Bringing Mother of K1 Visa resident

[dentsflogged 352]

1 hour ago, missileman said:

I concur with @Dee elle that $1000/mo is a reasonable minimum estimate. 

 

Not to mention the inevitable deductible/out of pocket expenses.  My partner and I have budgeted to put aside $500/month combined to cover any unexpected medical costs (above what insurance covers) in addition to the lump sum that I'll be contributing when my house in Australia sells (He's purchased our house in the USA, so when mine sells I'm putting in half the cost of the house into our "medical" fund. 

Health care in the US is no laughing matter, and we don't intend to be one of the statistics of those who end up carrying tens of thousands of dollars of medical debt.    We realise that we are extremely lucky to be in the position to pre-plan for this.   

Honestly I would never in a million years propose to bring an unwell elderly relative to the US unless we were very well off. Independently wealthy, doesn't need to work but does because it's nice to keep busy sort of well off.

It's just not worth the risk, especially if they were being brought from a country that has single-payer system and is relatively high on the world ranking (like Spain is - I believe in the top 10 for health care in the world?) 

Edited February 23, 2018 by dentsflogged

[Unlockable 7,314]

Agree with everyone who has replied. This is not going to be a cheap decision. If she is getting adequate care  in Spain now you may want to reevaluate the pros and cons. The high monthly estimates that was stated on here is if there are no major problems. You say her health is failing, so if she needs special therapy and treatment then those prices will continue to climb.

 

 

[CEE53147 559]

5 hours ago, NJCube said:

Thanks car0593.   I was afraid of that.   I know it is off topic but if he becomes a US Citizen by next year and petitions to bring her, will she be eligible for any kind of medical insurance?

She can be denied if it is believed she will become a "public charge".

 

You can purchase insurance for her. She will not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid for years. Look at the current costs for her projected age at immigration and double it. Look at the deductibles and copays too.

[CEE53147 559]

4 hours ago, missileman said:

I concur with @Dee elle that $1000/mo is a reasonable minimum estimate. 

 

You are low.  We have bill for over $800/month for a 40 Year old.  Premiums for the elderly are much higher.

[dentsflogged 352]

41 minutes ago, NuestraUnion said:

Agree with everyone who has replied. This is not going to be a cheap decision. If she is getting adequate care  in Spain now you may want to reevaluate the pros and cons. The high monthly estimates that was stated on here is if there are no major problems. You say her health is failing, so if she needs special therapy and treatment then those prices will continue to climb.

 

 

The only way I can see that it would be beneficial is if OPs husband is the only child, and there is no other family.   It will not mitigate the financial costs, but would be the right thing to do in terms of taking care of his mother. 

I think most people can agree that there's no price tag to guilt.  My dad had been sick for many years and I was his primary caregiver until I just couldn't do it anymore and moved out and to a different state. He died less than 3 years later and I don't think I'll ever get over the guilt and feeling of "If I'd been there he'd still be with us"

That said, I doubt any reasonable parent out there is going to expect their children to pay out tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical care if it can be obtained much cheaper and/or free in a different place for a similar level of care.

[aratamorne 164]

If, and it is a big if, you have a healthcare provider that allows parents to be added to your family health plan, that could solve some of your issues.  You need to contact them and find out, nowadays most providers offer family plans that are only good for spouses and children.  Here is some info:

 

https://www.livestrong.com/article/238863-how-to-make-your-parent-a-dependent-for-insurance/

 

Good luck

[geowrian 22,337]

Assuming the IR-5 category remains when your husband obtains citizenship (which has been the case for quite some time, but there is heavy discussion about removing it), he can petition for her at that time. ETA: ~1 year. And yes, the medical aspect will be decent chunk of change, both from a public charge concern as well as a practical one once she is here.

[Coco8 1,042]

About insurance, the "pre-existing condition" rule is going to come back so it will be hard to find an insurance that takes her in if she is already ill. And if they do, it is going to be even more expensive than it currently is. 

[dawning 212]

Perhaps an alternative option is that once your husband naturalizes the two of you could consider moving to Spain to be with her in her last years?  I have no idea if that is doable for you all, but it might be worth thinking about.

[caliliving 606]

my work covers my insurance plan but it is 1k/month and i am a healthy 30 year old.

 

health care here is no laughing matter:( at her age she is best to stay in spain. perhaps your husband can take a month off pay and go visit her for a bit. 

 

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*moved from "K-1 fiancé visa process and procedures" to "general immigration discussion" - not a question about the K-1 process, more a general discussion about older immigrants and health insurance costs*~*~*

[Boiler 45,516]

First the son has to naturalise and then petition his Mother so nothing is going to happen soon.

 

So if this as an immediate issue then they need to look elsewhere.

 

Not sure how old she is, or how wealthy she is, I am assuming she will not be working, all of which are important factors.

 

The way things are currently set up you have to be poor or wealthy, poor and in some areas, California or NY for example you can sign up for Medicaid, so the comparison would be with what she has access to now and that. In most of the US you have to currently be he here 5 years to sign up.

 

Obamacare, well that becomes partly a tax and credit issue, which of course can also change and if she qualifies for subsidies, still a lot of potential costs.

 

I find it difficult to believe the US will continue to subsidise the cost of medical care for people wanting to bring over elderly relations, so what happens this year could well change.

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

The other issue is that once health starts failing in an elderly person, the deterioration often accelerates rather than continuing on the same kind of path. My father (long time citizen so fully covered) is elderly and at that stage where it seems to be a never-ending cycle of one thing after the other. I’ve lost track of the number of specialist visits, scans and hospital stays he’s had over the past year. If he wasn’t fully covered he would literally be either bankrupt or dead by now. And this isn’t even with anything like cancer which adds exponentially to costs. Unless you really are very wealthy and don’t mind spending it on healthcare, bringing in an elderly ailing parent just isn’t a good move with the healthcare system the way it is.

[kris&me 572]

of all the answers your question says it all

she is elderly and not well

she will not be able to work and pay into medicare the 40 quarters to get the benefits

you are stuck with private insurance at over (as said $1000 or more a month)

New Jersey being one of the highest isurance premium states it will be costly

you must also consider what her illnesses are and would she pass a medical exam to come

might, as said, be cheaper to pay her medical expenses in Spain

sorry as we all age and will all face this issue in future with our parents and in laws 

good luck

[CEE53147 559]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

The other issue is that once health starts failing in an elderly person, the deterioration often accelerates rather than continuing on the same kind of path. My father (long time citizen so fully covered) is elderly and at that stage where it seems to be a never-ending cycle of one thing after the other. I’ve lost track of the number of specialist visits, scans and hospital stays he’s had over the past year. If he wasn’t fully covered he would literally be either bankrupt or dead by now. And this isn’t even with anything like cancer which adds exponentially to costs. Unless you really are very wealthy and don’t mind spending it on healthcare, bringing in an elderly ailing parent just isn’t a good move with the healthcare system the way it is.

 

Very true!!!!! 

 

Add to that the problem of finding a physician if you do not already have one and the delays for an initial visit. Many appointments for a first visit are months out.  Even a referral just gets someone in the back of a long line for many specialties in most areas.