penguinsix

It's going to cost out the wazoo but talk to your firm's HR people and ask if you can add a 'dependent parent' to YOUR health insurance coverage. Some plans allow this.

At > 65 though she'll likely have to undergo a medical and they'll find reasons why they won't insure her (thus, high risk pool might be your only option). Google '<your state name> high risk pool' to see about the details in your state.

scrubbedexpat099

For my State you have to be under 65.

I am slightly surprised there are any schemes out there that cover aged parents. Well I guess there has to be one.

Englishtart

Thats a scary place to be, from what I hear, most people would be moving in the other direction at that age

I'm sure you are doing this for all the right reasons, but for me, I would be constantly stressed about her needing hospitalisation for a serious condition and me ending up bankrupt from the bills

Rete

Males me wonder if they are fully aware of what the ramifications are for having signed the I-864 Affidavit of Support. Perhaps they don't know that means the government can sue you for reimbursement of means tested monies expended on her behalf.

Englishtart

I just hope they have time to figure something out, wonder if OP has family members in the UK that could take care of "mom", would make things a whole lot easier and a much more attractive financial picture

penguinsix

It's rough. Some people don't necessarily want to bring their parents over to live in a land without health insurance but they don't have much of a choice. The image of 'I've fallen and I can't get up' would burn in their mind should something happen to their folks overseas and no one is around to deal with them.

Unfortunately there really isn't an easy way out of familial duties sometime.

To the OP I would note that you should try ANY way of finding insurance that is possible, especially if you have signed the affidavit of support. Don't underestimate the costs of health care for the elderly in the US. $50,000 for a week in the hospital is easy to run up. Easy. I have an USC friend with a USC mother-in-law who has just run up $250k in medical expenses in the last year WITH insurance (just not enough).

If you cannot find insurance, you might consider moving (yea, moving) to a state that has some form of coverage for immigrants through the low income systems, even if it is just coverage for emergency services or preventive care.

And yes, some folks even buy a 1-way full fare 'use anytime' ticket for an emergency repatriation back to their home country (in fact, I think you can even buy repatriation insurance, but that's only if you are classified as a visitor--might be worth examining).

scrubbedexpat099

Repatriation is park of Travel Insurance. Not applicable in this case.

And repatriation in this case would be back to the US.

caleyjag

Depends.

If you are in Inverness for example, it's quite good, as the local NHS trust there is pretty decent, and the general quality of life up there is high.

In other parts however (ie Glasgow) the local authorities have all their resources consumed by knife-wielding Old Firm maniacs, fish suppers and fags, leaving little time or money to treat anything else.

Then you have Ninewells in Dundee, which is a truly remarkable place, managing to cope with the unhealthy excesses of the local population while simultaneously, consistently pumping out world-class cancer research. Of course, with the nature of the city it has no shortage of case studies to work with.

For some odd reason, thinking about the Scottish diet is making me hungry and is putting me in the mind to go to the British pub here for a sausage roll or four.

meauxna

You'll only have to go jogging then. How will that feel?

scrubbedexpat099

Deep fried Mars Bars!

Yummy

SarahG

I grew up in Edinburgh city centre and never had any problems with health care. My mum still lives there and she has multiple sclerosis and she has had excellent care through the NHS. There are bad bits about healthcare all over the place, if you choose to look for them. I like looking for the good stuff myself. I think I may go looking for a sausage roll now. Or shortbread. Or both!

Giantaxe

True, but I think I'd move back to the UK before I brought an almost certainly uninsurable 85 year old to the US and signed an affidavit of support for them. Seems like a plan for likely bankruptcy to me... no way to sugarcoat it really.

Mummy in the foothills

That's what I'd do too.

Jerseygirl

Alternatively the UK social services provides excellent support for the elderley who don't have family around. I wrote about the care my 89 yr old mum is getting a few weeks ago.

caleyjag

That sounds like it is something that could vary wildely from council to council.

Either way, I'm sure it's generally always a lot better than what's on offer here.