scrubbedexpat091

Me either. Last spring there was a local resident hurt in Arizona and while she had insurance they refused to pay citing the activity she was doing was not covered, but in the 3 weeks she was in ICU before being stable enough to be flown back to Canada the hospital bill was in excess of 500,000 and the air ambulance home was around the 45,000 mark.

You can fly through 200,000 in the ICU in the US in no time, and if it costs 45,000 for an air ambulance from Arizona to BC, I'd gate to see the price tag for one to the UK from the US.

Heck in 2003 my 7 days in the hospital was in excess of 30,000 and I didn't even need ICU or anything of that nature, just a basic hospital stay.

My travel policy is 2 million, which is generally the norm for Canadian policies for cross border travel.

200,000 not enough if anything major happens.

Sally Redux

I got a letter from the hospital the other day, had that feeling of trepidation as I opened it and them realised it wasn't going to be a bill. All so simple here; if the consultant wants to see you he/she orders the appointment, no waiting on the say-so of the insurance company and never knowing what's covered.

The travel insurance solutions suggested sound rather precarious, although I suppose if you're dead set on dividing your time you have to take your chances and hope the NHS will pick up the pieces.

scrubbedexpat099

Stacking up short term travel policies will not work, may be able to slide by for minor issues.

scrubbedexpat091

They don't even send you anything here if your covered, all you gotta do is present your care card, however some treatments/medications may not be covered or require special permission from medical services.

We have a hybrid type system, universal for basic medical services with the government being the insurance company, and a slew of things that require private insurance or cash out of pocket.

Dixie101

Surely cover of $200000 wouldn't pay for much medical treatment in the US? My medical cover on my annual worldwide insurance is several million pounds and the cost of travel insurance rises dramatically as soon as you say you are going to the US! I can't see why it would be precarious to rely on travel insurance provided you ensure you are complying with the terms. That's what it's for, after all.

audio

You get what you pay for. several million worldwide cover must have one helluva premium.
I did not say $200k was good, just what I did and those perhaps on a budget may be interested. Life is full of risks after all.

scrubbedexpat091

Maybe UK insurance companies are different, but for Canadian's at least we can get emergency medical over a 1 year period including the US anywhere from 120 to 230 per year based on the quotes I have gotten.

The coverage on the low end is 2 million to a high of 5 million.

Quote was for a 35 year old. Older folks would cost more, also doesn't cover pre-existing illness or pregnancy.

Sally Redux

I'm pretty sure that even many years ago when I took out travel insurance to the US the cover was 1 million - not sure if that was pounds or dollars.

We Brits tend to be cavalier about medical costs until we realise the US system is there to screw every last cent out of you.

cocokaren

Does anyone have any advice re driving for snowbirds? Better to buy a cheap car and leave it in US, only being used for 6months of the year? Or rent one?

Beaverstate

Do you have a place to park it off street the many months you are gone? If parked on the street it will be be gone in 2 or 3 weeks.

I would imagine somewhat cheaper to buy a wrecker with liability only insurance, than to rent one.

Pulaski

If you're talking about renting a car for six months straight, then buying a cheap car would be cheaper. If your snowbird pad is in a walkable community and you can survive on renting a car for a couple of days every 2-3 weeks, then renting would be cheaper.

Jerseygirl

It probably sounds good if you are coming from the UK...but when you've lived in the US you realise that it really won't go very far at all.

scrubbedexpat099

UK Medical Expense used to be unlimited many years ago. Can not remember when they started putting limits in. Anyway and I am going back awhile, 1m was basic, 5m was normal and I never saw anything expressed in Dollars.

Dixie101

My premium with Staysure, which is a major player in the pre-existing medical conditions market, is £250 annually and covers me virtually anywhere in the world. I have all the usual baggage, flight cancellation, loss of property etc cover plus £5million for medical emergencies.

The query about renting a car for a few months or buying an old jalopy is also an interesting question. My experience of US car rental firms isn't printable, but I wouldn't leave a car here on my property unless it was in a secure garage.

mikelincs

repatriation from Spain to the UK was £10,000 5 years ago when a friend had to be repatriated, so I would reckon on at least 100,000 from the US, and even more if specialised nurse etc is required.