unicorndreams

Also how old are your parents as policys mainly go up to age 65.
Then people go to Medicare if citizens or residents for 5 years.Unless they have a work policy.

Tracym

Interestingly, I found out the state of Illinois does consider the NHS creditable insurance, and will insure people arriving for pre-existing conditions from day 1, if they have a green card.

Not sure if that applies to private policies yet.

unicorndreams

That would be handy then.
Are they here yet ?

Tracym

I'm the one with a fiance, not parents. And he is not here yet. I am not certain if that will work for someone on a fiance visa either - just that it would for someone arriving with a green card.

Bob

problem with many is that they don't arrive with a greencard in hand...

Tracym

Sure, I'm well aware of that. They "might" cover fiance visas, I don't know yet.

But it is still useful information - might be one thing to consider if someone's moving to Illinois - whether to come in as a fiance or already married.

Now... the state of Illinois CHIPS program told me this, but of course anyone counting on it should check for themself, in case I was misinformed.

farmerwife

Parents are elderly, but eligible for Oregon State Insurance Pool as arriving on a GC. It's not a freebie or cheap at all, it has premiums that have to be paid. After five years when eligible for Medicare through being here as LPR for five years, they have to transfer to that (paying Part A and B, - Part D and supplement if required. Their paperwork is at the London Embassy now.

Tracym

That's good. Glad to hear it's working out for them.

Just for anyone else looking - I never intended to say FREE insurance - the state insurance pools come at a cost, as does other insurance.

unicorndreams

sorry i was getting confused there for a minute.

unicorndreams

I know its all so expensive. But you have to be covered.
Medicare will be who knows what in 5 yrs time.
My Mums paperwork should be on the way to Embassy in next month or so.

scrubbedexpat099

There is Insurance and Insurance.

Is it underwritten or just age related.

How comprehensive is it.

Limits and co pays also a factor.

The more I look at individual US coverage the more I agree with those who say how shit it is.

Excuse my French.

Tracym

I understand how you feel. With respect though - my intention with this thread was to point out possibilities (and hear from others) on how to cope - not to comment on the system. Could we possibly do just that in this thread? Kinda done the other in other threads...

I am not commenting on systems at all here, just trying to find stuff that can be helpful within the current system.

Of course, I'm not the boss of you (or anyone else) - just trying to politely ask...

farmerwife

Unicorndreams, good news on your Mum's paperwork moving along.
Hope you have managed to search out a good policy for her. Did your State Pool work out for her?

scrubbedexpat099

My comments are solely related to coverage for the individual, just had to go through the process due to job change.

Decided the best bet was a high deductible HSA plan as at least with your own money you know what you will get, if I had spent the money on premium I could still be in a hole depending on what my needs are, an unknown.

farmerwife

Tracy, I wanted to take another look at this - re does any U.S health insurer private or government consider NHS 'Creditable Coverage' for the purpose of covering pre-existing conditions.
I took a look at the State of Illinois CHIP program; it does look quite similar to the State of Oregon OMIP program. Their definition of 'Creditable Coverage' is the same as Oregon's; it is based on the US legislative code - check here - scroll down to (c).
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42...0--gg000-.html

I think confusion may arise because of the terminology of "State". What is included are "State health benefits risk pools" and suchlike - where "State" is defined in the code as one of the fifty US. But try asking an average insurance company rep. or a State government 1-800 misinformation line "Does the NHS count as "Creditable Coverage"?" You can hear the wheels turning ......"what's the NHS?"... they ask.
So when they figure out it's government funded universal healthcare, they assume it is creditable coverage because it's 'Government' and 'State'.
But it's not one of the fifty, or what is defined in U.S. code.
So the CHIP program looks similar to the OMIP program, but the Oregon OMIP administrative rules based on US code won't include the NHS as "Creditable Coverage". That's IMHO - but I am not a lawyer... etc.