Healthcare options for elderly immigrants

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preethav

Registered Users (C)
My parents have expressed an interest in coming to live in the US with me, once I get my citizenship, hopefully in 2-3 years time. My parents will then be aged 68 and 58, and between the two of them have a slew of heath problems, such as diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, high cholesterol and hypothyroidism. I know that they'll become eligible to purchase medicare part A and part B once they've been permanent residents for 5 years, but really that's too long to live in the US without health insurance, and medicare doesn't cover everything anyway.

What are my options in terms of buying them health insurance? Most policies it seems excludes them for their chronic conditions and for their age. I know some states have high risk health insurance pools, but I don't live in one of those states. Have any of you been in this situation before, and can you tell me how you managed to get health insurance for your folks? High premiums are ok (as long as I can afford them), but it seems like I may not be able to get anything that will actually cover their pre-existing conditions. If you guys have found plans for high risk folks, can you tell me how much I should expect to shell out for health insurance for them, given all their pre-existing conditions?

Any input will be appreciated, it'll help me plan what I need to do to prepare for my parents.

Thanks,
Preetha
 
Try Medicaid

If you can get a few denail notice from Insurance Companies to insure your parents, you can try Medicaid which is a part Federal part State fund regulated by the state.

Each state has its own rules. The poorer states only cover citizens. Some states cover green card and citizens. Richer states like Califorania will cover aged individuals above 65 even if they have no Green Card and no SSN. You should purchase the best insurance for your parents that you can afford. Use that as prrof to show to Medicaid. Then what ever amounts the insurance company does not pay, Medicaid may pay full, part or none depending on the parents eligibility. Your parents assets and income may be a factor. Your income will not be a criteria.

So depends on which state you live. Find a county office and inquire. Then again be vary that each representative might give you a different story. The best option is to go to your public library and ask for the State Medicaid Manual and do your own research.

Or just move to California !!.

Note: your mom may not be eligible for Medicaid at age 58.
 
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kartheg2 said:
If you can get a few denail notice from Insurance Companies to insure your parents, you can try Medicaid which is a part Federal part State fund regulated by the state.
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The point of filing an I-864 for each immigrant you sponsor is to prevent them from becoming a burden to the US government. That is that they will not apply for food stamps, SSI, medicaid, etc.

Medicaid covering their health cost would be a burden, I think you need to either talk with several insurance agents or pay out of your own pocket. But not put it on the government tab.
 
I hope my words are taken with a grain of salt, dear!Cause my mom and my dad are back home and they have their own wealth (actually they are more wealthy than me), but wouldn't they have a better quality of life back home? In my country doctors are better person and more humane with elderly people. It is just a suggestion. The US health system is not only expensive but in some ways not humanly sympathetic. Doctors treat you here like you are just a number, a way to get money out of insurance companies.
Both my family and mi inlaws vow not to come to live here. It is hard, specially for the elderly.
Maybe you cand send them money for better doctors in your country.

One day, when I am old , we'll go back to my husband's country to the house we bought there, to retire.
 
I have no intention of making my parents a burden on the state. I'm not asking if they are eligible for medicare, I know they're not. What I'm saying is that I'm willing and able to pay for their medical insurance, but from what I've seen, insurance companies can turn away high-risk people, and just not even take them. This is a problem in the US regardless of whether they are citizens or not. A lot of US citizens find themselves in the same quandry; if they don't have group insurance through their work, and they have a lot of health problems, they too can be turned away. However, it's a lot easier to turn away non-citizens than citizens.

From the little research I've done (since I posted this message), some states have some insurance companies that are designated the guaranteed isurance provider. So, they can't turn away anyone for medical insurance. Yes, the premiums will be high, but they will be covered. For example, Viriginia designates blue cross blue shield as the guaranteed insurance provider. They won't cover pre-existing conditions for the first year, but they will after that.

Also, some states have high-risk insurance health pools, which my parents will qualify for, once they become residents of that state (I think in most states that takes about a year). They too won't cover pre-existing conditions for the first year of coverage, but will after that. An example of this is West Virginia and Maryland.

I'm not asking for free insurance coverage here for my parents, I can afford to cover high premiums, I just can't afford to go bankrupt paying their medical bills without health insurance.

Also, while, they do have good medical care in India, if they want to come live with me, I want to be able to make that option avvailable to them. I moved to this country before I had a sense of mortality (I was just a teenager), and I don't want to regret not spending time with them, when they're still alive. I already lost both my grandmothers, and I have an immense sense of loss, just not having spent what time they had with them. If my parents are willing to come and live here, I want to take them up on it, so that I can have the pleasure of taking care of them, and spending time with them.

