Health Insurance

[GalyasTorpedo 0]

One of my concerns about bringing over the mother or father of a newly minted USC, what about health insurance? For a mother or father who is 60+ years old, what is typical for health insurance for those individuals.

This is obviously someone who has no U.S. work experience. What is everyone doing for this?

Just curious...

Thanks.

Edited August 23, 2006 by GalyasTorpedo

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I have been looking into this too.... as I plan to file for my parents as soon as I become a citizen.... here in MA the best quote I have been able to get is for $1200.00 per month for them both....

If you find anything better let me know....

I did check with the Social Security office about medicare and was told that they will not qualify until they become USC... so you are looking at 5 years....

Kezzie

[mebtel 0]

Someone recommended to me that we look into travelers' insurance, although it would only be good for a year or so.

[Boiler 44,858]

Someone recommended to me that we look into travelers' insurance, although it would only be good for a year or so.

They are not travellers, they are emmigrants.

Subject comes up now and again, I wondered the same thing, I guess those that do go through with it hope that their parents stay healthy.

$1200 a month would be the current cost, it goes up with medical inflation and age. Significantly. Plus of course all the on costs even if you have Insurance.

They will have to buy into Medicare. And who knows what that will be and how much it will cost.

[munchkins 0]

I did a search in google for expat insurance and came up with some pretty good ones, not cheap but no way as bad as $1200 per month. It is worth doing a search, if I can find out which ones I looked at I will post it. I have a job interview lined up for when I get out there and if I am successful I will have insurance for myself and my hubby so I am keeping my fingers crossed as I am over 60 now, only by 8 months

It is a worry I agree and to have to worry about it would drive me dememted but my husband will also be able to work once we are out there so we are not in a bad situation plus we will be more or less self sufficient.

If you googel Expat Insurance I am sure you will find something better than $1200 per month

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Thanks munchkins... I will do it as soon as I am home from work....

Dont think my boss would be too happy about me doing it here...

Kezzie

[Satellite 1]

Subject comes up now and again, I wondered the same thing, I guess those that do go through with it hope that their parents stay healthy.

I have heard of people taking "medical vacations" back to their home countries for serious medical treatment in situations like this. Especially for things like major dental work. But still. emergencies come up more often at this age, and to be without health insurance is very risky.

Other things to consider might be the question of, how often does the government sue the I-864 sponsor for defaulting on his beneficiaries?

Secondly, parents should try to get a job somewhere, even low wage but with benefits. Hard to find these days, but some large retailers like Nordstrom still offer benefits to full time employees.

[Boiler 44,858]

I did a search in google for expat insurance and came up with some pretty good ones, not cheap but no way as bad as $1200 per month. It is worth doing a search, if I can find out which ones I looked at I will post it. I have a job interview lined up for when I get out there and if I am successful I will have insurance for myself and my hubby so I am keeping my fingers crossed as I am over 60 now, only by 8 months

It is a worry I agree and to have to worry about it would drive me dememted but my husband will also be able to work once we are out there so we are not in a bad situation plus we will be more or less self sufficient.

If you googel Expat Insurance I am sure you will find something better than $1200 per month

I did a quick look as well as I thought it looked about right.

In round numbers depending on limits, deductibles etc and as a guideline only

$1,000 a month at age 60

$1,500 a month at age 65

Hitting $2,000 at 70.

For two.

I have heard of people taking "medical vacations" back to their home countries for serious medical treatment in situations like this. Especially for things like major dental work. But still. emergencies come up more often at this age, and to be without health insurance is very risky.

Many coutries are cracking doen on this, depends where you come from.

Other things to consider might be the question of, how often does the government sue the I-864 sponsor for defaulting on his beneficiaries?

I doubt anybody knows, never happened to my knowledge.

Secondly, parents should try to get a job somewhere, even low wage but with benefits. Hard to find these days, but some large retailers like Nordstrom still offer benefits to full time employees.

Do they employ the over 60's. and if so on what package?. We get the AARP magazine, if there was such an employer I am sure they would get plenty of coverage!

[Kez/JWolf 6]

All the info I got from google about expat insurance seams very limited on coverage... and it looks like you have to pay out first then claim it back.... or the policey was not available in MA... so I think the plans I have looked at with companies that I know are widely used her in MA will work out best... even if it is about $1200 per month for mom and dad....

Dad plans on working so if he gets anysort of insurance then its a bonus but we have to count on having to pay for the insurance ourselves....

But thanks for the info....

Kezzie

[Boiler 44,858]

Apologies for my typo's, the edit function seems to be playing up.

All the info I got from google about expat insurance seams very limited on coverage... and it looks like you have to pay out first then claim it back.... or the policey was not available in MA... so I think the plans I have looked at with companies that I know are widely used her in MA will work out best... even if it is about $1200 per month for mom and dad....

Dad plans on working so if he gets anysort of insurance then its a bonus but we have to count on having to pay for the insurance ourselves....

But thanks for the info....

Kezzie

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=390718

A question of the day

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Yeh I knew about the fact that if they were to try and return to the UK for medical treatment they would be charged.... I have had to take out travel/medical insurance to visit Scotland in 3 weeks time for both myself (UK Citizen) and my husband....

But I did find out that my medical insurance here in MA gives me limited coverage outside the US and our Creditcard we used to purchase the flight tickets also gives travel insurance... but not much....

Kezzie

[simple_male 1]

There are clinics and hospitals who provide free treatment for people who does not have health insurance. Check with someone in your local area who had brought immigrant parents in USA.

[Boiler 44,858]

There are clinics and hospitals who provide free treatment for people who does not have health insurance. Check with someone in your local area who had brought immigrant parents in USA.

Minimum patch up and out the door service.

Treatment is not the word I would use.

[TerryC 0]

We brought my mother-in-law here in February of last year, and had a rude awakening about health insurance after she got here. She is 65 years old.

First of all, she is inelegible for any govt benefits of any kind, unless she works 40 quarters and contributes to Social Security. I searched for any kind of health insurance plan for her, had my Dr.'s office people search, and our local hospital searched. We could not find any insurance at any price......because at 65 years old, all insurance plans are geared to a person having Medicare.

I found one company on the internet that claimed they would insure anybody, called them, and smelled a scam. When I searched the internet for comments related to their service, it turned out that they pretty much are a scam.

So all we can do is try to negotiate discounts for her whenever she gets medical care. My Dr. heavily discounts her, and sometimes treats her for free since he is also an older Filipino. Our local hospital gives her the Medicare price as long as we pay cash.

[GalyasTorpedo 0]

Well, I did find this on Medicare's website:

" You will be eligible to apply for Medicare if you have paid into Social Security for at least 10 years or you are eligible to receive Social Security benefits on your spouse’s earnings. If you do not meet these requirements, you can still get Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) by paying a monthly premium if you are a citizen or a lawfully admitted alien who has lived in the U.S. for at least five years.

Also, anyone who is age 65 and a citizen or a lawfully admitted alien with five years of residency in the United States can sign up for Medicare Part B medical insurance and pay a monthly premium."

So to me it looks like you need to have a 2 part plan:

1. Bridge the gap for the first 5 years by finding some sort of insurance that's not a scam, or negotiate fees, and/or go back to their home country for anything that deems it so.

2. Apply for Medicare and pay the premiums after 5 years. I wonder what the premiums from Medicare are like...

Seems like a picnic...