Lanyu

Hi
Just some questions in relation to travel insurance cover as a new immigrant. To protect us in case anything happens and we need to cancel the flight etc.
It seems all the quotes from places like go compare are for people who are returning I need some help on what our options are for coverage

Also in relation to healthcare cover it doesn't start until she starts work which maybe up to a month due to having to get SSN to be able to complete licence requirements for the state board of Nursing.

I did a Google search and found visitors coverage.com has anyone used this service or recommend a company?

Thanks

SanDiegogirl

Google 'short term medical insurance US"

You need a policy which covers you while living in the US. Coverage for a visitor/tourist won't suffice.

Pulaski

Your credit card probably provides sufficient travel insurance to provide some coverage for canceling/ rescheduling flights.

Lanyu

So had a look and contacted Credit card company but its not valid as I'm not returning to UK. did find one company that do it though to cover flight cancellation and medical insurance when there for a month specific to immigrants £178.00 for family of 3 or its $303 dollars for month insurance for new immigrants.
We contacted her employer and asked what we should do since insurance don't start till work does in an emergency they said explain the situation and ask if there is any other way of paying??? Not really the best way to start a new life.

SanDiegogirl

So why not take out the short term insurance?

I found any number of companies when inputting "short term insurance" and also "medical insurance for new immigrants"

Here's one site I found:

Health insurance plans for green card holders , permanent residents and new Immigrants to USA

scrubbedexpat099

None of which provide Affordable Care.

SanDiegogirl

The Op is asking about short term insurance......... this, as we all know, is not anywhere as good as an annual, on going policy. Costs are going to be higher and benefits lower.

However, if one is without insurance, one might think that something/anything is better than nothing.

I, personally, would rather pay a couple of hundred dollars for a policy which covers up to 100K for one month than go without.

scrubbedexpat099

Temp insurance is likely to be cheaper than Affordable Care, the point I was making is that it is not compliant.

Pulaski

Because it doesn't cover preexisting conditions, and because it doesn't cover preexisting conditions.

scrubbedexpat099

and other things which may or may not be relevant.

SanDiegogirl

Compliant or not, or not covering all medical situations, if one is asking about short term insurance until such time as the company scheme kicks in, it's still better than nothing.

Pulaski

I disgree, to the extent that I think you have understated its usefulness. Short term insurance is perfect if bought to cover the risks it is designed to cover.

Lanyu

Patriot platinum plan covers pre-exsisting condition but only up to 50k which doesn't sound a lot to me I doubt it would cover surgery then what happens then? $416.50 for 32 days and $250 deductible

I think I'm just going to get a cheaper plan as I'm only going to go in an emergency I'm concerned about one of us being bitten by a bug or something and reacting badly and needing to go to ER.

Pulaski

Going to the ER for something like a bug bite, or minor "walk in" injury would be a rookie mistake. "Minor emergencies" should be taken to an emergency care clinic, which, depending on your insurance, can cost only a little more than going to see your own GP. A visit to the ER should be reserved for major injuries, and other life-or-death cases that warrant an ambulance because the bills for the ER can get scary big very quickly. Emergency care clinics often have their own X-ray machines and can handle anything up to minor broken bones.

BTW the bill for calling an ambulance can be $000's. One BEer last year reported that her husband had been billed $15,000 for the (entirely necessary) ambulance trip to the hospital.

Lanyu

Thanks for the heads up 😀 I've seen quite a few if those centres you mentioned. In the end we decided to wait until we arrived to sort it out as I ran out of time trying to get our suitcases under weight the night before up till 1am left house at 430am 😧

Just as well as she met up with her employer the day after arrival and insurance was started straight away. Absolute jokers thankfully she will have little to do with them.