qwerty007

I saw an ad in the Union Jack for Health cover for expat residents via "Lloyds" of London (I assume). The rates are very competitive and it seems that it is targeting long terms residents, not just those who are on temp working visas. I had understood that non-US insurers were not allowed to offer cover to US residents. I have tried contacting the company by email which bounced back. Has anyone had an experience or got any knowledge in this area?

Bob

companies can offer insurance, usually bloomin' expensive, and not many will offer it for extended stay, especially if you don't have return flights etc...and coverage tends to be a bit limited to emergency cover rather than covering everything like prescriptions etc.

qwerty007

This is cover up to £5,000,000 with a deductible of £100 and with rates 1/5 of US premiums, and for ALL expats. One can abide by the adage "if it looks to good to be true ..." However, I will investigate further and if I think this is either a scam or a great deal will post here is that's OK.

Manc

just a question........

if you get cancer, with they allow you 6 months in chemo at the Mayo clinic, or will they fly you to a UK hospital?

qwerty007

I have just sent another email to the company to get more details. Their web site is not inspiring and lacks basic info. So I can't answer your question yet.

Ben

Years ago on Good Morning TV in the UK, there was a program detailing holiday insurance. One thing that came up was where regular holiday insurance covered upto 5million pound. However, if you were to take a holiday in the USA you were to double this amount to 10 million pounds because 5 million wasn't enough to cover the medical costs. This was about 10 years ago

User Name

You're on form today Matt!

scrubbedexpat099

Lloyds is authorised to write business in the US.

But the Underwriters are not stupid, not as if the Lloyds market has not been burned by the US market.

Whilst a non Lloyds Broker can place business via a Lloyds broker into the Lloyds market, they still need to be authorised by the FSA.

If it looks like etc etc.

qwerty007

I imagine the $10m quote above bears some relevance, and Lloyds is renowned for covering almost anything. I have done a few searches on the internet and this company has several sites, hastily put together, and won't give full answers to questions by email. That should be enough to deter the wary. Whether it's a run-with-premiums operation, or kosha but inadequate cover someone is going to be duped by it.

Any related stories or experience would be interesting, or MORE important any good deals on health insurance to be found.

scrubbedexpat099

1om may be nice but not needed, 1m plus for travel insurance will cater for 99.9999% of issues.

The Lloyds market does not write anything and everything, its significance has reduced over the years, but here we seem to be dealing with an agent that purports to be using Lloyds to write the business, whether they do or not is another matter.

There is no cheap insurance for US Health care, the best bet is for somebody else to pick up the tab, like an employer.

qwerty007

I have just heard back from Lloyds who have no record of this man/agent and going to look into it. He seems to have some connection with another company, who have made it clear that cover is for US citizens leaving the US or US residents who can't obtain US cover. This seems to tie in with BUPA's statement that they are not allowed to offer cover to US residents, just as Assurance Vie's and some investments are disallowed.

As far as cheap cover in the US is concerned, high deductibles and HSAs are the only reasonable option I can see, in combination with the treatment abroad or 'health tourism' as its being termed.

I also worked for a LLoyds a broker and have a health disrespect for the shareholders before policholders culture.

scrubbedexpat099

I did too, which one?. I broked in Lloyds for a while.

To be picky company participation in the Lloyds marker is relatively new.

snowbunny

Where would a USC go for cheap 'health tourism'? Mexico doesn't have a particularly good track record.

Bob

Canada...prescriptions, abortions...it's cheaper than here...

snowbunny

Do you know how far it is to Canada from most of the US?! Yes, prescriptions or one-time outpatient procedures that need no followup.... but that's a fraction of health care costs.

Scripts are even cheaper in Mexico.