Penalty for acquiring another passport

[IWC2006]

Ozzie land has a really good healthcare system. US healthcare has a limit to everything....

It comes at a price though, tax is higher.

I agreed, there is no neccessity to give up your citizenship unless you want to totally disassociate from Sg.

 

[Trout]

I could honestly never work out any of that pandering nonsense. What I've never had, I'll never miss! In any case, I wouldn't trade a single Sonoran sunset for $300 PSD

American SW is running low on water eh? Interested in some water reclaimation projects? PM me if you are. I'm actually dropping by Ph,AZ soon, you anywhere close? You probably know Ms Goh TL in Boulder, CO right?

It is amazingly convenient, isn't it? It makes you wonder what the point of NS is at all.

Well, if you're in Singapore, and got a pending reservist call-up, even if you get your exit permit, you still need to go through all the bloody deferment process, I believe. I was in-charge of the reservist courses before, I know the pain associated with getting deferment, both to the NSF managing the deferment process and the reservist applying for deferment.

 

[Trout]

Ozzie land has a really good healthcare system. US healthcare has a limit to everything....

That's why there's a friendly socialist state up north, hehehe. Free and EZ to Cuba from there too. Daily flights to Havana.

 

[Ou812]

That's why there's a friendly socialist state up north, hehehe. Free and EZ to Cuba from there too. Daily flights to Havana.

According to news, restrictions will soon be lifted for Americans going to Cuba

 

[livingstone]

That's why there's a friendly socialist state up north, hehehe. Free and EZ to Cuba from there too. Daily flights to Havana.

True.... good options... went to Mexico to buy some cheap medicines before. Really cheap.

 

[Trout]

According to news, restrictions will soon be lifted for Americans going to Cuba

Well, Americans have been going to Cuba for the last 50 yrs, but they have to jump through the hoops to do it...fly to Cancun, then off to Cuba etc.

 

[eatshitndie]

2 old foggies in the state dept have been nabbed for spying for cuba. yup, they sneaked into cuba for their meeting with castro via mexico. but little do they know that they have been watched closely.

 

[redbull313]

True.... good options... went to Mexico to buy some cheap medicines before. Really cheap.

Are you here in America? If so then may I suggest you try the Canadian Pharmacies for cheap non generics. We can get generics as you know for $4 per 30 day supply but to share a recent experience my wife needed an eye drop that was not covered under our deductible or prescription plan that was $80 from CVS but we got it for $15 from Canada. Why some meds are counted towards our deductible and some are not is beyond comprehension. I don't mind paying for my medical expenses but I don't see the reason for such a price difference on the same drug, which is why we chose Canada.

I did not know there were Pharmacies in Mexico we could buy from. I might give it a shot cause now the dog needs some rare eye medication that is $100 at the pharmacy so once again it looks like Canada or Mexico might be just the thing. Such is the life of battling America's health care industry. Its not easy.

Anyway, have a nice day.

 

[livingstone]

Are you here in America? If so then may I suggest you try the Canadian Pharmacies for cheap non generics. We can get generics as you know for $4 per 30 day supply but to share a recent experience my wife needed an eye drop that was not covered under our deductible or prescription plan that ...

True, however, that was when I lived in Texas and California and it was less than an 7 hour drive... and it was also for fun and short vacation. If I live in New York or Washington, Canada will be the choice... I live in the middle of America right now, Missouri.... Canada and Mexico seem a little too far.... I know how cheap the pharmacies can be! Can you imagine!? Cuba is a neat place to visit too.... and really cheap healthcare, what the Republicans call Socialism.... I hope there's some kind of socialism, but you know I'm self-employed..... don't really enjoy high taxation...

 

[Trout]

True, however, that was when I lived in Texas and California and it was less than an 7 hour drive... and it was also for fun and short vacation. If I live in New York or Washington, Canada will be the choice... I live in the middle of America right now, Missouri.... Canada and Mexico seem a little too far.... I know how cheap the pharmacies can be! Can you imagine!? Cuba is a neat place to visit too.... and really cheap healthcare, what the Republicans call Socialism.... I hope there's some kind of socialism, but you know I'm self-employed..... don't really enjoy high taxation...

