Thanks to google, I am now slightly less confused about Puerto Rico. Some taxes paid, others not, some benefit eligible others not, best to call the office actually in Puerto Rico as someone kindly listed above. There may be changes to taxes /benefits as always, best to call someone in comand of actual current information and not rely on this website which could be 5 years old before someone reads the Q/A.
This is not a page for history teaching but my answer to sadprdaughter who originated this question, is that I am surprised you do not know your rights as Puerto Rican. I understand that the young generations of Puerto Rico do not know our history, our rights, or even our language. Yes, your mother is a citizen with all the rights, here or in PR. The Puerto Rican Constitution was approved by the Congress of the United States on 1952 but the Citizenship, as I said before was granted on 1917. We have a Resident Commissioner in Washington, with no vote or voice...in other words, in my personal opinion we are second class citizens, but with all the rights of the ones born in the Mainland. Yes, we have an American Passport.
My answer to Samara. Puerto Rico is not "part" of the United States. PR is a Commonwealth. The Jones Act of 1917 made us American citizens. After the Spanish-American War of 1898 United States took possession of the Island and the Jones Act of 1917 made us citizens of the USA. Our mother language is Spanish but mostly we are bilingual...it is a long history, I don't have the time and the space. Maybe Google can help you to know our history.
Puerto Rico is subject to the plenary powers of the United States Congress under the territorial clause of Article IV of the U.S. Constitution. Laws enacted at the Federal level in the United States apply to Puerto Rico.
Unfortunately at this point in time, Puerto Rico doesn't have a U.S. Senator or U.S. House of Representative Member, thus no vote in Congress. No different than Washington D.C., no vote in Congress.
Puerto Rico was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898 as Part of the Treaty at Paris which ended the Spanish-American War. It is not part of any state. It belongs to the US as unincorporated territory. Anyone born there is automatically a US citizen.
Puerto Rico is part of the USA The term “outside the U.S.” means anywhere other than the 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
f you live in Puerto Rico, your eligibility for Medicare is about the same as for those in the 50 states. Residents of Puerto Rico as well as the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa can qualify for Medicare if they meet eligibility requirements.
Generally, Puerto Rico residents qualify for Medicare when they turn 65, or when they’re eligible for disability benefits even if they’re younger than 65. Medicare enrolls many people in Medicare Part A automatically, but in Puerto Rico, you need to sign up for Medicare Part B.
Here’s a rundown on your Medicare options.
You can choose to stay with the federal part of the Medicare program, which is Original Medicare, Part A (inpatient hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). The other Medicare insurance options come from private insurers who contract with Medicare. Premiums and availability vary among the companies offering the plans, and not every plan will be available in all areas of Puerto Rico. Original Medicare doesn’t include prescription drug coverage, so you can add an optional stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan to your Original Medicare coverage. You can also add to your Original Medicare coverage with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan. These policies offer different benefits; for example, some of them pay Part B excess charges. Another option is a Medicare Advantage plan, also called Medicare Part C. These plans offer an alternative way to get your Original Medicare benefits; they include at least the same amount of coverage as Original Medicare, and many Part C plans provide more benefits such as dental services or wellness programs. A Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan combines health benefits and drug coverage into one policy.
medicareconsumerguide/puerto-rico-medicare
Unfortunately at this point in time, Puerto Rico doesn't have a U.S. Senator or U.S. House of Representative Member, thus no vote in Congress. No different than Washington D.C., no vote in Congress.
Puerto Rico Governor's Office for Elderly Affairs in San Juan, PR
1064 Ponce de Leon Ave.
P.O. Box 191170
San Juan, PR 00919
787-721-6121
anywhere other than the 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands,
Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
f you live in Puerto Rico, your eligibility for Medicare is about the same as for those in the 50 states. Residents of Puerto Rico as well as the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa can qualify for Medicare if they meet eligibility requirements.
Generally, Puerto Rico residents qualify for Medicare when they turn 65, or when they’re eligible for disability benefits even if they’re younger than 65. Medicare enrolls many people in Medicare Part A automatically, but in Puerto Rico, you need to sign up for Medicare Part B.
Here’s a rundown on your Medicare options.
You can choose to stay with the federal part of the Medicare program, which is Original Medicare, Part A (inpatient hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). The other Medicare insurance options come from private insurers who contract with Medicare. Premiums and availability vary among the companies offering the plans, and not every plan will be available in all areas of Puerto Rico.
Original Medicare doesn’t include prescription drug coverage, so you can add an optional stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan to your Original Medicare coverage.
You can also add to your Original Medicare coverage with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan. These policies offer different benefits; for example, some of them pay Part B excess charges.
Another option is a Medicare Advantage plan, also called Medicare Part C. These plans offer an alternative way to get your Original Medicare benefits; they include at least the same amount of coverage as Original Medicare, and many Part C plans provide more benefits such as dental services or wellness programs. A Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan combines health benefits and drug coverage into one policy.