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[Sherri]

I have posted this in the North American Forum, but hope for some more responses from people here.

Hello
I am returning to the US with my family after 20 some 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]

Hi Sherri

Get ready for the nightmare of American health insurance. Mine has gone up 25% a year for each of the last 5 years. I calculate that by the time I hit 64, I will be paying over $2000 per month - more than double what my Social Security will be.

But, to get to your question - Are you a member of TESOL? They had a reasonable short term policy for teachers between jobs. I used it when I first came back. The downside was that it was a maximum of 6 months - and if you went into the hospital the day before it expired, you would out of luck. You could renew the policy, but your hospitalized condition would be considered pre-existing and would not be covered. BTW, you need a US address to sigh up for this. I used my parent's. Another problem is that they won't tell you anything by mail overseas on this. You would need to call them when you reached the US and you will have a couple days time lag. I didn't find any way to avoid this.

While I was researching, I found on Yahoo a site in their health section that would give you quotes on getting individual policies. Currently I have an individual Blue Cross / Blue Shield policy. If someone in your family doesn't get a job with health insurance as a benefit - figure on paying from $500 - $750 or more per month for a policy - plus what you will have to co-pay on any claim.

Welcome to America - the land of filthy rich medical businesses!!

VS

[Sherri]

Hi VS
Thanks so much for your helpful reply. I am a member of TESOL, so I will look into that--very useful info. I can use my parent's address too.

Yes I am beginning to see what a nightmare it is and it is my biggest worry right now to be honest. I have called providers and talked to them so I have a general idea of the costs, though there is no guarantee that they will take us on (my daughter has a pre-existing condition). We plan to be self-employed at least at first, so we are going to be responsible for our own coverage.

If anyone else out there can offer further leads on my quest, please contribute!
Thanks again
Sherri

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Sherri,

If you have any current friends in TESOL in the US now, you might have them get the insurance information for you. I found TESOL totally unhelpful for those of us overseas - sad to say.

Your daughter's pre-existing condition will be a major problem for you. Many of the companies offering private insurance will just totally refuse you. Probably the best case scenario is that her condition will not be covered for the first year - with some they may never cover it, but will insure her for other problems.

Depending on what state you will be residing in, some states have policies that are for those that can not fit their situation into the varying rules. For instance, my father had his own business and a plan with his company. His health went bad in his 50's. About 3 years into his heart problems the company that did his group plan went out of the health insurance business. No new plan would cover him. He could get a plan for the rest of his employees, but he had to be covered by the state's hugely expensive special plan.

Good Luck.

VS
(one company that I used for a number of years was called "Golden Rule" - they are a reliable organization)

[chinagirl]

http://www.etdbw.com/fh/fortishealth/index.jsp

Fortis Health - I have used them before for travel and temp insurance without a problem. Not sure about the pre-existing conditions though. Welcome (home?) to the good old US of A.

CG