Well, the USA is turning socialist whether you like it or not. All the seminars I been to in Silicon Valley were essentially pitching one msg - how to beg $$ professionally from the govt stimulus plan.

 

[livingstone]

Well, the USA is turning socialist whether you like it or not. All the seminars I been to in Silicon Valley were essentially pitching one msg - how to beg $$ professionally from the govt stimulus plan.

Yes, somehow. People who don't earn much will enjoy it a lot more, than people who want to earn more. I just hope that the progressive income tax will not be so high that it kills innovation (or the desire to). But judging from the high taxation in California, and yet Silicon Valley still manage to do so well, some forms of socialism don't really matter?

 

[Trout]

Yes, somehow. People who don't earn much will enjoy it a lot more, than people who want to earn more. I just hope that the progressive income tax will not be so high that it kills innovation (or the desire to). But judging from the high taxation in California, and yet Silicon Valley still manage to do so well, some forms of socialism don't really matter?

I don't see how innovation is linked to low taxation. Given that most of the engineers and scientists today are originally trained in socialist countries (China/India), hahaha.

Cheers,
Trout

 

[livingstone]

I don't see how innovation is linked to low taxation. Given that most of the engineers and scientists today are originally trained in socialist countries (China/India), hahaha.

Cheers,
Trout

Winston Churchill once said: If you're young and you're not a liberal, you don't have a heart, but when you're old and you're not a Conservative, you don't have a mind.

 

[Trout]

Winston Churchill once said: If you're young and you're not a liberal, you don't have a heart, but when you're old and you're not a Conservative, you don't have a mind.

Quote wrongly attributed. Churchill never said that. In fact, he became more liberal the older he got.:-)

Socialism got a false start in the 20th century anyway. Communism/Socialism should never arise through popular revolution, where all existing institutions are torn apart. Socialism/Communism should have arose through evolution from a capitalistic society, through electorate exhaustion on plutocratic practices.

Cheers,
Trout

Source:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/33/messages/766.html

The quotation usually attributed to Churchill is, "If you're not Liberal when you're 25, you have no heart. If you're not Conservative when you're 35, you have no brain." However, the attribution is false. There is no record of Churchill ever speaking these words, and it is highly unlikely that he would have because Churchill himself did precisely the opposite. He entered politics as a Conservative and was a Conservative at age 25. He switched to the Liberal Party at age 29 and was a Liberal at age 35. Also, his beloved wife, Clementine, was a life-long Liberal, and Churchill would hardly have delivered such an indirect insult to her.

 

[Lion_Barbell]

Its also a good info for those who have little CPF to use medisave to buy medishield or an approved medical insurance under the PMIS scheme. It will cover any eventualities such as higher costs where one currently resides or provides coverage when you return to visit Singapore.

There is a little problem here. Medical insurance paid for using medisave funds covers the insured only IF THE INSURED IS RESIDING IN SINGAPORE. I believe that once you stay in a foreign country, the policy is void. Can any insurance expert here clarify why is this so?

 

[scroobal]

The majority of medical related insurance provides cover for local treatment only. This is a feature all over the world. Additional premium is called for when worldwide coverage is required. The coverage is to seek treatment in Singapore. Migrants need to travel back to Singapore. There are cases for limited treatment ( an believe me limited) a few days overseas.

Ex-civil servants with medical coverage tend to travel back and that also includes ex-singaporeans who have long been being paying medical insurance coverage. There is also added benefit in some cases of more family members and realtives to look after you here.

There is also no harm for those who travel regularly back to singapore.

Sorry for not making this clear.

As far as I know, there is no requirement for local residency as long as you pay the premium. Anyone else can correct this.

There is a little problem here. Medical insurance paid for using medisave funds covers the insured only IF THE INSURED IS RESIDING IN SINGAPORE. I believe that once you stay in a foreign country, the policy is void. Can any insurance expert here clarify why is this so?

