Parent's Health Insurance

kittenKat said:
I agree with that. :) What I was saying is there is no point for the company to pay for the parents. I'm sure company may ASK for that from insurance (and some insurances I bet wouldn't mind), but it's just plain unprofitable to do so. Too many disadvantages.
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If you READ my initial post, all I was asking was:

A) if your employer covered for parent's health insurance and not pros and cons of offering it.
 
Vishnu Mahadev said:
Afterall: if western world accepts making love to hundreds of unknown people in their lifetime and accepts domestic partners for coverage, essentially those people who have no legal committment to each other, then parents who have given 30/40% of their entire life raising responsible citizens should also get same or better rights, the rates may and should vary depending on individual cases but why not employers start thinking in this direction ? do we need silent demonstrations in Silicon Valley?
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I agree..covering domestic partners is silly and if companies go to that extent of providing generous coverage then I don't see why they can't cover parents and this will come at an additional cost but employees already bear most of the costs now.
 
second stage said:
I agree..covering domestic partners is silly and if companies go to that extent of providing generous coverage then I don't see why they can't cover parents and this will come at an additional cost but employees already bear most of the costs now.
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Most spouses and domestic partners are close in age to the employees. All parents are older, usually at least 20 years older, than the employees. Health care expenses go up enormously with age. Yes, they do insure old employees as well as young, but most have a mix of old and young employees; by contrast, almost every employee's parents is old enough to be classified as a senior citizen. It simply is not profitable for a company to take on the task of insuring such an expensive group of people.
 
Jackolantern said:
It simply is not profitable for a company to take on the task of insuring such an expensive group of people.
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Exactly. Children are relatively cheap to insure, the elderly are not.

I expect paying the Medicare premiums is the best way to go. And that's probably still not the true cost of insurance for elderly parents. That's why some of us don't sponsor our parents.
 
second stage said:
employees already bear most of the costs now.
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First of all it depends on company. In my old company I paid just $30/month for the EXCELLENT insurance, which also included drug prescription. So I assume company paid LOTS for me. If the company allows to include parents, then it also have to allow include siblings, children after 21 yo and such. I think there MUST BE a cheaper alternative for EVERYONE to afford (including people with preconditions who are simply left behind at the moment), BUT it should be on federal level, not the private companies level.
 
Parents are not domestic partners, ie: spouses, etc. Of course spouses and kids are covered. The fact is parents are not included like it or not. Sure you "could" try and negotiate it somehow, probably unsuccessfully, because it would raise your companies mod factor and pay a TON more per month, also when a mod factor is raised, EVERYONE pays for it, not just you, which is why it's unlikely a company would approve. It's also not true that employees bare most all the expense. The companies pay MUCH more than the employees do. My husband was promoted recently and now deals with the insurance as part of his job. You'd be surprised how much the companies pay more than the employees for the insurance.
 
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ALRIGHT. Private companies are unable to cover parents for MOD factor, understood.

What about government channel: Why has government made GC available to USC's parents without any visa number restrictions, I believe to retain those valuable USCs in the country and not cause reverse brain drain. ( Taiwan is what it is today due to reverse brain drain: 250 Taiwanee engineers went back and laid the foundation for FAB business to manufacture highest # of chips in the world today. Most of the research happening in the USA will go out if naturalized USCs go out) so if govt. wants to retain USC here and therefore give GC to their parents knowing the bonds they share, then why not have AARP catering to such GC holders.

I will be surprised if I see any answer/rebuttal/suport for this cause here. In USA only those who have strong lobby at Washington DC to further their agenda will succeed.
Worse enough, Insurance companies have strongest lobbies , it is the biggest casino in the world where house keeps on winning by way of statistical probability.
Insurance for parents is like bringing the house down.
Why would senators waste their time either, their parents are not in this boat and there is no strong lobby, vote bank, $$ for next election for this cause.
So morale of the story, those who get huge $$ by way of stock options, selling their company or employing their parents will have covered this aspect, rest will have to pray that parents fall sick only when they are visiting their country of origin and peacefully pass away there, Tragic huh but truthful assessment of the situation.
 
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Government in the US doesn't pay you for nothing. Social Security benefits, Medicare all come from your payroll taxes. Unfortunately elderly immigrants who have not paid into the payroll tax system have no recourse to seek government benefits. If you sponsor your parents for a green card, you undertake financial responsibility for all their living expenses. That is the price you pay to keep your bonds strong with your parents. It is foolish to expect the average American taxpayer to foot the bill.
US is not a socialist country unlike many European countries where everyone is guaranteed certain benefits whether or not one pays into the system.
 
nkm-oct23: nobody is expecting free lunch in USA. We are just brainstorming the possibilities. do you have parents in this same boat, how do you take care of this problem. If you are not in the same boat then you may not be able to feel the heat of the situation. Parent can fall and get a fracture and next week get a 100K bill. Is it easy for you? so we are trying to come up with possibilities. The point you said is ALREADY covered that parents have not put in contribution in medicare.
Here is the best fitting article that is published TODAY.

