skruse812

We are hoping to move my parents here to live with us and have looked into the documentaion needed - their only reservation is that they would not be able to afford medical care - between them they take 10 different prescriptions. Anyone out there that has moved family members here that can give me advice on how to handle the issue of medical expenses/coverage?

Thank you so much,

Sarah

Ray

thats the reason most dont ...
As their sponsor ..you could end up picking up a very expensive tab

Bob

A couple of weeks ago, someone asked the exact same question, probably a page or two back, you'll find it and you'll find the same bleak answers in most previous threads on this subject.

penguinsix

As harsh as it sounds, the real answer is you don't bring your parents over.

I know that isn't what you want to hear, but the reality is pretty rough. They can purchase insurance independently, but with a previous history as you have just outlines even IF they could find someone to write the policy, I would gather you would be spending over $1500 a month. In some states, if they are refused coverage, you might be able to sign them up for a 'high-risk' pool, but that is not a given as each state has different rules and whatnot (and even then the costs can be very high).

If you do get them a green card and wait FIVE years after the issuance of that card, you can buy into portions of Medicare, the government health insurance program for the elderly. Google "Medicare Buy In" but again, there is a five year wait after you get a green card, and again, you'll have to contribute quite a bit of cash.

One other option depends on your insurance. Some policies (really nice ones) will have an option for "dependent parent" care--add your parents to your family insurance plan. Of course expect your bills to skyrocket, but it is something.

Then there is the one-way ticket folks. People who buy a totally flexible one-way ticket back to their home country and hope they can still qualify for health care back there should something befall them here (I know that sounds unrealistic, but there are folks who have this set up).

Sorry it isn't what you want to hear, but caring for the parents of immigrants is one tiny portion of the health care and immigration debate that is pretty far from being dealt with anytime soon.

Duncan Roberts

If they already know they can't afford medical expenses then you have your answer, stay in the UK and use the NHS. Sometimes there is no way round it. You can always hope that the system here changes enough to make it a possibility but I wouldn't expect that to be even close for another 2-3 decades.

md95065

... be very rich and set aside a few tens of thousands of dollars per person per year for medical expenses and make sure you have a reserve fund of several million for emergencies ...

scrubbedexpat099

You would need to look at your State high risk pool.

And then take a view of the cost of premiums/deductibles and co insurance.

I would not be concerned about the Sponsorship aspect.