 

[eatshitndie]

medishield, which provides insurance for serious or prolonged treatment and medication, can be covered by medisave, but the minimum mra (meals ready to eat or medisave required amount) is now at sgd18k, with sgd2.5k added each year until 2013, which will bump it up to sgd25k.

the new premium rates are not cheap as one age. and the maximum age covered is 80. who in their freaking mind would want to continue paying that premium (and depleting the mra) when he/she leaves sg for pr or citizenship overseas and finds it troublesome or inconvenient to return to sg for medical treatment of a serious or prolonged illness?

it just doesn't make good sense. if there were serious or prolonged health issues that require one to return to sg frequently and inconveniently, they wouldn't be planned or foreseen or hoped for if one has decided to pack for overseas for life. it's not easy flying 12k miles roundtrip for each chemotherapy session i'm sure.

moreover, for the medisave amount to be set aside, the cpf minimum sum must also be there. and on july 1, it is increased to sgd117k and then to sgd120k by 2013. 120k + 25k are not small sums to leave behind doing nothing except to earn a paltry interest and serve payments for medishield and medisave expenses, if one gets lucky to make that health trip over the big pond. this money can be used better for a downpayment on a 2nd house, for example, or for a much needed breast enhancement for the gf or spouse.

 

[scroobal]

It not meant for someone who has a sizeable CPF. The fact that CPF returns are poor are empirical in nature over the last 15 years. Obviously people are going to use the money to invest for higher return like a property. Thats pretty much common sense.

Medisave cannot be touched except to buy medishield or private medical insuarnce. If there are plans to return regularly or as backup in countries where medical costs are higher, it an avenue to explore.

I am sure its pure waste of money to leave medisave there with meagre returns.

This topic/thread was meant for those migrants who still want to retain the singapore passport ( thus cannot withdraw CPF or the CPF is too low and not worth drawing). The question is what do you do with the miserable $25K that can't be touched. Might as well use for some surgery that you need or as a backup.

medishield, which provides insurance for serious or prolonged treatment and medication, can be covered by medisave, but the minimum mra (meals ready to eat or medisave required amount) is now at sgd18k, with sgd2.5k added each year until 2013, which will bump it up to sgd25k.

the new premium rates are not cheap as one age. and the maximum age covered is 80. who in their freaking mind would want to continue paying that premium (and depleting the mra) when he/she leaves sg for pr or citizenship overseas and finds it troublesome or inconvenient to return to sg for medical treatment of a serious or prolonged illness?

it just doesn't make good sense. if there were serious or prolonged health issues that require one to return to sg frequently and inconveniently, they wouldn't be planned or foreseen or hoped for if one has decided to pack for overseas for life. it's not easy flying 12k miles roundtrip for each chemotherapy session i'm sure.

moreover, for the medisave amount to be set aside, the cpf minimum sum must also be there. and on july 1, it is increased to sgd117k and then to sgd120k by 2013. 120k + 25k are not small sums to leave behind doing nothing except to earn a paltry interest and serve payments for medishield and medisave expenses, if one gets lucky to make that health trip over the big pond. this money can be used better for a downpayment on a 2nd house, for example, or for a much needed breast enhancement for the gf or spouse.

 

[livingstone]

Quote wrongly attributed. Churchill never said that. In fact, he became more liberal the older he got.:-)

Socialism got a false start in the 20th century anyway. Communism/Socialism should never arise through popular revolution, where all existing institutions are torn apart. So...

Let me correct some of your history. Churchill became a liberal at age 15, and then a conservative at 35, but turned back to conservativism at 48. He stood for free trade even when he was in the liberal party. It all depends on where you look, but if you take a look at his political viewpoints.... he was a conservative, more so when he got older. Times and tide may have changed a person at some point in time, especially the catastrophic WWI.... thanks.

 

[Trout]

I guess I don't know mr. churchill well enough then.