nun

In MA you'd get a good policy for around $1000/month. In TX you might be able to find a cheaper policy, but a with far higher deductible.

nun

The co-pays and deductibles are important. In MA you'd get a family plan for $1000/month with annual $4k deductible and $10k out of pocket max. So the annual cost could easily be $22k.

GeoffM

That's what I mean - premiums can be relatively minor in the great scheme of things. Most of the individual policies I looked at worked out 2-3x the premium cost per year, assuming maxing out on the OOP and limiting the copays. All a bit irrelevant really as there are so many variables and choices depending on your level of risk and the phase of the moon.

Duncan Roberts

That's why they won't touch pre-existing conditions unless forced to by law, they are a guaranteed payout to insurance companies. Looking at what my insurance company paid out last year compared to what they got from me and my employer, they lost several thousand dollars.

cranston

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. Get your quote here. www.bcbstx.com/

scrubbedexpat099

Not with pre existing conditions.

RICH

Unfortunately, if you are a healthcare insurance company, presented with someone who has a pre-existing condition, it is similar to a car insurance company presented with someone who just had a crash.

"Your money" won't come close to what it costs to have you as a customer.

Sheilauk

This is all very depressing. How can I put our house up for sale if I can't be sure of health insurance.

SanDiegogirl

You keep saying that you need health insurance asap because of pre-conditions, but, also, what about your hubby?

There is also the risk that he might not get insurance either unless he gets a job pretty quickly and the company offers insurance. (Of course as soon as he gets a job and gets company insurance then most of your worries would be over).

However, based on your ages and health history, neither of you might get insurance.

How confident are you that hubby is going to find a job with insurance?

Duncan Roberts

I would have thought that this would have been a major point of research and decision before actually proceeding with the visa paperwork. Even if either of you gets a job it is unlikely that the insurance would kick in right away and you would probably end up with a 12 month exclusion on pre-existing conditions when it does kick in due to too long a gap without insurance.

Anyway, if you feel comfortable sharing, what is the condition? It may be that it really isn't classed as a pre-existing condition or it may be something that can be managed without insurance in the short term.

fatbrit

The secret with illness in the US is to make sure you're not worth suing by protecting any assets from creditors.

Sheilauk

First of all l have been researching health insurance since end of August last year. What has happened is that when I rang blue cross blue shield I was told I could use my daughters address in NY and my USA Passport plus proof from the NHS for the creditable coverage. This has turned out to be the wrong information which I have ONLY just recently found out. I have subsequently rung up and had 4 different interpretations as to what I have to do. Other places have just said I need an address. I have no intention of working and my husband will be able to look for a job after 2 years has gone by and he becomes a permanent resident with a green card. He will hopefully get health insurance with an immigration health insurance for 62 days and then hopefully can add him to mine or get his own. I'm looking into GeoBlue at the moment.

fatbrit

The person on the other end of the phone is paid $10/hour, probably can't afford health insurance themselves, and is bullied every morning by an IQ0 manager to make those sales. Next week they'll be selling cruises by phone
or demanding payments from those who haven't paid their medical bills.

Never act on anything you're told on the phone as an American consumer.

nun

Seriously look at moving to MA. NYC is an easy car, train or bus trip and I think you might qualify for Commonwealth Choice, so research that option. No worries about pre-existing conditions.

scrubbedexpat099

I thought the problem is your pre existing condition. Will you be staying with your daughter? Seems reasonable to us eher address if so.

? I think you misunderstand.

I thought the issue was pre existing coverage?