Buying your own health insurance
47 million Americans go without health insurance. Here is your guide to buying insurance on the private market.
By Gerri Willis, CNN personal finance editor
June 19, 2009: 1:39 PM ET




NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- To be clear, we're talking about people here who don't qualify for Medicaid or COBRA. If this is you, you may need to buy insurance in the private marketplace.

There are obvious downsides here. Cost is one. People who don't have health insurance pay about $2, 260 in out of pocket costs per year -- that's twice as much as someone who is covered under an employer's plan according to Consumer Reports. And in many states, you can't even get coverage on the private market if you have a pre-existing condition, like diabetes.

But ... the reality is that going without health insurance is dangerous. High medical bills is a main reason why people declare bankruptcy. But you don't have to get an all-comprehensive policy. You can opt for short-term health care or catastrophic insurance coverage that will kick in when there's an emergency.

How to shop for individual insurance plans
There are basically three ways to go.

First, check out insurance comparison Web sites like eHealthinsurance.com. Use it to get a range of individual health insurance policies and to compare prices and benefit levels.

Next, go to your state insurance department's Web site. Here you may find companies selling individual coverage in your state. And the insurance department may also provide complaint records on individual insurance companies.

Finally, consider using a health care broker who knows your local market. Brokers can help you shop for price. They'll also know what company is more liable to accept you based on your health conditions. The best part is that you won't pay a dime out of pocket says Amir Mostafie at eHealthinsurance.com. They get a commission paid by the insurance company that you sign up with.

To find an agent in your area, go to the National Association of Health Underwriters at Nahu.org.

Know your eligibility
You don't automatically qualify for Medicaid just because you have a low income. It also depends on your family status -- if you have kids etc.

To find out what eligibility requirements of health care programs like S-Chip or programs for the elderly, go to coverageforall.org.
 
Medicare in Federal
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Overview: Seniors and qualified disabled can get coverage through Medicare once they are found eligible. The Medicare program offers basic coverage as well as prescription, dental, and vision for those who qualify.
Eligibility: If you are age 65 and older and have paid into the Medicare program you could qualify for Medicare. Even if you have not paid into it you may be able to purchase Medicare. If you are disabled or under the age of 65 with certain disabilities, and people of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant) you could also qualify for Medicare.

Coverage: Medicare offers a few options for coverage. Medicare Part A covers your inpatient care in hospitals, critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care). Medicare Part B covers medical services like doctors' services, outpatient care, and other medical services that Part A doesn't cover. There is Medicare Advantage (or Part C) offers additional benefits such as vision and dental. Last but not least there is also Medicare Part D that helps lower the costs for your prescription.

Cost: There are different premiums depending on whether you have Part A ,Part B, Medicare Advantage, or Part D. The cost also depends on the amount of time you worked and paid into Medicare. Medicare Part A ranges between $0 to $423 depending on how long you worked and paid into Medicare. Medicare Part B and Part D are optional so you do not need to pay for those if you don't need the services; however, Part B ranges between $96.40 to $238.40 and Part D ranges from $0 to a share of the cost depending on your income. Medicare Advantage costs depend on the HMO or PPO that you select for coverage.

Information: You can contact Medicare at 800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov to enroll in Medicare or to ask questions about whether you are eligible.

Sign Up Checklist: No additional documents required. Just fill out the online application.

To Apply: Visit the Social Security Benefit Application website here to apply.

Related Programs: If you cannot afford Medicare you may be able to have the costs subsidized through other means such as Medicaid. If you are younger than 65 and healthy you could qualify for an individual plan.
Copyright © 2008 Foundation for Health Coverage Education | For more information, contact us at FHCEINFO@coverageforall.org
 
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Vishnu Mahadev said:
nkm-oct23: nobody is expecting free lunch in USA. We are just brainstorming the possibilities. do you have parents in this same boat, how do you take care of this problem. If you are not in the same boat then you may not be able to feel the heat of the situation. Parent can fall and get a fracture and next week get a 100K bill. Is it easy for you? so we are trying to come up with possibilities. The point you said is ALREADY covered that parents have not put in contribution in medicare.
Here is the best fitting article that is published TODAY.
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Yes, I have a parent I plan to bring to the US. However I expect to pay for any medical problem that may arise. that is the risk I take when I bring them here. If it really costs really $100K for a fracture (which I am sure it doesn't) I will evaluate my options. Looking at the government for handouts is not what I plan to do, even only for sake of brainstorming.
Then there is always the possibility of going back to one's home country.
 
