MikeSwirles

Following a successful k1 and marriage, I will need health or medical insurance, every company I have contacted either don't insure over 65's or send me very high quote costs, I will be 67 years of age and any advice will be appreciated.
ThanksMike

christmasoompa

Hi, welcome to BE.

When you say ‘very high quote costs’, what kind of figure are we talking? Those in the know will be able to tell you if you’re likely to get it any cheaper or will just have to suck it up.

Will you be working at all?

MikeSwirles

I will not be working as I have very good pensions that can be paid into US bank account. Quotes around 27k

spouse of scouse

I don't understand why this thread is a poll, or even what the poll question is supposed to be?

christmasoompa

A month or a year? If a year, that sounds about on a par with other figures I’ve seen. Is there no way you can be added to your spouses insurance?

I think the OP posted it in error. I’ll see if I can remove it.

Edit: if I can, I’ve no idea how to.

civilservant

Frankly, this is something you should have been aware of going in. The US private insurance sector is simply not set up to handle Over 65s, because the expectation is that they will be Medicare eligible.

As you have seen, high costs are the result. You are in an age range where significant long term health issues, all of which cost a fortune to manage in the US, are inevitable. The insurer must protect itself.

And you're going to pay through the nose to get anyone to touch you.

MikeSwirles

I've not moved yet, this was all part of finding out costs to see if its feasible or what options I had

civilservant

I took the sentence ‘following a successful K1 and marriage’ to mean that both had already been completed.

Does your soon-to-be spouse work?

MikeSwirles

No also retired

civilservant

I don’t envy you that choice. What ever you do will cost you a fortune, unless you change your plans and the spouse moves to the UK. Residency is the only requirement to access the NHS.

scrubbedexpat099

Bit back to front.

Anyway you are where you are.

This is of course a moving target and who knows what the future before, Medicare for All has been talked about but would not hold my breath.

Presumably your fiance has Medicare, which you can not be added to.

So go to your State Insurance Exchange and see what is available to you, I would imagine a very basic plan would be $500 or so a month. Then you have to allow for deductibles etc.

Most people at your age I have come across are parents sponsored by children who have no discernable income it seems and sign up for Medicaid, seems there is an exception that allows you to do that but it is supposedly income based.

After 5 years you can buy into Medicaid, maybe currently $600 pm I think, maybe less currently, 5 years who knows.

scrubbedexpat099

Sort of assume you have yet to have your K1 interview.

Rete

How do you buy into Medicaid. Don't you mean Medicare?

scrubbedexpat099

I know you can get Medicaid over 65 as a new immigrant in some States, California for example. most require 5 years presence but does not sound OP would qualify.

Medicare. well currently seems better to buy through the Exchange but YMMV

SanDiegogirl

Does not sound too much out of the ball park for individual health policy. Prior to us going onto Medicare hubby and I were paying over a $1k per month and that was on a company plan. Costs keep going up as you get older.
Note that premiums are only the first cost - most policies have deductibles, co pays for any treatment you have.

You can only shop around - try your State's Exchange as well as individual health companies.

After 5 years in the country you could possibly buy into Medicare - with Part A, B, C and any supplementary policies that could set you back $700 or so a month .