day apero at Caroline's

We had a special Cook&Eat session during the afternoon of Valentine's Day, after which we were joined by Bob, Michel, Phil, Serge, Michel and Melissa. 

Savory cakes - olive/bacon loaf, and roquefort/walnut/raison loaf

Cheese sables, crudites, and olive or grape/chorizo/cheese picks

Bob and Phil

Deb and Maggie in their V-day shoes

Serge, Bob and Michel - on the patio on February 14th, lovely Languedoc evening

Katharine, Deb, Caroline, Leslie, Maggie and Anne

Maggie: Eleanor Roosevelt Girls Leadership Worldwide

Click here to download the 2014 GLW Brochure 

Did you know...

In February 1946, during the inaugural meetings of the General Assembly in London, US delegate Eleanor Roosevelt read an open letter to the "women of the world":

"To this end, we call on the Governments of the world to encourage women everywhere to take a more active part in national and international affairs, and on women who are conscious of their opportunities to come forward and share in the work of peace and reconstruction as they did in war and resistance."

Eleanor Roosevelt's letter had such an impact that a few days later, a Sub-commission dedicated to the Status of Women was established under the Commission on Human Rights (today known as the Human Rights Council).  And only a few months later, in May 1946, this Sub-commission was granted full commission status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), thus becoming the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).*

*Adapted from the United Nations Blue Book Series on the United Nations and the Advancement of Women, 1945-1996.

With Eleanor Roosevelt and all that she did for the advancement of women's rights in mind, please spread the word and encourage the girls in your life, who are of high school age, to apply for the Eleanor Roosevelt Girls Leadership Worldwide - a transformational 9-day summer program which empowers girls to become principled and socially conscious global leaders.
 

FAWCO's Youth Program promotes the Eleanor Roosevelt Center Girls Leadership Worldwide Program for 9th and 10th grade girls.   The program will have two sessions in July 2014.  The deadline for applications is 21 March.  

See the Eleanor Roosevelt Center website http://www.ervk.org/html/glw.html for more information and to apply. 

 

Maggie: One Billion Rising

Did you know...

In February 1946, during the inaugural meetings of the General Assembly in London, US delegate Eleanor Roosevelt read an open letter to the "women of the world":

"To this end, we call on the Governments of the world to encourage women everywhere to take a more active part in national and international affairs, and on women who are conscious of their opportunities to come forward and share in the work of peace and reconstruction as they did in war and resistance."

Eleanor Roosevelt's letter had such an impact that a few days later, a Sub-commission dedicated to the Status of Women was established under the Commission on Human Rights (today known as the Human Rights Council).  And only a few months later, in May 1946, this Sub-commission was granted full commission status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), thus becoming the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).*

*Adapted from the United Nations Blue Book Series on the United Nations and the Advancement of Women, 1945-1996.

With Eleanor Roosevelt and all that she did for the advancement of women's rights in mind, please spread the word and encourage the girls in your life, who are of high school age, to apply for the Eleanor Roosevelt Girls Leadership Worldwide - a transformational 9-day summer program which empowers girls to become principled and socially conscious global leaders. The registration deadline is March 21, 2014.  Info on the FAWCO website.

 

Also this:

 

One Billion Rising (www.onebillionrising.org) events around the world on 14 February  

 

One Billion Rising for Justice will take place on February 14, Valentine’s Day, in more than 200 countries worldwide, focusing on the issue of justice for all survivors of gender violence and the impunity that protects perpetrators all over the world. The One Billion Rising and V-Day campaigns were launched by playwright Eve Ensler, creator of "The Vagina Monologues," and highlight the startling statistic that one in every three women on the planet will be raped or beaten in her lifetime.

 

Katharine: The French and US governments are both interested in your assets

 

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Editor:  the following text recaps an oral presentation given by Tim Ramier, well worth watching (42 minutes).  It's on YouTube, and can be found on the AARO site, link is below, just scroll to the bottom of the text.  (The following text summarises his presentation).  

Surviving Death in France as a US Citizen

The Tim Ramier presented inheritance issues for US citizens in France. The key, no matter where you live, is to organize and plan, while you are alive.

Residency

Both the US and France are interested in our estates, even if we are residents in France. For both countries your estate is based on your worldwide assets. Furthermore, if the estate (the “succession”) is handled in France, there is still an obligation to report to the US. Which country handles it depends on your residence status. Be aware that France determines residency on more than just presence in the country. If you have attachments in France (children in school, for example) you can still be considered a French resident even if you maintain your tax residence in the US, or elsewhere.

Who inherits?

