Q. Will my American son who lives abroad be required to enroll in American health care and, if so, can he be covered by it while overseas? Will his non-American wife and child also be able to be covered by American health insurance? Will Americans traveling be able to be covered while abroad?

- Paul C.

A. The reach of the American health care system does not generally extend beyond the nation's borders (the military excluded) and the bills considered by Congress would not change that.

However, health reform would, for the first time, require all Americans to have insurance or face a fine. Both the bill that passed in the House and the proposal recently introduced in the Senate exempt American citizens living abroad from this requirement.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., helped draft the bill and he told The Salt Lake Tribune this week that his office made a point to carve out citizens who reside in foreign countries, an issue he heard quite a bit about on a recent trip to Israel.

U.S. citizens would not have to buy an insurance plan as long as they are abroad for a full taxable year or for at least 330 days in the past 12 months.

This provision would impact people on Mormon missions or extended work trips, but not those on vacation.

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