Health Insurance
Apr 25th 2018, 7:10 pm
#31
Sad old Crinkly Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Posts: 807
Re: Health Insurance
To the OP and anyone else for that matter looking at US Health Insurance. This poster sums it up perfectly. Unless your somehow in a large group scheme this will be your experience. Never ever under estimate the cold calculating ruthlessness of US Health Insurance companies. They do not exist to help you when ill, thats a European approach - they exist purely with one motive to make profit. You are merely an inconvenience if ill and will be dealt with accordingly, and subsequently dropped at the earliest opportunity.
They do have a ruthless side.
Something I was unaware of was the need to repay their costs if you were ever awarded a medical settlement.
I was part of a class action for a drug malpractice case.
I had developed bladder cancer and after quite a few surgeries I am now clear.
Medical costs at the time were a few hundred in co-pays ect.
Fast forward a couple of years and I'm awarded $250k. Lawyers take apx 55% despite the 40% contract, they easily get around that.
Then my insurance company comes after me for $68K..
Didn’t get a lot of change from that $250K.
Apr 25th 2018, 8:36 pm
#32
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,021
Re: Health Insurance
They do have a ruthless side.
Something I was unaware of was the need to repay their costs if you were ever awarded a medical settlement.
I was part of a class action for a drug malpractice case.
I had developed bladder cancer and after quite a few surgeries I am now clear.
Medical costs at the time were a few hundred in co-pays ect.
Fast forward a couple of years and I'm awarded $250k. Lawyers take apx 55% despite the 40% contract, they easily get around that.
Then my insurance company comes after me for $68K..
Didn’t get a lot of change from that $250K.
Something I was unaware of was the need to repay their costs if you were ever awarded a medical settlement.
I was part of a class action for a drug malpractice case.
I had developed bladder cancer and after quite a few surgeries I am now clear.
Medical costs at the time were a few hundred in co-pays ect.
Fast forward a couple of years and I'm awarded $250k. Lawyers take apx 55% despite the 40% contract, they easily get around that.
Then my insurance company comes after me for $68K..
Didn’t get a lot of change from that $250K.
May 21st 2018, 4:18 pm
#33
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 88
Re: Health Insurance
Wait, what? I've been buying travel insurance all this time. I bought from Patriot America and they told me that I could use their policy for this..
I'm trying to do this at the moment. It's now several days over my priority date and the stance from the agent I just spoke to was basically "It'll take the time it takes, sit tight"
Last edited by lenswipe; May 21st 2018 at 4:21 pm.
May 21st 2018, 4:27 pm
#34
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,759
Re: Health Insurance
Patriot do a number of different types of insurance so firstly exactly which plan is it? I'm sure they're quite happy to take your money - but good luck trying to make a claim if it's the wrong type of insurance.
May 21st 2018, 4:28 pm
#35
MODERATOR
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 58,679
Re: Health Insurance
Rene
May 22nd 2018, 12:58 am
#36
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 88
Re: Health Insurance
Patriot America Plus. The CS rep said it was fine for my situation.
May 22nd 2018, 1:07 am
#38
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2015
Location: NC, USA (ex Yorkshire)
Posts: 4,375
Re: Health Insurance
For info pass I would recommend checking early morning, starting say 7am and then every hour for a few hours.
May 22nd 2018, 2:13 am
#40
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2015
Location: NC, USA (ex Yorkshire)
Posts: 4,375
May 22nd 2018, 2:56 am
#42
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Temecula, CA
Posts: 4,759
Re: Health Insurance
It is not unheard of for people to be sold a policy that is entirely unsuitable for their needs - it's been reported first hand on this forum so that's why we ask specifically. That said, it looks like you would be covered, sort of, for up to 2 years. It's not full coverage and - if the individual mandate even applies any more - probably wouldn't absolve you of any tax fines for not having proper insurance. It's capped at a choice of low levels (50k-500k): just one nasty car crash, an operation, a few nights in ICU and that's your policy maxed out and now worthless. If something sounds too good to be true... I'm not trying to twist the knife. Just things to consider.
May 22nd 2018, 3:04 am
#43
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 88
Re: Health Insurance
It is not unheard of for people to be sold a policy that is entirely unsuitable for their needs - it's been reported first hand on this forum so that's why we ask specifically. That said, it looks like you would be covered, sort of, for up to 2 years. It's not full coverage and - if the individual mandate even applies any more - probably wouldn't absolve you of any tax fines for not having proper insurance. It's capped at a choice of low levels (50k-500k): just one nasty car crash, an operation, a few nights in ICU and that's your policy maxed out and now worthless. If something sounds too good to be true... I'm not trying to twist the knife. Just things to consider.
May 22nd 2018, 10:31 am
#44
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2015
Location: NC, USA (ex Yorkshire)
Posts: 4,375
Re: Health Insurance
Yes, on company letterhead etc. All genuine and will probably be checked by USCIS. Not guaranteed to be successful, but it can show financial hardships for you and the company.
May 22nd 2018, 10:32 am
#45
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2015
Location: NC, USA (ex Yorkshire)
Posts: 4,375
Re: Health Insurance
You can get on health insurance without an SSN. USCIS are just backlogged.