nkm-oct23 said:
Yes, I have a parent I plan to bring to the US. However I expect to pay for any medical problem that may arise. that is the risk I take when I bring them here. If it really costs really $100K for a fracture (which I am sure it doesn't) I will evaluate my options. Looking at the government for handouts is not what I plan to do, even only for sake of brainstorming.
Then there is always the possibility of going back to one's home country.
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nkm-oct23, its good you want to pay for your parents healthcare. good luck with that.

No one is looking at the Govt for handout just so you know!

My initial Q was if any employer was willing cover their employee's parents..Its a fair question! and employees would have to shell out more for sure but most of the comments on this forum have been inflammatory or just unhelpful.
 
There are many who oppose the chain migration of parents due to the medical care costs that are imposed on the country for individuals who have never made any contribution to the US. No worker is so important that he cannot be done without; if parents are so important, he can return to his country of birth and live with his parents.

By the way, many native born US citizens are without insurance. Why should they continue to forego heath care so that someone who chooses to come to the US can have it. Many like my family members who have no way to get health insurance have more than 10 generations of US born ancestors on one side of the family, so do not give me the line that these new GC parents "deserve" it because of the contributions of their children who have likely been in the US less than 15 years
 
nkm-oct23, Concerned4us: You are building your own FAKE perceptions and answering them in your own style.
I did not read anybody asking for government handout here, we are NOT doing brainstorming to get government handout but to get reasonably priced medical coverage, that is why I could post so many helpful resources providing the information on this topic. What is your contribution so far in terms of objective information, keep aside hypothesis on effects of lobbying et all, not everybody can handle the matter on that level.

This topic is far too greater to take down to individual mud-slinging for fun sake on a summer afternoon. This topic is so important that President Obama is trying to ovehaul medical care with current priority # 1 , that does not mean he is planning to give people handouts but to correct the system.
Forget fracture, a small matter amounting to finally nothing can take one down for 50K in one day. I had two of ribs rubbing each other for some time due to wrong posture while lifting my kid, usual scenario, it created a vagel reaction, no fracture, just pain, and I was in the hospital for 24 hours, the bill was 25K, just like that. Normal pregnancies, not C section, cost 20-25K in CA. Fracture, surgery, MRI scans, checkup can cost more than 100K over a week. But you can choose to do whatever you like.

Here are some more resources on HOW TO BUY REASONABLE MEDICAL SERVICE FOR SENIORS:

http://coverageforall.org/pdf/matrix/CA_Matrix.pdf
 
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Concerned4us said:
There are many who oppose the chain migration of parents due to the medical care costs that are imposed on the country for individuals who have never made any contribution to the US. No worker is so important that he cannot be done without; if parents are so important, he can return to his country of birth and live with his parents.

By the way, many native born US citizens are without insurance. Why should they continue to forego heath care so that someone who chooses to come to the US can have it. Many like my family members who have no way to get health insurance have more than 10 generations of US born ancestors on one side of the family, so do not give me the line that these new GC parents "deserve" it because of the contributions of their children who have likely been in the US less than 15 years
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Concerned4US: I saw on C-SPAN that US government has wasted billions of dollars on SCAM projects in the current war. Please publish what you and all those 10 generations you are talking about did anything about that. In fcat please publish the list of your accomplishments over the 10 generations to the building of this nation. there may be something substancial and we need to learn it before we take your comments seriously. Everybody except for American Indian is immigrant here and people contribute in their own way and they have right ot find out what is LEGALLY possible. I am equally concerned that non-contributing parents should not eat away USA resources but trying to find out reasonably priced medical coverage is not against the patriotism.
 
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Special Resources in California
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Overview: Depending on who you are and where you live, there are numerous health and financial benefits available through local community organizations for little or no cost. Whether or not you have a special health condition, are low-income or from a minority group, you will find valuable resources if you take a little time to research.

Some of the groups who may benefit from special programs are American Indians, farmers, homeless, minority groups, gays and lesbians, refugees, seniors, students, veterans, crime victims, widows and widowers and many more by race, disease, occupation or trade etc.

Where to look: In every city and county the Social Services or Health and Human Services Departments provide basic contact information about local health plans, clinics, financial aid and more. Start with your local phone book to find these agencies. The Internet will provide the most detailed information.

