The Cozumel Sun News

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March 7, 2020

Today in Cozumel News, part two of the Cozumel U.S. Town Hall Meeting. The Mexico 2020 Census – Health Insurance Update – IQM Instituto Quintanarroense de La Mujer – FVAP: How to Vote Absentee while Abroad / Military – Turismo Cozumel – Social Security Administration FBU Mexico – Cozumel Cruisehip Arrival Schedule March 5 -15, 2020

March 2^nd Town Hall Meeting

Part Two

The Mexico 2020 Census INEGI

A representative from the Census Bureau explained the importance of counting each person living in Mexico. A census enables the government to identify the needs of each community. Consequently planning, development, and social assistance in some areas will be based on Census results.

Some examples of the questions that will be asked are: How many live in the household? Does your home have plumbing? Is there electricity in your home? Has your home drainage? What electronics do you have in your home?

All answers are confidential and will not be reported to any authority.

The INEGI representative will be identified by a hat, vest, and backpack, all with the INEGI emblem. He or she will also have an picture identification badge that contains a hologram. To verify the legitimacy of the https://censo2020.mx/. They need not enter your property to take the survey.

The survey can be taken in person, via telephone at 01 800 111 4634, or on line at https://censo2020.mx/ . You may request an English-speaking representative to assist you.

Costa Med – Health Insurance

Andrea from Costa Med provided a very informative, yet gloomy, presentation on health insurance in Mexico.

National Health Insurances have a cut off for enrollment at age 64. They do not cover some preexisting conditions. Because of this, it is important that you enroll when you are younger and have no preexisting conditions!

Medicare still does not provide coverage in Mexico.

Supplemental Insurance is hit and miss. Therefore, do not count on coverage in Mexico. Some people have been successful in getting reimbursements for some medical expenses incurred in Mexico. However, U.S. Supplemental Insurance will not cover you if they realize that you are living here.

Veterans Insurance (Tricare) only pays 20 cents on the dollar. Tricare is very slow in processing claims and sometimes do not pay for months. Therefore, veterans will have a hard time getting Tricare accepted in most hospitals in Mexico.

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IQM Instituto Quintanarroense de La Mujer

Monica Alvarez from the IQM Cozumel Delegation spoke about the services they provide FREE of charge:

Phycological Counseling – Women´s Network IQM Cozumel – Transversal Committee for the Prevention and Attention of Gender Violence -Economic assistance to women -Workshops & Courses -Legal Advice -Attention in Social Services

Volunteers and Resources are Needed and Welcomed!

Telephone: 869 08 07 Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 65 Avenida between 21 & 23, Colonia Independencia

911 vs 089

Dial 911 to report domestic violence as well as ALL emergencies. The 911 operator will ask personal information such as your name, address, etc. If you want confidential assistance, call 089 instead.

If want to report domestic violence or any crime anonymously, 089 is the number to call. The 089 operator will not ask you for personal identification when reporting a crime, it is confidential.

FVAP: How to Vote Absentee while Abroad / Military

The Federal voting Assistance Program, FVAP, works to ensure service members, their eligible family members, and overseas citizens are aware of their rights to vote. The FVAP also sees that these citizens have the tools and resources to vote from anywhere in the world.

Visit: FVAP.gov Call: 800-438-vote (8683) Email: vote@fvap.go

Register  

Request an ABSENTEE Ballot AT FVAP.gov.

Print, sign, and send to your local election office by August 1 to be safe. (Find your state´s exact deadline at fvap.gov.)

How to Get It There

All States will accept voter registrations by mail. Some States will allow registration by email or fax.

What is my Voting Residence?

Use your legal U.S. residence or the U.S. address where you last resided.

TIP

When you fill out your FPCA, you can choose to receive your ballot by email to speed up the process.

Vote

Your ballot should arrive by early October. Fill it out and send it to the election office by the recommended deadline.

Deadlines

Stateside: Oct. 27 – Outside of U.S: Oct. 13 – On a Ship at Sea: Oct. 05

If your ballot does not make it to you on time

Fill out the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) at FWAP.gov. Print, sign, and send it to your election Office.

After you send your ballot, you can check if it was received by your election office. Get started at FVAP.gov.

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Turismo Cozumel

The Cozumel Director of Tourism made a short welcome speech. Their mission is to provide information and exclusive promotions for tourism on the island of Cozumel.

The Turismo Cozumel office is located above Bancomer at the Plaza del Sol building, local #21, in the town square. Their hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday,

Phone:           987 869 0212 Email: Turismo@cozumel.gob.mx

Lastly, he mentioned that effective March 7^th there will be a new Southwest flight from Houston, Texas arriving at 3 p.m.

Social Security Administration FBU Mexico

Excellent presentation by Rick Meyers, Head of Mexico´s Federal Benefits Bureau. As a result, he oversees all 38 employees in three Mexico locations.  The FBU Mexico has three Federal Benefit Unit Locations: U.S. Embassy Mexico City, U.S. Consulate General Guadalajara, and U.S. Consulate General Ciudad Juarez.

Mr. Myers mentioned that the majority of Americans in Mexico are not registered with a Mexico address, hence the FBU is not staffed as it should be. However, he mentioned that there are benefits and disadvantages to doing so. He stressed that as of this time Medicare does not work in Mexico!

The Bad

In my opinion, one disadvantage was an annual questionnaire the FBU mails to those registered with a Mexican address. There is a deadline to complete and return the form; if you fail to do so, your Social Security Benefits are suspended. That is quite frightening considering the Mexican postal service!

The Good

Social Security can now directly deposit your check into a Mexico Bank account. Direct deposits will be done in pesos, at a good exchange rate and Free of charge. I will be following up on that service and reporting back in another Cozumel Sun News!

Services

Applications for Social Security cards – Applications for Retirement – Disability – Widows and Dependent Benefits – Benefit Entitlement Issues – Benefit Fraud Investigations – Benefit Entitlement Changes

The FBU is responsible for the administration of the benefit programs for the following U.S. government agencies:

Social Security Administration – U.S. Office of Personnel Management – Department of Veterans Affairs – Department of Labor – Railroad Retirement Board

To Contact the FBU

The Federal Benefits Unit operates on an appointment-only system. Use the online form to schedule an appointment or to obtain information. Therefore, be certain that your contact information is accurate and complete. They will normally respond to e-mail inquiries within 3 working days.

If you live in Cozumel

The American Embassy México City FBU covers the states of: Michoacán, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Tlaxcala, Estado de México, México City, Morelos, Puebla, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatán, and also Quintana Roo.

Visits to the FBU are by appointments only Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday – Friday E-mail inquiries: FBU.mexico.city@ssa.gov.

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