Medical insurance for parents under GC process

[abhisk]

Folks,

I have applied for green cards for my parents. they are currently in US. While they are going through the process, I was wondering about the ways to sponsor to their medical insurance.

1. Traveller's insurance. This is cheap but very light weight. Not sure if this is a right one for people whose green card application is in process.

2. Have my employer pay for the insurance since my parents are my legal dependents - Unfortunately, most employers (including mine) refuse to consider parents as legal dependents.

Are there any experiences or ideas people can share in this area? Also, I was wondering what kind of help Govt. help (if any) is offered after my parents become GC holders.

Thanks,
Abhisk

 

[LucyMO]

-buy independent insurance
-parents can work as well and get insurance through their employer.

 

[kkboy]

try. ..

protection america upto 500k coverage, <200 per month from buy american insurance .com. I read a review from person who had to pay $35K for his mom's operation here...the insurance paid it without blinking an eye. The guy khatri who sells the insurance..seems genuine. Read his posts/help to others on his site.

 

[yeda]

Read http://www.insubuy.com/guide/new-immigrants-medical-insurance-plans.jsp to understand various options for health insurance for new immigrants to the US.

 

[naturalize_06]

Medical insurance

I am in the same boat. The guys who sell these insurances are agents. The claims are underwritten by the insurance companies. Some people who have this insurance say that the insurance company (patriot or so) keep rejecting the claims.

Medicaid and other govt. plans are mostly means tested programs for which the parents are not eligible until they are on green card for 5 years.

Since many of the members of the forum may have sponsored GC for parents above 65, I just want to know how you are tackling this issue.

Subbu

 

[Concerned4us]

This is something to worry about before sponsoring.

 

[vishu38]

I recommend that you read the article at http://www.insubuy.com/guide/new-immigrants-medical-insurance-plans.jsp

It gives you a lot of useful information about health insurance for elderly new immigrants.

 

[ml_boston]

If your parents are under 65, the only available insurance would be individual insurance or traveler's insurance (or their employer's insurance if they got a job). The rates would be very expensive, because the average medical bills an insurer pays for someone 50+ is over $500/month. So insurers will charge at least that amount.

For the same high-cost reasons, most companies are excluding "parent dependents" from their employee policies.

You can also see a detailed post I made here:
http://boards.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t=276326

-Husband of ML