health insurance for elderly parents

[jons_wifey 22]

Obviously nothing is free. And I haven't looked into the possibility of adding my parents to my health plan via my employer. And obviously they don't qualify for medicaid.

 

So for those who have managed to find 'AFFORDABLE' monthly health plan, who did you go with and what is your monthly?

 

I know there are income based doctors - no idea what this means to a couple who are retired and have NO INCOME.....so how do doctors charge to a person who makes zero money?

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

You would not be able to add parents to your health insurance. You can only add a spouse or children.
 

To purchase healthcare for your parents you would go to your states health exchange and see what plans are available. You can find your states health exchange plan here if you don’t already know it https://www.healthcare.gov

 

It is very possible it may be between $400-$800 each per month. 
 

If they are retired and coming from the UK I imagine they have some type of income-how else does someone survive on $0? What you are referring to is a sliding scale fee. Some doctor offices offer services based on a sliding scale (patients income) and that is how they figure out the charge. However, elderly people need insurance in the USA. It’s very easy for a hospital bill to rank up to the tens of thousands- or higher. Medical bankruptcy is the number one cause of bankruptcy in this country.

[Ontarkie 14,230]

~~Moved to Moving Here and Your New Life, from Bringing Family of USC - as the health insurance is part of your new life in America and discussed here often.~~

[Wuozopo 4,293]

7 hours ago, jons_wifey said:

Obviously nothing is free. And I haven't looked into the possibility of adding my parents to my health plan via my employer. And obviously they don't qualify for medicaid.

 

So for those who have managed to find 'AFFORDABLE' monthly health plan, who did you go with and what is your monthly?

 

I know there are income based doctors - no idea what this means to a couple who are retired and have NO INCOME.....so how do doctors charge to a person who makes zero money?

 
Texas doesn’t have a state marketplace. You have to use the federal one. You can get subsidy on premiums with low income. Any UK state or private pensions are considered income for that and are reported to the IRS as well. You need to go online and put in the specific information about age, city, income (pensions) etc that they ask because who offers coverage in your area (San Antonio?) can be different than across the state. Then you will know specific offerings and costs available.
 

One advantage of a health plan is the negotiated rates that providers agree to accept and yearly out of pocket maximums. Here’s some real-time figures in Texas, but each provider and insurer will have different rates.

Billed amount

CT scan with contrast $13,240.00

Radiologist report $1156.01

Doctor who sent you for the scan $421.00

TOTAL $14,817.01

 

Negotiated rates that providers agree to accept

CT scan $435.42

Radiologist report $147.90

Doctor $187.85

TOTAL $771.17

 

And that is just the beginning should you need treatments, surgery, follow-ups.

 

And here’s another option from someone who doesn’t have health insurance. My wife got this link because  the guy who was interviewed is somebody her family knows. 
https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/05/21/price-shopping-finding-the-best-prices-for-surgery/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=snd&utm_content=kprc2&fbclid=IwAR10_P8RbnedbYXmLdRAHgt60EdmMceVvahkYix69Z8li_DgqLqUoMX1rK8

 

 

 

 

 

[ProbeGT 47]

I wrote a very detailed post regarding this. 

 

 

[ProbeGT 47]

Depending on your state, plans offered, etc - you may be able to get a very affordable plan via the exchange.  Note that HMO plans are similar to how medical plans work in the UK (need a referral from your GP to see most specialists), and these plans are generally much cheaper than PPOs (which allow you to go to your specialist directly)