In the US you get to decide via a will. Probate is handled on the state level, not the Federal level. Generally, the surviving spouse is tax exempt and can inherit the total amount. The US is not interested in who inherits and will tax the estate before distribution. For 2013, only estates over $5,250,000 are taxable. The lifetime distribution of gifts is added back to the estate to determine the total.
In France, there are forced heirs by law. The share of the surviving spouse or civil union partner is tax exempt and the amount you can leave by will is determined by the number of children. If there is one child, you can will up to 50% of your estate; two children, they will inherit 2/3 of your estate; and three or more children take ¾ of your estate. Each child has a €100,000 deduction and then pays tax on a progressive scale according to how much taxable estate is left. Other heirs (brothers and sisters, parents, nieces and nephews) have fewer tax exemptions and higher tax rates. Unrelated heirs pay 60% in tax and have only a €1,500 deduction.

The Process

In France, the concept of the estate is different; the “succession” is an automatic transfer of ownership at the moment of death. In France it is a notaire who manages the succession. In the US, on the other hand, the estate is an entity that exists from the moment of death until the settlement. The estate is managed by an executor or administrator, approved and empowered by a probate court, in accordance with your will or by petition to the court if intestate (no will).
In France the family will receive a death certificate from the mairie (mayor’s office). The notaire will create the deed of heirship and will take care of all the official declarations to banks and the government.
In France, the heirs or legatees have 6 months to file an inheritance tax return and pay any taxes. In the US, taxes are due after 9 months, but there are extensions. When inheriting from a US resident estate, Tim recommended filing form 706 with the IRS, even if there is no US tax due, to avoid confusion in France.
What you inherit from someone resident and a US citizen in the US this falls under the US-France Estate Tax Treaty and the estate is not subject to double taxation. So if you fulfill the tax requirement in the US (even if nothing is due) you have fulfilled the requirements under the tax treaty and by virtue of the treaty provisions no tax on such gifts and legacies is payable to France. This treaty overrides local French tax law.

Some tips:

• Take inventory of your worldwide assets.
• Create an estate file including what you own, what accounts you have, who to contact. (A worksheet for this file will be made available to members on the AARO website.)
• Create a will – for France and the US
• Create a Health Care Proxy and a living will in case you are incapacitated or have a terminal illness and you need to name someone who will make healthcare decisions for you.
  (Note: a living will, as Americans think of it, does not exist in France. In France there is the “Mandat de protection futur” wherein you can name a person to make financial and healthcare decisions in case of verified incapacity. It must be set up by a notaire.) You can also do French and American Powers of Attorney or Procuration to appoint someone to act on your behalf.

http://www.aaro.org/banking/424-fatca-update-and-french-inheritance-law

Here are the full-length videos of these two presentations.
FATCA with J. Fredenberger and T. Ramier:
Inheritance in France with T. Ramier and J. Fredenberger:

Katharine: US Vote Foundation - major new services offered

PRESS RELEASE

U.S. Vote Foundation Gains Major New Services Website is First to Offer All Services to All Voters: U.S. Domestic, Overseas Citizens and Military Voters

Washington, D.C., February 4, 2014 - At the Eighth Annual Voting and Elections Summit 2014, U.S. Vote Foundation (US Vote) announced new services and upgrades to the website, www.usvotefoundation.org. The site brings together the extensive resources of U.S. Vote Foundation and Overseas Vote Foundation (OVF) for voters of all types. The newly designed home page brings forward the voter-centric attitude of the new site. Watch Summit 2014 on Youtube “US Vote is the first public voter service organization with one destination that provides state-specific applications for all types of voters across all states, including U.S. domestic, voters abroad and military voters,” said Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, President and CEO of US Vote and OVF.  “US Vote also offers the My Voter Account (MVA) service designed to help voters cultivate their ‘personal democracy’. With the MVA service, voters can maintain a single account throughout their life and simplify their civic access. We believe that this one-stop site will streamline the voter’s experience. MVA gives voters an ROI on their effort.” View the unified site at www.usvotefoundation.org. The new US Vote offers overseas and military voters the latest rendition of the voter registration and ballot request form know as the FPCA, recently re-issued by the Pentagon’s Federal Voting Assistance Program. Whether they want to cast their ballot at a polling place, through early in-person voting, or by mail, voters will find online assistance to register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot at US Vote. Additional services include the Election Official Directory, listing comprehensive contact records for the approximately 8,500 local election offices across the U.S., the State Voter Information Directory and more.

For Further Information, Please Contact: Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat susan@usvotefoundation.org Telephone: +1 202 470 2480

About U.S. Vote Foundation (US Vote) U.S. Vote Foundation (US Vote) provides domestic U.S. voters with public access to innovative voter registration tools and services. It is a trademarked initiative of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Overseas Vote Foundation. More information is available at www.usvotefoundation.org, Twitter (@us_vote), Facebook (US Vote), and Youtube (usvotefoundation).

About Overseas Vote Foundation (OVF) Overseas Vote Foundation helps overseas and military U.S. voters participate in federal elections by providing public access to innovative voter registration tools and services. It is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. More information is available on the OVF website (www.overseasvotefoundation.org), Twitter (@overseasvote), Facebook (Overseas Vote Foundation), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/overseasvote).