Edit

Forums ›
Finance

Health insurance for visitors to the US Archived From: Finance

  • tweet this
  • Post to Facebook
  • Text Only
  • Search this Topic »
  • Classic
  • Page :
  • 1
alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 8, 2006 @ 7:27p

Hi,
I tried asking this question in between various health insurance topics and even tried to search but could not get any answers.
Would any of you with this situation please share your experience about temporary health insurance for old people visiting from another country.
Thanks


   posted: Sep. 8, 2006 @ 7:27p

Quick Summary is created and edited by users like you... Add FAQ's, Links and other Relevant Information by clicking the edit button in the lower right hand corner of this message.


alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 8, 2006 @ 7:43p

drpepper7 said:Hi,
I tried asking this question in between various health insurance topics and even tried to search but could not get any answers.
Would any of you with this situation please share your experience about temporary health insurance for old people visiting from another country.
Thanks

Your screwed for the most part all companies like Blue Cross will only issue medical insurance to US residents. The main reason I know this is a couple of my partners are non US residents and wanted to be added to our Blue Cross Small Bussiness Plan which can be offered to all owners and employees except all employees and owners must be legal US residents. And this person lives in the USA 5 months and 20 days a year in USA. Only reason she not becoming a USA resident or Citizens is so her childern wont have to pay any inheratence taxes when she dies.


alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 8, 2006 @ 8:13p

For Kaiser Permanente, the person needs to have a social security number or tax ID number.


alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 8, 2006 @ 8:24p

Temporary Health Insurance

Visitor insurance in USA for relatives?

Also look into traveler insurance in the country of origin.


alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 8, 2006 @ 8:28p

If your family is still in the home country, the best option is to buy health insurance from the home country before visiting USA. When my parents came a couple of years ago, I found that the premiums in the home country were about $500-$600 for both parents for 6 months (so about $50-$75 per person per month on currency conversion), while in the US, those premiums were about $500-$600 per month per person with companies like BCBS and about $300 or so per month per person with some of the companies that sell visitor's health insurance. Typically it's 80/20 limits with about $2,500 deductible with most insurance policies.


alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 8, 2006 @ 10:14p

In many instances insurance from the home countries do not cover pre-existing conditions. Does anybody know a reliable company from USA that covers insurance even with pre-existing conditions?


alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 8, 2006 @ 11:33p

If they come here without health insurance and are hospitalized say for any emergency they will be treated and later the hospital may send them a bill. They can just go back to their home country. There is very little hope for the hospital/provider to collect once they leave the country. Just a thought.


alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 9, 2006 @ 12:27a

There are some international health insurance companies in the Bahamas and islands that will write this type of coverage. Unfortunately, you have found out that they will not cover pre-existing conditions (or not cover them for a period of time) which is probably good for most of the people being covered or else premiums would skyrocket. I can't imagine any carrier who is going to make money by saying please come to the US with your sickness, get treatment and we will happily pay for it.


alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 9, 2006 @ 12:31a

there are travel insurance plans that cover foreigners visiting the US at the sites I mentioned in the travel insurance thread

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=52&threadid=644398&highlight_key=y&keyword1=travel


alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 9, 2006 @ 9:21a

bthyland said:If they come here without health insurance and are hospitalized say for any emergency they will be treated and later the hospital may send them a bill. They can just go back to their home country. There is very little hope for the hospital/provider to collect once they leave the country. Just a thought.

I guess ethics, morality and basic decency never intercepted that thought of yours ....


alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 9, 2006 @ 11:42p

We had used buyamericaninsurance to get quotes and buy insurance for my parents who had visited us last year. The site offers many different types of plans and the customer service was quite good too.


alert mods    
   posted: Sep. 25, 2006 @ 5:10p

Has anyone actually have to use one of those insurances? What's your experience on that?


alert mods    
   posted: Nov. 24, 2006 @ 3:46p

johnqh said:Has anyone actually have to use one of those insurances? What's your experience on that?These plans are relatively cheap. Basically, send in the paperwork and that's it. Of course, only real emergencies get covered, no other frills.


alert mods    
   posted: Feb. 11, 2007 @ 1:30a

Bump - hoping for more discussions.

My in-laws are immigrating here and they are in the 55-64 "near elderly" age range. Given they are new immigrants they won't qualify for medicare until they have lived here for a number of years. I'm almost afraid to even look up their rate for them given how expensive health insurance is.

Any suggestions? I am comtemplating of just buying just "emergency" insurance.




alert mods    
   posted: Feb. 11, 2007 @ 1:55a

Just go to the emergency room and start utilizing the service for free. Every foreigner uses it and they're never charge a cent. Only law-abiding american citizen need to pay for their healthcare or buy health insurance. It's unfair but that's how the system works.


alert mods    
   posted: Feb. 11, 2007 @ 3:02a

bthyland said:If they come here without health insurance and are hospitalized say for any emergency they will be treated and later the hospital may send them a bill. They can just go back to their home country. There is very little hope for the hospital/provider to collect once they leave the country. Just a thought.

Before they are allowed into the US, they have to have an sponsor + a form signed by that sponsor saying that he/she will be responsible to the visitors' finance. I'm not sure if the hospital will have access to that form + can use it to go after the sponsor or not. So well, IMO, this can be a backup option.


alert mods    
   posted: Feb. 11, 2007 @ 3:15a

Kikkoman said:bthyland said:If they come here without health insurance and are hospitalized say for any emergency they will be treated and later the hospital may send them a bill. They can just go back to their home country. There is very little hope for the hospital/provider to collect once they leave the country. Just a thought.

I guess ethics, morality and basic decency never intercepted that thought of yours ....

I know this reply probably will be red, but what the heck, I speak my mind anyway .

We have a broken health system. You can either choose to use the service for free, or pay for your service + someone else's service. It's not fair, but it's our system right now. You have no power to change the system, so there're only those 2 options for you to choose. ... choose wisely ....


 Close

Sign Me In
Nickname: 
Password: 
Remember My Login Information:

Forget your login information?

Not Already A Member?
Sign Up Now!


Disclaimer: By providing links to other sites, FatWallet.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to FatWallet.com.


While FatWallet makes every effort to post correct information, offers are subject to change without notice.
Some exclusions may apply based upon merchant policies.
© 1999-2009