Medical Insurance for sponsored immigrant 60+ (less than 65)

[ayhd100 0]

Hi,

I am trying to find out medical insurance for sponsored immigrant 60+ (less than 65) (for my father).

Anyone can suggest any company or state/federal sponsored medical? My father will not do any job.

Thanks,

[catknit 144]

He will not have the option of state or federal plans until he has at least 5 years as an LPR. Even then, it may be messy as he will not be working to earn quarters toward, say, Medicare. Never mind the fact that Medicare Part A is $100/month and does not cover all your healthcare/hospitalization [80%]. When you add the supplements, seniors can easily pay $350-$500/month just in premiums.

Hypothetically, once the insurance exchanges open, you should be able to buy into reasonably costed plans but that is not until 2014 if memory serves.

You want to avoid anything that states "means-tested" - that will just have you as his sponsor on the hook for reimbursing the government.

You can look at sliding scale clinics locally for needed doctor visits or tests/refills however that will be based on the household income. If you make a comfortable income and your father is living with you, you may have significant medical bills, but it is something to look into.

The local Blue Cross/Blue Shield may have a 180-day stop gap policy [usually it will not cover pre-existing conditions - again something that may be changing with ACA]. This is usually lower cost and would cover an emergency/catastrophic situation. At one time, you couldn't take back to back to back 180 day policies. You would have a gap in coverage. For an emergency or catastrophic event, that shouldn't matter - either you are covered or not. I'm not sure if this style policy is still available but they had been recently.

In your shoes - I'd be banking on your father going back to India periodically for medical care. Diabetes or cardiac issues? A trip home and to even one of the nicer hospitals will be a song compared to US costs even with insurance. Heck, even with decent insurance here, there are a few diagnoses that my husband and I would go back to India to have treated for better care as well as not bankrupting us [let me explain that my husband works in healthcare and spent a good portion of his career there - we have specific friends in specific specialties we would bet our lives on literally - I'm NOT advocating generic medical tourism]. You may need to come up with a hybrid system to help keep him healthy as well not bankrupt your family.

[moroccogirlny 100]

What state?

[ayhd100 0]

MN - Minnesota

What state?

[moroccogirlny 100]

Contact your local non-profit hospital, they may have their own healthcare plan or knowledge of one. I work for a non-profit hospital in NY that recently established their own healthcare plan that's offered to the public due to the Affordable Healthcare Act.