Resources for finding benefits, financial aid and consumer rights:
American Self-Help Clearinghouse: www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp/
Bureau of Primary Health Care: www.bphc.hrsa.gov
California Department of Insurance: 800-927-HELP www.insurance.ca.gov
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: www.cfda.gov
Department of Managed Health Care: 916-324-8176 www.dmhc.ca.gov
Department of Veteran Affairs: 800-827-1000 www.va.gov
Government Benefits Search: 800-FED-INFO www.govbenefits.gov
Health and Human Services: 877-696-6775 www.hhs.gov
Health Consumer Alliance: 310-204-4900 www.healthconsumer.org
Health Finder: www.Healthfinder.gov
Baby Cal: 800-BABY-999 (800-222-9999)
Partnership for Prescription Assistance: 800-4PPA-NOW (800-477-2669) www.pparx.org

Contact information for all health care options:
AIM (Access for Infants & Mothers): 800-433-2611 www.mrmib.ca.gov
California Kids: www.californiakids.org
CHAMP (Children's Health Access & Medi-Cal Program Network): (213) 538-0742 www.champ-net.org
CMSP (County Medical Services Plan): 916-522-8015 www.cmspcounties.org
eHealthInsurance (Instant Online Health Quotes): www.ehealthinsurance.com
Family PACT: 800-942-1054
Group health plan and extension (COBRA/CalCOBRA, HIPAA) information: www.dol.gov/ebsa
Healthy Families: 800-880-5305 or 888-747-1222 www.healthyfamilies.org
IMPACT: 800-409-8252 www.california-impact.org
Individual health plan information: 800-927-HELP www.insurance.ca.gov
Indian Health Services: www.ihs.gov
Kaiser Child Health Plan: 800-255-5053 www.champ-net.org
MediCal: 800-952-5253 or 916-636-1980 www.healthconsumer.org or www.dhs.ca.gov/mcs
MediCare Program: 800-MEDICARE www.medicare.gov
U.S. Uninsured Help Line: 800-234-1317
 
In the USA, the health care industry exists for the primary purpose of profit; actual health care is a side effect of it, not the primary goal. That's why doctors, insurance companies, and drug companies make more money in the US than anywhere else in the world, while producing significantly worse results (in terms of broad measures like infant mortality, life expectancy, etc.) than most other developed countries.
 
Jackolantern said:
In the USA, the health care industry exists for the primary purpose of profit; actual health care is a side effect of it, not the primary goal. That's why doctors, insurance companies, and drug companies make more money in the US than anywhere else in the world, while producing significantly worse results (in terms of broad measures like infant mortality, life expectancy, etc.) than most other developed countries.
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Jackolantern: You have hit the nail on head. There is HUGE amount of inefficiency and unreasonable margin built into the US medical system. Reality is People who can travel are going OUT OF USA to India and such countries to get their medical, dental work done. But in the meantime US Govt has to intervene and correct the deployment of medical care in this Great country. President Obama is doing the right thing by setting it as priority # 1 rather than going after non-existing WMD in Iraq. Every citizen should thrive to correct this horrible medical system in which people can loose /are loosing hard earned savings over trivial care.

-----------------------------------------
For others:
Repeating some info from my past post:

Even if you have not paid into it you may be able to purchase Medicare.Cost: There are different premiums depending on whether you have Part A ,Part B, Medicare Advantage, or Part D. The cost also depends on the amount of time you worked and paid into Medicare. Medicare Part A ranges between $0 to $423 depending on how long you worked and paid into Medicare. Medicare Part B and Part D are optional so you do not need to pay for those if you don't need the services; however, Part B ranges between $96.40 to $238.40 and Part D ranges from $0 to a share of the cost depending on your income. Medicare Advantage costs depend on the HMO or PPO that you select for coverage.
 
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Concerned4us said:
There are many who oppose the chain migration of parents due to the medical care costs that are imposed on the country for individuals who have never made any contribution to the US. No worker is so important that he cannot be done without; if parents are so important, he can return to his country of birth and live with his parents.

By the way, many native born US citizens are without insurance. Why should they continue to forego heath care so that someone who chooses to come to the US can have it. Many like my family members who have no way to get health insurance have more than 10 generations of US born ancestors on one side of the family, so do not give me the line that these new GC parents "deserve" it because of the contributions of their children who have likely been in the US less than 15 years
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Your response has no bearing whatsoever to my question and just doesn't make sense and frankly, I feel that, without reading to my posting you are making unnecessarily comments provoking others to post and re-post.

Moderator, can we close/lock this thread?
 
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