stonesa

I have one problem...
my UK company is not paying for my health insurance (I am on L1 visa) and since I have a 5yr old I have to make sure I get one. But the insurances are nearly as expenssive as mortgages (well not quite, but very expenssive). Anyone knows how to go about getting a reasonable health insurance without "robbing the bank".

Manc

1) lose any maternity rider on a policy you're being quoted for.
2) buy a Hospital indemnity policy (cheap and pay like $500 per ER visit for an emergency, takes the sting out of a deductible)
3) look into HSA plans also.

stonesa

Thanks this really helps. I don't need maternity anything as I am not having more kids.

As to HSA, you mean the one we have in the UK? Or is it something different. I am a member of HSA in the UK.

Manc

no a Health Saving Account in the USA to save up enough to pay a deductible.

If you have managed to save $2500 in a HSA, then up your deductible on the health insurance as you could cover it by what's in the HSA.

Bob

avoid HMO's as well if you can afford to...

stonesa

Oh thanks.
You see, I am a doctor myself, but this is no use??????

Manc

no use towards what?

stonesa

No use towards health insurance. In the UK, I get reduced premium on private insurance from BUPA, but in the US, not.

Manc

well no. not unless your employer subsidised it.

Lesley1020

Try here...

www.imglobal.com

They have decent rates but maximum term is 18 months.

scrubbedexpat099

Physician, treat thyself?

If you want to cut out costs then you have to cut out cover/options. A large deductible is one obvious way, depends on your own risk profile.

Seems odd being a Doctor with no Health Insurance. BTW it is tax deductible.

stonesa

Even a doctor needs to see a doctor. And also I am in Mental Health I am not a GP.
Also in the US, I can not practice meds as you need a state exam. In any case I am a scientist and do not see patients.

scrubbedexpat099

And the phrase should have been Physician, heal thyself. I just google'd this and the top hit was about spiritual healing so I could have been accidentally closer than I thought.

My guess is that most L visa type have access to corporate cover, and it is mainly those on 'family' visa's who have this issue. Obviously the 5 year old is the big issue, I know of no easy answer, unless somebody else is picking up the tab or you have loads of money, US Health Care system costs.

dbj1000

My question would be why a company sponsoring an L1 visa would not pay for health insurance, and why you would feel forced to accept that?

If my sponsoring company had suggested anything of the sort it would have been an immediate deal-breaker.

If they won't pay for health cover and have some jolly good reason why not (and what, I wonder, would be a good reason?) then you need to insist that your salary be increased by sufficient to cover the additional cost of taking out private cover.

After all, you're a highly valued member of company management, or so they claimed when they justified your L1 to US immigration!

Ray

Perhaps L-1B not A...