Job Discussion Forums

[Sherri]

Hello
I am returning to the US with my family after 20 odd years abroad. I have been researching health insurance options and have some ideas about what we can do once we decide exactly where to live. My question is about temporary or short term health insurance. I am looking for short term coverage that would start on our arrival as residents in the US. Expat policies only cover you if you are traveling and your residence is outside your country of origin. So that wouldn't work for us.

Does anyone have any experience returning to the US after time abroad and getting short term coverage? I welcome comments or suggestions.
Thanks
Sherri

[veiledsentiments]

Sherri,

Do you still need help with this? I don't often check this board, so I just saw your question. Let me know.

VS

[Sherri]

Thank you VS. I think you may have answered my post in the general discussion forum. I posted up there because the North American forum doesn't get too much traffic.

I ended up contacting TESOL and got a massive amount of mail from the different providers which I have yet to sift through. I also found a few others by surfing the internet and going through a broker. The trouble is as you know, I don't have a US address yet, so I have had to use my parent's address which is not where I am going to live. It is not even in the same state. I have been told that my husband who is not a US citizen can apply for travelers insurance for the whole family but I am worried about pay outs as I have a friend with "expat" insurance here in Japan who is fighting over payment fr treatment of cancer while he happened to be back in his home country.

The whole thing is a bit of a nightmare and is the only thing which really troubles me about the whole move.
All the best
Sherri

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Sherri,

I knew that I had answered the question lately, but couldn't remember where. (senior moment!! )

Definitely medical costs and insurance are the bane of existance in the US. I am retired and single and the premiums go up dramatically every year. In the last 5 years, they have gone up 25% a year - at the same time as they cut benefits. That seems to be the norm if you are over the age of 50. I have calculated that if it continues like this before I am old enough for medicare, my premium will be over $2000 per month - which is ludicrous when SS declares that my monthly check will be less than $1000.

But, hey... congress and the president have a dandy fully paid plan covered by our tax dollars, so what do they care?

Good Luck!!

VS