CFO, US Medicare Philippines push for benefit portability

The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) and the group US Medicare Philippines are campaigning to make US Medicare benefits portable to the Philippines.

This initiative aims to encourage Filipino-American retirees, particularly former nurses and doctors, to return to the Philippines, potentially turning 'brain drain' into 'brain gain' and stimulating the local economy.

Advocate Eric Lachica highlighted that many elderly Filipino-American nurses and doctors wish to retire in the Philippines.

Currently, Medicare coverage is only allowed outside the US for services rendered within six months of departure from the US; longer stays risk forfeiture of benefits.

The CFO and US Medicare Philippines argue that allowing Medicare portability could result in significant cost savings for American taxpayers, as retirees in the Philippines would be a 'win-win' situation for both countries.