The CFO and Filipino-American advocacy groups are advocating for the portability of US Medicare and Medicaid benefits in the Philippines. This initiative aims to encourage Filipino-American retirees to return to the Philippines, stimulating the local economy. Officials argue that Medicare portability can also alleviate financial pressure on the US healthcare system, potentially saving taxpayers significant funds. The proposal has gained support in the US Congress and aligns with the Philippines’ goal of reversing the “brain drain” phenomenon.
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), in collaboration with the Department of Health, the Philippine Retirement Authority, and Filipino-American advocacy groups, is advocating for the portability of US Medicare and Medicaid benefits in the Philippines. During a media briefing, CFO Secretary Dante Ang II highlighted the proposal’s potential advantages, marking it as a beneficial arrangement for both nations. He stressed that this initiative could entice more Filipino-American retirees to return to the Philippines, thereby stimulating the local economy.
Secretary Ang remarked, “Why CFO is doing this? It is because we want the Filipinos overseas to consider returning home. At the CFO, we want to reverse the narrative from brain drain to brain gain.” He believes that the Medicare portability initiative is achievable and would not only act as an economic stimulus for the Philippines but also offer solutions to the United States’ healthcare cost challenges.
The initiative has garnered traction within the US Congress, according to Eric Lachica, the lead advocate of the US Medicare Philippines Inc. He reported that a bipartisan bill known as H.R. 7442, or the Philippines Medicare Portability Study Act, has been introduced. Prominent sponsors include Congressman James Moylan from Guam and Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia, who has Filipino heritage.
Lachica cited data indicating that, as of July 2022, over 35,000 American seniors aged 65 and older were receiving their Social Security payments while residing in the Philippines. He asserted that implementating Medicare portability could encourage more Filipino-Americans to retire in the Philippines, significantly reducing their healthcare costs while benefiting the local economy.
Expressing his intentions, Lachica stated his desire to retire in Dumaguete, noting that he is not alone—many Filipino-Americans wish to return home. He emphasized the urgency of the matter: “Our problem is that under US law, Medicare law, if we lose our US residency… our Medicare coverage gets cut.” This highlights the necessity for a change in US law to facilitate long-term healthcare coverage for those relocating.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa expressed that the campaign aligns with the Philippine government’s broader ambition to reverse the “brain drain” phenomenon. By motivating trained healthcare professionals abroad to return, the initiative could significantly enhance the country’s medical industry. Herbosa explained that returning older healthcare professionals could offer training and mentorship to younger nurses.
Both Lachica and Herbosa contend that the policy could relieve financial pressures on the US healthcare system. With rising healthcare costs and prospective federal budget cuts, allowing Medicare portability could equate to substantial savings for American taxpayers while creating a competitive medical tourism destination in the Philippines for retirees.
The collaboration among the CFO, Filipino-American advocacy groups, and the Philippine government aims to establish Medicare portability, allowing retirees to access US healthcare benefits in the Philippines. This initiative could reverse brain drain, encourage Filipino-American retirees to return home, and bolster the local economy. The potential savings for the US healthcare system further underscores the mutual benefits of implementing this policy.
Original Source: www.pna.gov.ph
