MrBaker2011

Hi all,

I have been searching through reams of threads trying to find some advice on what to do for heath insurance when i arrive as an immigrant to the US and would appreciate some advice / personal experiences - there are so many options it is leaving me confused and frustrated.

Basically, I am flying in a week and it seems a bit of forward planning would have been a good idea. My wife is already in Colorado and has an individual insurance set up, with employer group insurance starting in 6 weeks from now. Apparently it could take up to 3 weeks to get me approved on her current individual policy so I am looking for other options. Are 'global medical insurance' plans aimed at expats of any value, and does anyone know if they can be active within a week?

Like I say, with hindsight I would have checked this out earlier, but as things stand does anyone have any useful advice please? I am getting worried...

thanks
Greg

Noorah101

I moved your thread into the General USA forum where there are a lot more discussions on health care and insurance. Hopefully someone will come along to answer your question soon.

Rene
Moderator

Jerseygirl

Your first port of call should be the BE Wiki. You may find the info you're looking for in there.

MrBaker2011

Hi, thanks I have already taken a look through the wiki:

I figure that the 'temporary insurance providers' at the bottom are what I need, but wondered if anyone has specific experience with these type of providers. It is really difficult to work out what is and isn't covered, or which would provide 'prior credible coverage'.

Cigna are the only insurance provider i have actually heard of that provide this type of service - has anyone else used them for this?

Jerseygirl

Go to this page....at the right hand side of the page you will see Search This Forum...go to Advanced Search. At the top left hand side of the page type in cigna...then select Search Posts only. Press the Search tab...this should show all the threads where cigna is mentioned.

Sorry I can't do it for you as the page is time sensitive.

MrBaker2011

thanks, but this returns no matches. I get a few by searching 'entire posts' but haven't found anything of much help. I guess these 'temporary providers' aren't used much.

Jerseygirl

Sorry my mistake...I meant Search Posts.

There are a few people who have needed temporary cover when they first moved over here...hopefully they will be able to help you.

MrBaker2011

No problem, thanks for helping. I am just worried as this is new territory for me - I'll ring round a few places in the morning, see if I can get some advice.

Bob

It's one of those pieces of string questions.

It all depends on the policy, the state and what people are comfortable for in a deductible and for levels of coverage.

There have been threads that have recommended specific short term immigrant cover, at least two companies off the top of my head, but don't recall what the companies are called.

SanDiegogirl

I think one of the companies is American Patriot

http://www.insubuy.com/patriot-america-insurance/

.....but I have never used them so cannot give any comments on them

SanDiegogirl

Do a Google search on 'short term health insurance'. Most major insurance companies do such a policy - Anthem, Cigna, Aetna etc. I don't know how quick they are to set things up but its worth a try.

penguinsix

Just be sure to read the fine print on those temporary coverages. Many of them are basically "hit by a truck" plans that will get you patched up should you be in an accident. They don't cover preventive care (i.e. doctor's visits) or major medical things like cancer.

You can find plans that are more comprehensive, but they cost a bit more.

md95065

Yes, but if this is only temporary for a month or two until the OP can be covered by his wife's insurance through her employer's health plan he probably only needs "catastrophic" coverage just in case he does get "hit by a truck".

GeoffM

Since I wrote that bit a couple of weeks ago I've had a reply from IMG about the Patriot insurance. It does NOT provide "prior credible coverage" which I think means you really need to be on proper insurance before 63 days are up otherwise exclusions start kicking in.

Two are in the Wiki !

Yes, this is most likely what we'll do. Though I've had a written quote from a trade industry type of group policy, it's still going to be easier to set it up stateside but in the interim I'll get one of these temporary policies.

penguinsix

I'm thinking of adding a "Prior Existing Coverage" section to the wiki to explain why it is important. Does anyone have some experience in what it took (i.e. what they had to get from the NHS) to prove prior coverage?