78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Hi

My father sadly passed away recently in the UK, and as I am an only child, we would obviously like my mum to come and live with us so we can take care of her. My question is how do we go on about her medical insurance? How much would it be if she lived in the US?

Really appreciate your help guys...

Lexie Lou

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Think "pay as you go" and "too much".

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Plenty of past threads on this - do a search. The bottom line is that it likely will be extremely difficult and/or extremely expensive.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

It seems like the health insurance would be a huge obstacle, but I also wonder how easy it would be for someone to adapt to life here at that age.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Yep -- 5 years after arriving, she can buy Medicare. States sometimes have plans for uninsured/uninsurable folks, too, so that could be worth your local research.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Sorry to hear of your loss!

There are plenty of threads on this subject, but generally it is a risk tolerance and shear expense that isn't a goer for most people, certainly at that age.

Some states would certainly be better than others, I think Oregon has a pretty decent pool for uninsurable people and MA too, but you need to be a MA resident for 12 months to qualify, so that first year would be a huge risk.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

My hubby who reaches 65 this year just had his policy increased to $598 a month and that is with a $5,000 deductible - thank goodness he can get onto Medicare.

Just imagine what an individual policy for a 78 year old would be - if you could ever get one.

Even if after 5 years you can buy into Medicare, the cheapest that is going to cost you is $540.00 (at today's rate)(Part A and B)

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Wouldn't there be a long, long wait for Mother to get a Visa, in the first place?


Jim.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

If LexieLou is a USC, it would be around 8-10 months from initial paperwork to visa issuance. Were her mother already in the US in non-immigrant status, she could possibly adjust status and have no wait at all.

If LexieLou is not a USC, the wait is infinite.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

From old posts it looks like LexieLous moved over on an L-1 in 2011, so she is not yet a USC.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Even if money was no object, I think that in its self would be an a huge issue for a 65+ person emigrating.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

In that case, OP's question should be filed under moot.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Thank you for your reply Bob, my mother would not want to stay in the UK as she now has no family, so I guess we will have to somehow try to get her med insurance.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Sorry but what does moot mean?

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Ok Thank you for your response. Looks like I will have to take my son out of school and leave my job and go back to the UK....not really what I ever wanted to do.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

It means that if you are a permanent resident (Green card holder) but not a US citizen you cannot sponsor your mother.

Family of Green Card Holders (Permanent Residents)

As a green card holder (permanent resident), you may petition for certain family members to immigrate to the United States as permanent residents.

You May Petition For The Following Family Members:

Spouse (husband or wife)
Unmarried children under 21
Unmarried son or daughter of any age

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

\

Ok I understand, but I was told that as she is over 65 years old she would be allowed over without a visa. Is that incorrect?

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

That is incorrect.

As a retired person, chances of getting a B2 visa to allow maximum 6 month is fairly doable. Getting medical insurance for that length of time, at that age on the other hand is probably not.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Unfortunately, absolutely incorrect. As Bob say she could get a B-2 which would allow trips up to 6 months but that's it I'm afraid.

You are not even Green Card holders are you, having only arrived in the US in December 2011? Not that that would help you in these circumstances.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Hypothetical.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Ok so the best way is to use UK Travel insurance and she comes over here for a few months at a time. She has UK Travel insurance that covers her annually. especially for the USA.

Thank you

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Sorry just another quick question, how do all the UK elderly who retire in Florida manage to do this?

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Travel insurance while they are able to afford it. I suspect for some, it becomes unsustainable. I remember being the post office recently and overhearing a conversation where a chap was buying Euros and was saying that his son lives in America and that he & his wife used to visit for 6 months at a time, but couldn't do so now as they simply couldn't afford the insurance.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Cost $1K for 2 weeks insurance for my then 84 year MIL.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Yes, I know...sad. There is a lot that is good about the NHS, and you dont realise until you are here. We plan to stay here forever but just worried about mum now, especially as she has no family in the UK. Obviously life takes turns you don't expect, like my dad passing unexpectedly.

My son loves it here and has settled really well in school and my job is good but lets see whats around the corner, non of us can plan anything.

Thanks for your replies.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

My mum was originally quoted 500gbp for one year but has managed to get it down with a medical insurer to just 200gbp. It covers everything as well, pretty good deal. That includes her telling them her full medical history.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Of course there are insurance policies...then there are insurance policies. Make sure she has a watertight policy....high coverage...low deductibles...repatriation etc. Any illnesses/visits to the doctor/ change in meds or new meds...are reported in writing to the ins company.

When you hit 80 it then becomes increasingly more difficult to get travel insurance. I insured my MIL with one company...the doc changed her meds within the 6 month window before she was due to travel...the insurance company pulled the cover.

Not many people are able to visit when they get into their 80s. Not just because of insurance...the journey takes it's toll on the elderly...plus they may have various medical appointments back home. All you can do is take it year by year....or decide if it is easier for you and your son to move back now or 'x' number of years down the line.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

LexieLou, not sure how old your son is now, but he could spend extended periods in the UK over school holidays to help out his grandmother maybe.. Our son spent a year in Paris for college, and he was constantly nipping over to London to bail out Grandma!

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Good Idea Robin. Our son is 15, and first year high, may be good for him to visit her in the summer hols to help her out. Somehow we will find a way I am sure.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

That's because it'll just repatriate her. Not much use for every day stuff, especially is she is on any meds.

Have a look at the small print to see if it covers a specific continuous length of time for a trip, because a lot won't cover anything over 30 days in one go.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Talking of which, you have the VWP or B2 dilemma yet to sort out. Both come with the recommendation to spend at least as much time out as you spend in.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Travel insurance for a long term stay is fine as long as you don't get sick ( they'll just repatriate you) or if you have ongoing non-emergency medical needs ( which thy're unlikely to cover). I know someone who did do this for their mother, but it be sme more and more problematic as time went on.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

How could 200 pounds possibly cover the health needs of a 78-year-old for a year? :confused:

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

I read it to mean that it was a one year travel insurance policy.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

It must be very limited on time as well as what is covered. Even repatriating someone would cost a lot more than that.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Aye, that's true... I guess like all insurance, they just make enough profit on the majority that never need to claim to cover the claims?

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

This whole idea is a non-starter, unfortunately.

1. Can't get the 78yo to live here legally.
2. Difficulties convincing immigration that she's only coming over for 2-3 month 'holidays' at a time.
3. Massive strain on the body of a 78yo with many flights per year to-ing and fro-ing from the UK.
4. Expensive and dubious coverage under 'travel insurance' when in reality she is living in another country for months at a time (they would soon cotton onto that, and if they realized during a medical emergency, would she actually be covered, or would they just sting you with MASSIVE, bankruptcy-level medical bills?).

The only realistic option if she HAS to have her family live with her, is for the OP to move back to the UK.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

I would guess extremely limited coverage. If treatment for any disease or illness were necessary, I would guess that that is not covered beyond emergency room treatment, for example.

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

Reality!

Re: 78 year old mum - Health Insurance?
 

It's vastly overrated, IMO.