meauxna

The retired UK citizen in this household can't afford lansbury's kind of health cover.
He got in via marriage too.

The point is not you applying for the visa, it's knowing whether there is even a visa type available for you. A lot of people are shocked to find out that there isn't a visa they can even apply for, let alone get. Which dismisses the entire need to talk about the cost of health care.

fatbrit

Fatbrit hasn't said a word up to this point. However, he's always happy to iterate:

OP, if you've got a million bucks cash or an opposite-gender love interest in the US, we'll talk. Otherwise, you're wasting your time.

chrisfromusa

It's that bouncing sheep's fault I see it everywhere

SanDiegogirl

Just to provide some information - even if the writer is not eligible to get a visa to remain permanently in the US. My husband and I (63 and 62 respectively) pay 400 and 300 dollars a month for health insurance. (note this is not Group insurance through a company or group). We have deductibles of 5,000 per annum. So on top of our premiums, the insurance does not pay for anything - except some preventative checks - until we have used up our 5,000 dollars deductible. Since you are in your late 50's you should expect to pay in this range for any health insurance you might get. Even with the latest health reforms you will need to go through some lengthy applications with several insurance companies. If you have any pre-conditions (and these can be extremely varied - from a frozen shoulder to cancer) be prepared to be turned down.

Bob

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulask...ork_in_the_USA

I'm impressed, two pages and that wiki link hasn't been mentioned yet.

Fir any of those categories and I'm sure you'll get more help, other wise it's a waste of very ones time I'm afraid.

penguinsix

People are asking the visa question because answering it is simpler, easier, and quicker than answering your original question, and the answer to it will determine if it is worth plodding through all the other bits to your original question.

In the eyes of the visa people, the USA does not want or need you, basically. There are no retiree visas available because generally the view is a retiree has nothing to offer. They are simply going to 'take' from the economy rather than produce jobs or new technologies i.e. what immigration policy supposedly favors. (Sorry I'm being a bit harsh, trying to emphasize the point)

If you can't find a way to a visa on the relatively simple WIKI link, you are not coming to the US. Full stop. If you can find a way to a visa, then the question you asked becomes more relevant.

However, answering your question depends on a myriad of questions that you can't really answer until you are in a position to buy the actual insurance, for example:

What state are you living in?
Who is your employer?
Are you buying an individual (i.e. non-group) plan?
How much can you afford in annual deductibles?
What is your family history of cancer, obesity, smoking, etc?
What is your income?
What is your credit rating (USA)?
What pre-existing medical conditions do you have?
Do you have a route to a green card by age 60 (which means, in reality, do you have a route to the public health program for over 65s called Medicare for which there is a 5 year ban on new immigrants)?
Will you have been able to make the necessary contributions to Medicare by the time you are eligible (both by age and immigrant ban?)

You see, answering the visa question, while it may appear harder on the surface, is really the simpler one as the rules are very black and white. The shades of grey come when you try to buy insurance.

Also check out the wiki on Health Insurance

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Health_Insurance

Good luck

Giantaxe

Maybe, maybe not. Even someone who can afford individual insurance today may be one serious illness away from future uninsurability. And as penguinsix points out, you need a route to future eligibility for Medicare down the road.

lansbury

Excellent points. If after my recent escapade in hospital Blue Cross cancel my insurance I can swap to the Oregon Insurance Medical Pool for those refused elsewhere. Plus in 3 years I can piggy back off my wife's medicare and claim myself. The last point making it possible to live here because it limited the number of years I have to buy from a commercial company.

Dai Cooder

Thanks for your helpful reply, particularly the point about retirement visas. The 90 day/holiday home option in the U.S. was something I considered before eventually relocating to France. I don't think I've dodged any specific questions; if they're put to me, I'll answer them. What I've been trying to find out is the availability and cost of health insurance for an ex. pat of my age who's in reasonably good health. I've also tried to show, without baring my bank balance, that I'm financially independent and willing to pay my way.
Thanks again.

Dai Cooder

Thanks again for another helpful reply.

Dai Cooder

I've had offers from the opposite sex but I wouldn't dream of taking them up just to gain a foothold in the States.
I hope the bouncing sheep is not there because I'm Welsh

Dai Cooder

Interesting and informative.
Thanks.

Dai Cooder

What a brilliant post and no, you're not being harsh at all. I realised that at my age I was probably not going to be an asset to the U.S. economy and that at some stage, bits of my body are going to start to fail/fall off, but hopefully not just yet.
Thank you too for posing those questions and pointing out the link regarding the health insurance.

goldenstate31

First things first. Age is irrelevant, ANYBODY that is in the US is contributing in someway to the US economy, whether that be directly or indirectly! (its a shame that united states citizen and immigration service seem to forget that )
whether thats putting gas in your car, shopping at best buy, or paying sales tax for your food.
You mentioned that you have two homes in Wales and one in France. IF selling any of those is an option for you, AND raised enough money for an EB5 investment visa, you could look at that. Heres one JUST as an example www.eb5jaypeakresort.com/ they are regional centers set up by the government, whilst they dont promise a return for your investment, your money is safe, by SAFE i mean, enough to qualify for a green card
(cost about 500,000 plus filing fees US dollars)

If this is not an option, you have an E2 visa, however as you mentioned you would like to retire, so that may not be something you would like to do.
OR you have the option of the B2 visa, which allows you to be a 'snow bird' no cost, relatively easy to apply for. This allows you to spend the cold winter UK months in the US and ......well whatever way you want to do it.

Lastly once you have decided on these things, then look at your health insurance, which is another minefield in itself.
Good luck

Bob

You'll get bounced after a couple of trips doing the VWP thing, it's not meant for people to live here.

As a retired person, you could get a B2 visa, which allows up to 6 months in the US, generally hard to get for those who are eligible for the VWP, but if money and retired, you'd have a chance.

It won't allow you to reside permanently and as a none resident, you'd probably not be able to get proper medical insurance. And travel insurance wouldn't cut it, plus that would get terribly expensive too.