Hi! My name is Shirlee. My husband & I have been retired since February 2008. We are both in our late 50s. Prior to retirement my husband worked in Germany for 6 months & we have both visited before & after that time. We love the country & have started to seriously look at the possibility of retiring there. The cost of purchasing a home & purchasing a car is not as high as we thought it might be but there are other things I know we need to consider.
I am receiving Social Security disability. My husband receives a pension from his federal job as well as 100% disability benefits from the military. We both have military base ID cards which allows us to take advantage of shopping at base BXs & commissaries. My health insurance is Medicare (primary), Mail Handlers (secondary), & CHAMPVA (third). My husband has Mail Handlers (primary) & all his medical issues are covered by the VA due to his disability status. However, we are both aware that bases overseas no longer offer treatment to disabled vets or retirees.
It is my understanding that our disability & pension benefits will not be affected if we live in Germany. However, does anyone know the tax situation ... will those benefits (our only income) continue to be taxed by the US government (IRS), switch over to being taxed by Germany, or be taxed by both?
Regarding health care, will Medicare cover me while living in Germany? I have been in touch with Mail Handlers & have been told they will provide coverage if we move there which will be handled the same as going to an out-of-plan doctor (they have no in-plan doctors in Germany) & that it is possible we would have to pay out of pocket & then request reimbursement.
My main concern is the tax issue.
If I am asking these questions in the wrong area of this forum ... of if any place on this forum is "the wrong place" ... please forgive me & direct me to "the right place" if you can.
Thank you ...
Shirlee
I am receiving Social Security disability. My husband receives a pension from his federal job as well as 100% disability benefits from the military. We both have military base ID cards which allows us to take advantage of shopping at base BXs & commissaries. My health insurance is Medicare (primary), Mail Handlers (secondary), & CHAMPVA (third). My husband has Mail Handlers (primary) & all his medical issues are covered by the VA due to his disability status. However, we are both aware that bases overseas no longer offer treatment to disabled vets or retirees.
It is my understanding that our disability & pension benefits will not be affected if we live in Germany. However, does anyone know the tax situation ... will those benefits (our only income) continue to be taxed by the US government (IRS), switch over to being taxed by Germany, or be taxed by both?
Regarding health care, will Medicare cover me while living in Germany? I have been in touch with Mail Handlers & have been told they will provide coverage if we move there which will be handled the same as going to an out-of-plan doctor (they have no in-plan doctors in Germany) & that it is possible we would have to pay out of pocket & then request reimbursement.
My main concern is the tax issue.
If I am asking these questions in the wrong area of this forum ... of if any place on this forum is "the wrong place" ... please forgive me & direct me to "the right place" if you can.
Thank you ...
Shirlee