ACA American Citizens Abroad

ACA is joining with other groups of Americans abroad in the support of a new initiative to extend Medicare coverage to US citizens living in Mexico. ACA urges you to support Paul Crist, of "Americans for Medicare in Mexico", the group heading up the effort to get legislation passed in Congress in favor of this new idea.  More info on their website medicareinmexico.org

Paul Crist, Founder & President of Americans for Medicare in Mexico, is asking Congress to fund a demonstration project extending Medicare benefits to eligible retirees living in Mexico. The proposed 18-month project aims to show that allowing eligible Americans to receive treatment in Mexico will save Medicare money, due to significantly lower healthcare costs there than for comparable quality care in the States. 

An estimated 200,000 American retirees live in Mexico either full or part time. These individuals have worked in the US, paying into the Medicare system for an average of 31 years. A survey on the issue found that amost two thirds either have, or would travel back to the US for a serious illness requiring hospitalization or extended care – not because of concern about the care available in Mexico, but to utilize Medicare coverage. If preventive care and doctor visits were covered in Mexico (Medicare Part B), at least some of that high-cost hospitalization would be avoided, saving money and improving health outcomes.

Recently Barbara Franco, Director of the American Benevolent Society and ACA Country Contact in Mexico, agreed to help garner support for this initiative, including a letter writing campaign to Congress.

You can help, too, by writing a letter to your members of Congress advocating the extension of Medicare benefits to eligible American retirees in Mexico. We highly encourage you to “hit the keyboards” and get those letters in the mail – today!

Medicare for Americans Abroad: A Statement for Organizing for America
By Paul Crist, President, "Americans for Medicare in Mexico, A.C."

Health care for Americans Abroad?  By Thomas O. Rose of the AARO Social Security & Medicare Committee.

Sample letter to your Congressman .

Congressional lobbying list .