nun

Asthma is one of the chronic conditions that will make it harder for you to find an insurer.

You should be able to Google and get a quote online because I just did, BC/BS will give you a family policy with $2.5k each annual deductible for $1k a month. You should be able to get a plan for your mum for around $500/month. But remember with the deductibles and co-pays if you get ill you'll still have to pay thousands of dollars before the insurance starts to pay.

So plan on spending around between $15k and $20k for in insurance.

My next question is why are you moving to NC?

nun

Yep if your intention is to become resident in the US you give up your right to the NHS. If you buy temporary travel insurance from the UK I don't know how or where you would be treated.

I live in MA and it's easy to get coverage as the state mandates it. There's no pre-existing conditions either and I can get a plan for $400/month. Still I'm thinking or retiring well before 65 and a big reason to return to the UK is the NHS and the lower cost of living in the North East, where I'm from.

CAdreaming

hmm not sure of that one........worth a quick call to them to check their Tcs and Cs etc

Bob

Perhaps prudent to consider not coming?

Bob

You've got to be a MA resident for 12 months before being able to get in on Masscare though.

nun

By Masscare do you actually mean Commonwealth Care...the subsidized plan?
My point is that if the OP were to move to MA they would find it easy to get coverage....it might be a bit more expensive than in some states, but they wouldn't be denied coverage because of pre existing conditions. Also as soon as they became resident in MA they would need to have coverage by law.

Bob

Aye, they would need to get coverage, but they wouldn't be eligible for any of those state plans and protections until they have been resident in the state initially for 12 months.

It was a way to stop folks moving here for state subsidised plans.

So potentially still a expensive first year.

tamms_1965

I live in Ohio so it is different from N. Carolina.....

A self-employed friend of mine got insurance for his family and that of his few employees through the local chamber of commerce. I guess that as a group they were able to get better rates as if "the chamber" was a company.

Bob

Definitely an advantage to joining a local chamber of commerce, or a union or trade association!

scrubbedexpat099

A lot of people where I am have a spouse working for the County, the County spends more on benefits than it does on salary.

nun

Must pay terrible salaries.

scrubbedexpat099

Not for around here.

jukes

We have contacted them to see what they can offer, it would at least cover us until we can look at it through a broker/chamber of commerce etc properly.

What would happen if my mum was uninsured and say, broke a leg, but had no money or assets in her name, other than very small UK pension? How could she pay!??

jukes

We will still come! We will be lucky enough to buy a modest house and have no mortgage, so the insurance will be like a mortgage!

jukes

We are moving for many reasons, where we live now has limited job opportunities, poor secondary education, and can be quite narrow minded, bad weather etc etc. We are fortunate to have been given money to set up or buy a business which will go much further where we are moving to. We will also be mortgage free, unlike here. Children are young, don't want to leave it any later.plus we can legally live/work in US. We have visited the area a few times and know other parts of the US quite well. It is a risk, but one we are willing to take.

As for my asthma, it is not chronic, I take one inhaler just at bedtime. Never been hospitalised, I know the triggers so avoid them! To get the inhaler I would have to pay to see a doctor then pay for the inhaler, right? I can take at least a years supply!