Sorry I'm rambling. My husband and I plan to move next year (now that I am not stuck to an employer because of my employment based green card app), and we'll have to be very careful picking the state we move to, and know what health care options will be avaialble for my parents in the future.
 
preethav said:
Also, while, they do have good medical care in India, if they want to come live with me, I want to be able to make that option avvailable to them. I moved to this country before I had a sense of mortality (I was just a teenager), and I don't want to regret not spending time with them, when they're still alive. I already lost both my grandmothers, and I have an immense sense of loss, just not having spent what time they had with them. If my parents are willing to come and live here, I want to take them up on it, so that I can have the pleasure of taking care of them, and spending time with them.
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you are right, I feel the same way. Specially with my mom, i regret many things I can not share with her, and my sisters but I unfourtanly cannot take time back. I am sure that you will choose whatever is right for your family.
Oppossed to americans, we immigrants tend to make a lot of sacrifices for our families.
 
You will not be bankrupt

The United States immigration policy has emphasized family union for decades because it sees the importance of such unions. Your parents intentions of coming to the US are not to take advantage of or obtaining financial aid for Medical treatment. Being united with family members is an important factor in our lives. YOur parents medical conditons should not be a berrier in achieving that.

There is abasultely nothing wrong with obtaining Medicaid. Since you are a tax payer, see your salary slip of the deductions you have paid towards Medicaid taxes. These taxes are used to pay for someone else. What is wrong for that "someone else" to be your parents ?. Immigrants coming from India are the lowest users of Goverment Aid. Ironicaly immigrants from other countries are benefiting from the taxes paid by Indians.

Since you intend to purchase insurance for your parents, thats an indication of your actions in good faith. Insurance companies have a lot of eligibility requirements and exclutions. This is when Medicaid comes into the picture. To cover those who cannot be insured. Since the exclutions only apply for the first year, they would only be a burden to the government for a year.

There is no reason for you to become bankrupt. Under US law, a child is not responsible for the parents financial needs. No Medical institution can come after you for your parents medical bills. You are not liable in any way.

Move to California.
 
kartheg2 said:
Under US law, a child is not responsible for the parents financial needs. No Medical institution can come after you for your parents medical bills. You are not liable in any way.
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This would be true, except for the minor detail of the Affadavit of Support, where he voluntarily gave the State and Federal governments the right to come after him to repay the amount spent on Medicaid for his parents.
 
While your ideas are noble, you are right to consider all things that will impact you. My parents and in laws have various health problems and this is one reason we don't want them to live here. The other is weather, even though we live in Nor Cal/bay area, the winter is still cold for them.
Just having insur will not cover the parents. Expect the insur co to question each and every treatment and deny several. The co will try to get out of each bill using some excuse -- "pre exisiting" . Life can get miserable trying to fax and talking on phone with the insurers. Considering the deductibles you will pay, you can get a lot better care in India for that $.
A better idea would be for you to become USC and move in with them if possible. Do consider this option also. You can buy health insur for them in India also for a lot less.
 
Prethav's Parents are not public charge

The following statement is on the very first page of the Afidavit of Support. The second paragraph is from page 6 of the application. Prehtav's Parents will qualify under emergency relief and there is no need to fear bankruptcy.

Not all benefits are considered to be means-tested public benefits. See Form I-864P, Poverty Guidelines, for morei nformation on which benefits may be covered by this definition, or the contract on Page 6 of this form for a list of benefits explicitly not considered means-tested public benefits.

This provision does not apply to public benefits specified in section 403(c) of the Welfare Reform Act such as, but not limited to, emergency Medicaid, short-term, non-cash emergency relief; services provided under the National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Acts; immunizations and testing and treatment for communicable diseases; and means-tested programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

A public charge is someone who depends solely on the government for aid, especialy cash. In Prethav's case it is clear her parents will not be a Public Charge. There is no intent on her part unless she plans to abandon them on the streets. Medicaid is not a factor in this case.
 
Not the Same

Medicare is run by the Federal government and Medicaid is run by the State Government.

The site is posted by a private insurance. So I won't trust it. I been working in Medicaid ever since I entered the US.. I have not seen Medicaid go after the sponser.
 
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You need to be sure the insurance carrier has providers in your area. Some of the carriers associated with high risk or guaranteed pools are not in areas you would like to be in or use hospitals in undesirable areas. Also check to see if any doctors are taking new patients; with some carriers in my area perhaps 20% or fewer doctors are actually accepting new patients. The better the doctor, the greater the likelihood that his/her practice is filled. Also, doctors are not required to take everyone who seeks to join their practice; "problem" patients - high use chronic conditions - can be and are denied. Although you may be able to purchase coverage, they may not be able to realistically use it.
 
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