jen_andreson

That's a good point, although in Britain I spent more on private health care as we had to pay private for consultant visits/emergency treatment that had an 11 mth NHS wait. Not having the op would have meant that my husband would not have been able to work/support us (as it would have meant a year off of work and his company would not have accepted that), and instead we cleaned out of savings, gave up holidays, etc., and all worked out. It was frustrating as we had both paid UK tax for 15-20 years and yet the system couldn't help when we needed it--almost left him out of work.

I guess I put greater importance on getting care and being healthy, which seems to be a priority in the US. In my 30+ years in the UK I never had a medical, a wellness check, etc, and my US insurance covered that for free. It was refreshing.

Anyway, just trying to get my head round all this as it's so confusing. I know the US system is a disaster, and I'm trying to learn what I can so that I am prepared.

Guest21

You could try United Health Care I pay $121.00 a month and get discounted Doctors visits threw their network and I have a $2,500 deductable.

My company use's them but I do not qualify for cover under my work policy until I have been there for 6 months.

I went with a broker for United, called www.goldenrule.com.

Whiskers

You What John

Look at it from a different angle, buy travel insurance from the UK before you leave, Direct line will cover you and your family for up to a year for a few hundred pounds, just neglect to tell them that you are not coming back. And make sure you read all the small print, a bubby of mine from Manchester tried it without reading the small print, it stated the insurance was void if you were in any kind of accident and you had alcohol in your system, this guy was never sober .

scrubbedexpat099

My guess is that you are talking about an annual policy that covers mutiple shorter trips, not the same thing.

Jerseygirl

If the insurance company find out that you have taken up US residency, and they will, what happens to your claim then?

Jerseygirl

I agree with a lot of what you have said. My mother was waiting for years and years for knee replacements on the NHS. When they finally took her into hospital she was 80 yrs old, she was then told she was too frail and would not survive the operation. She is now in constant pain and cannot walk or stand.

Since living here we have had excellent service from our healthcare providers. Through routine screening both my husband and myself have had potentially life threatening diseases detected, which if we had lived in the UK would have gone undetected for years.

The difference here is that the healthcare is good as long as you have the money to pay for it...when you don't its tough luck.

You What John

Correct, it covers for up to 3 months at a time.

g1ant

the last claim I had, my travel insurance company wanted copies of flight tickets for my "trip". Almost got tripped up by that one.

a.

Elvira

For holidays and business trips staring and ending in the UK. Of no use to people who are emigrating.

Jerseygirl

Exactly, wouldn't be that difficult for them to find out that you'd quit your job, sold up and moved out of the UK.

Jerseygirl

I think the idea was to 'pretend' it was a holiday. Bad idea, very bad idea.

Elvira

Agree.

If one has to make a claim, one has to submit the airline ticket. Been there, done that. (my claim related to a holiday prior to moving here, I hasten toadd...)

And if it's a significant claim, they will look into it very carefully.

Stupid idea.

Jerseygirl

As well as being left with hefty healthcare bills to pay you are also BREAKING THE LAW.....its called fraud.

Elvira

you are preaching to the choir my dear!!

Jerseygirl

Yes but not all BE members are in the choir.

Gotta go now...have fun Elvira.