Medical Treatment outside the USA

[bcspace]

My understanding is that one can claim medical, dental, or vision expenses if incurred outside the USA so long as such is not otherwise a violation of federal law in the USA even if legal in the other country. Correct?

[LRDG]

Yes, based on 2000-01 regs and expat plans I was involved in at that time, and no amendment that I'm aware of, medical care outside the US is eligible.

Also, because medical care received outside the US continues to be eligible based on the major insurance providers promoting care outside the US as a cost cutting benefit design strategy for US residents.

Based on the expat population, and plan design strategy promoting medical care outside the US for US residents, if anything there has been an expansion of the use of 'off-shore' benefits, making the chances of regulators revoking or amending it reletively low. I don't have a link for you, but I'd suggest verifying.

The negative impact of revoking the eligibility of medical care received outside the US on the US expat employee population and US employers will probably contribute to it's continued eligiblity, in addition to more recent trends for medical care outside the US as a plan design strategy for US residents.