Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Hi all,
Hoping to get some guidance regarding a relatively specific issue we have and hoping those with experience have some helpful insight. Husband is a US citizen, I am British. We are in the process of applying for my CR-1 visa so i can join him in the US. We are 7 months into this process and expecting it to take at least another 6 months until I will be moving. I've just been diagnosed by my doctor with kidney disease. Within the next year I will need 2 surgeries for treatment and at sometime in the future I will need my right kidney removed. Our issue is that we are able to sponsor my visa ourselves, but we are no means wealthy enough to afford out of pocket healthcare in the US. It is also my understanding that I would not be able to recieve Obamacare/medicaid, without being financially liable, until I become a US citizen which I've heard is 10 years after receipt of Greencard. I guess what I'm trying to establish is if, with my new medical diagnosis, it's worth continuing our visa application to move me to the US or if we should instead decide for my husband to join me here in the UK where the healthcare is free. It's essentially a question of how feasible is it to afford healthcare as an immigrant for a pre-existing condition; what kind of insurance premiums can I be expected to pay? Husband is self-employed so no coverage there. Is it just going to be impossible to afford healthcare for myself in the US? I feel like it's either I recieve the healthcare and we go bankrupt and not able to financially support ourselves or our family or I go without healthcare for myself entirely and end up eventually getting worse. I honestly don't know what to think/how to feel and if anyone's been in a similar position I'd appreciate hearing your stories. TIA |
Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Originally Posted by Totallyspiffing
(Post 13006060)
Hi all,
Hoping to get some guidance regarding a relatively specific issue we have and hoping those with experience have some helpful insight. Husband is a US citizen, I am British. We are in the process of applying for my CR-1 visa so i can join him in the US. We are 7 months into this process and expecting it to take at least another 6 months until I will be moving. I've just been diagnosed by my doctor with kidney disease. Within the next year I will need 2 surgeries for treatment and at sometime in the future I will need my right kidney removed. Our issue is that we are able to sponsor my visa ourselves, but we are no means wealthy enough to afford out of pocket healthcare in the US. It is also my understanding that I would not be able to recieve Obamacare/medicaid, without being financially liable, until I become a US citizen which I've heard is 10 years after receipt of Greencard. I guess what I'm trying to establish is if, with my new medical diagnosis, it's worth continuing our visa application to move me to the US or if we should instead decide for my husband to join me here in the UK where the healthcare is free. It's essentially a question of how feasible is it to afford healthcare as an immigrant for a pre-existing condition; what kind of insurance premiums can I be expected to pay? Husband is self-employed so no coverage there. Is it just going to be impossible to afford healthcare for myself in the US? I feel like it's either I recieve the healthcare and we go bankrupt and not able to financially support ourselves or our family or I go without healthcare for myself entirely and end up eventually getting worse. I honestly don't know what to think/how to feel and if anyone's been in a similar position I'd appreciate hearing your stories. TIA |
Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Originally Posted by Totallyspiffing
(Post 13006060)
It is also my understanding that I would not be able to recieve Obamacare/medicaid, without being financially liable, until I become a US citizen which I've heard is 10 years after receipt of Greencard.
The only thing you are not eligible for is Medicaid - you have to wait until you are a citizen (you can apply 3 years after becoming a permanent resident if you are married to a US citizen) or have been a permanent resident for 5 years. Some state Medicaid programs (California for one I believe) have different rules and don't use Federal funds so LPRs for under 5 years can still be eligible. https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrant...nt-immigrants/ |
Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Originally Posted by Totallyspiffing
(Post 13006060)
Hi all,
Husband is self-employed so no coverage there. I TIA Even if you had not just found out about your kidney problem, no-one should be contemplating moving to the US without the option of being able to obtain health insurance. You can get health insurance through your State's health exchange or through health.gov the federal government's health exchange. (The rules brought in by Obamacare means you cannot be refused) Neither is cheap, but depending on your financial situation you might get subsidies for the monthly premiums. However, if you have already determined that you will not be able to afford out of pocket expenses (which sound as though they are going to be extensive no matter what policy you get) you should re-think your intention of moving to the States. Depending on how old you are you should budget for several hundred dollars a month for premiums alone. |
Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Originally Posted by SanDiegogirl
(Post 13006086)
What does this mean? Self employed people can obtain health insurance - they have to pay for the whole amount themselves unlike if one is employed and gets a subsidy from the employer.
