Medical Insurance

[chrissyG]

Originally Posted by A8NNC

Hi
No this is for a year, it is like a travel insurance policy but you can return back to the UK (not sure how many times) they have quite a few different policies, but it is mainly emergency cover - but with an excess on it. For the first year until you decide what to do it seems ok. As i said my brother and his family have it and have used it for dental emergency and calling out doctors and they paid up ok. Ring American Express and explain and they will tell you the best policy for a year. Bupa are thousands per year even if you are a member here, at least by taking this policy you are covered until you decide what to do. They will email you the quote and you can see exactly what it covers.

WOW!!! Thank you so much that is amazing - I always have holiday insurance when I go abroad & last year got a year long insurance (with SAGA) but it only covers for being abroad up to 3 months at a time, I had asked if they could do one for a year & they said they couldn't.

That is going to save me so much money in the first year & we'll be coming back to UK for at least one holiday during that time anyway.
I had contacted BUPA first, before the american companies & was a bit shocked that there quote was over £9000 for me & 14 year old, even with good health, no smoking, no alcohol & not overweight - seemed far too much.

[JohnSoCal]

Originally Posted by patusa

hi i am an newbie i am soon to be an expat to i will miss nhs to dont know what you got til its gone has anyone said anything to you about medicare i am not sure how it works but maybe you can ask about that good luck in your new life

You have to be 65 or older to receive medicare.

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by JohnSoCal

You have to be 65 or older to receive medicare.

And for someone who has not paid into the US social security system, you need to have been a permanent resident in the US for at least 5 years to qualify for Medicare.
Cheers,
Bev

[JohnSoCal]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

And for someone who has not paid into the US social security system, you need to have been a permanent resident in the US for at least 5 years to qualify for Medicare.
Cheers,
Bev

Being a permanent resident for 5 years is NOT a requirement. Below is the list of requirements.

"Who qualifies for Medicare? All American citizens and permanent residents over age 65 qualify for Part A Medicare if they meet one of the following requirements:


Eligible for or receiving Social Security benefits
Eligible for or receiving Railroad Retirement benefits
You worked in a government job for a minimum amount of time during which payments were made into Medicare on your behalf.
Your living, diseased, or divorced spouse met any of the above criteria


If you are over 65 and don't meet one of those "who qualifies for Medicare" criteria, you can still access the health plan by paying a premium for it.

Additionally, there are people who qualifies for Medicare who are under 65. for instance, people with end stage renal disease or Lou Gehrig's disease also qualify.

Anyone who qualifies for Part A Medicare also automatically qualifies for Part B Medicare. You should be aware however that while Part A is free, there is a monthly premium for Part B. People who do not qualify for Part A can still pay for Part B under certain conditions.

Part A medicare is the original plan and is still operated by the government. It covers hospital services. Part B is medical insurance for seniors and covers doctor's visits, outpatient care and the like.

If you qualify for Part A and Part B, you will also qualify for Parts C and D. Part C replaces parts A and B with a more comprehensive insurance plan including prescription drug benefits at a more expensive price. Part D provides prescription drug benefits to people on Parts A and B."

My mother was a permanent resident ( GC ) but did not qualify. She was able to get medicare by paying for part A ( normally free ). She paid about $300 /mo but that was 9 years ago. I am sure it is much higher now. She paid the regular premium for part B that everybody pays. Parts C and D did not exist then.

I have a Medicare Advantage Plan from Healthnet. I pay zero premium and zero co-pays and it also includes Part D ( prescriptions ) at no cost to me. It also includes free gym membership and a lot of other things. I have my choice of more than 15 different Medicare Advantage plans from various companies.

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by JohnSoCal

Being a permanent resident for 5 years is NOT a requirement. Below is the list of requirements.

"Who qualifies for Medicare? All American citizens and permanent residents over age 65 qualify for Part A Medicare if they meet one of the following requirements:

From the Medicare website:

>>If you are not a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien who has lived in the U.S. continuously for a five-year period, please contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 for your Medicare enrollment and eligibility. <<

If you are not a citizen or lawfully admitted alien, the qualification criteria are different. Practically speaking, if you haven't contributed to the US Social Security system due to your immigration status, the five year residence rule usually applies. It's only logical that you have to have contributed to be eligible.
Cheers,
Bev

[Fatbrit]

Originally Posted by JohnSoCal

Being a permanent resident for 5 years is NOT a requirement. Below is the list of requirements.

What Bev said.

[JohnSoCal]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

From the Medicare website:

>>If you are not a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien who has lived in the U.S. continuously for a five-year period, please contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 for your Medicare enrollment and eligibility. <<

If you are not a citizen or lawfully admitted alien, the qualification criteria are different. Practically speaking, if you haven't contributed to the US Social Security system due to your immigration status, the five year residence rule usually applies. It's only logical that you have to have contributed to be eligible.
Cheers,
Bev

I agree that you must be a US citizen or legal resident. However, the 5 years does not apply if you are a legal resident of 65 and pay for part A and B. My mother turned 65 just 2 years after entering the US and enrolled in Medicare but she had to pay for part A. In fact if she had waited, she would have had to pay a penalty for every month she waited past being eligible.

The Medicare rules that you have cited does not say you can't get Medicare. It just says that you have to contact SS.

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by JohnSoCal

I agree that you must be a US citizen or legal resident. However, the 5 years does not apply if you are a legal resident of 65 and pay for part A and B. My mother turned 65 just 2 years after entering the US and enrolled in Medicare but she had to pay for part A. In fact if she had waited, she would have had to pay a penalty for every month she waited past being eligible.

The Medicare rules that you have cited does not say you can't get Medicare. It just says that you have to contact SS.

John, the OP was asking about health insurance for a UK national coming to the US on a fiancé visa - where her future husband does not have employer-provided health insurance in the US. Under the circumstances, it's highly doubtful that Medicare is an option for her at this time.
Cheers,
Bev

[chrissyG]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

John, the OP was asking about health insurance for a UK national coming to the US on a fiancé visa - where her future husband does not have employer-provided health insurance in the US. Under the circumstances, it's highly doubtful that Medicare is an option for her at this time.
Cheers,
Bev

Thanks for all the advice
I don't see the difference between getting medicare by paying the monthly premium & getting any other medical insurance, is it just that it's state(country)-owned?
I have enough unearned income so won't be in a position of having insufficient funds & wouldn't want to qualify on that basis anyway, but is there an advantage to being with the medicare scheme rather than another provider?

Sorry still confused

[JohnSoCal]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

John, the OP was asking about health insurance for a UK national coming to the US on a fiancé visa - where her future husband does not have employer-provided health insurance in the US. Under the circumstances, it's highly doubtful that Medicare is an option for her at this time.
Cheers,
Bev

This is not about the OP but was in reply to the person that mentioned medicare in their post.