Even if you had not just found out about your kidney problem, no-one should be contemplating moving to the US without the option of being able to obtain health insurance. You can get health insurance through your State's health exchange or through health.gov the federal government's health exchange. (The rules brought in by Obamacare means you cannot be refused) Neither is cheap, but depending on your financial situation you might get subsidies for the monthly premiums. However, if you have already determined that you will not be able to afford out of pocket expenses (which sound as though they are going to be extensive no matter what policy you get) you should re-think your intention of moving to the States. Depending on how old you are you should budget for several hundred dollars a month for premiums alone. |
Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Age and location matter and the financial situation, that defines what sort of subsidies are available, being self employed may give some flexibility in that.
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Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
As a rough guide, anticipate paying $400-$500 per month in premiums and $7k a year out of pocket expenses. If that sounds like too much money then the UK might be the better option, at least in the short term.
Good luck with your choice Edit to add: this would be for an ACA policy with no subsidy. |
Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Personally if I had a serious chronic health condition that will require multiple future surgeries, I would seriously consider remaining in the UK.
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Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Originally Posted by Winston_the_Great_Dane
(Post 13006119)
As a rough guide, anticipate paying $400-$500 per month in premiums and $7k a year out of pocket expenses. If that sounds like too much money then the UK might be the better option, at least in the short term.
Good luck with your choice Edit to add: this would be for an ACA policy with no subsidy. |
Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Originally Posted by SanDiegogirl
(Post 13006086)
What does this mean? Self employed people can obtain health insurance - they have to pay for the whole amount themselves unlike if one is employed and gets a subsidy from the employer.
Even if you had not just found out about your kidney problem, no-one should be contemplating moving to the US without the option of being able to obtain health insurance. You can get health insurance through your State's health exchange or through health.gov the federal government's health exchange. (The rules brought in by Obamacare means you cannot be refused) Neither is cheap, but depending on your financial situation you might get subsidies for the monthly premiums. However, if you have already determined that you will not be able to afford out of pocket expenses (which sound as though they are going to be extensive no matter what policy you get) you should re-think your intention of moving to the States. Depending on how old you are you should budget for several hundred dollars a month for premiums alone. One ray of light on the ACA is that the cliff of subsidy to no subsidy has gone, at least until 2024, I think. So that means some with higher incomes than 4x the federal poverty level can get a subsidy. But I digress somewhat. |
Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Originally Posted by Glasgow Girl
(Post 13006303)
I would be thrilled to be paying in the $400-$500 range. Right now I pay almost $800 per month for one person for the cheapest possible plan in my area, with a $7K deductible. My annual expenditure before I would receive any contribution from the heath plan is almost $17,000. I get a “free” annual physical and a “free" flu and Covid shot. I appreciate that I am healthy and rarely need any medical attention but calling the marketplace the Affordable Care Act is not all accurate, the Unaffordable Care Act would be more like it.
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Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Originally Posted by ss120396
(Post 13006428)
This will depend heavily on your age. $400 a month is about right for an entry level unsubsidized ACA plan for a middle aged person, but if you're older $7-800 could be possible with no subsidies.
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Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Originally Posted by ss120396
(Post 13006428)
This will depend heavily on your age. $400 a month is about right for an entry level unsubsidized ACA plan for a middle aged person, but if you're older $7-800 could be possible with no subsidies.
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Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
Some states like NY allow you to go onto medicaid straightaway as GC/LPR holder. It really depends. A lot of new immigrants have health problems you would be shocked what people show up to the country with. I seen so many with like end stage renal failure just show up to hospitals etc etc The hospitals and ultimately the US taxpayer has to eat the cost
Try get your husband to get insurance then join his plan seems the best option |
Re: Immigrating to US with health conditions.
my tuppence worth- irrespective of the cost, having to undergo extensive medical care in a system you don't understand and having to make choices that you simply don't have to do in the UK makes everything much more stressful. Adding on top having to deal with the financial side of it all , well, personally, I would stay in the UK until you are through this.
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