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My fiancee will be here in a few weeks and I'd like to get health insurance for her. Would someone please recommend a company/policy-- someone reputable?

Thank you

... in response to Someone please recommend a company for i..., posted by Scaught on Jul 5, 2003

n/t

... in response to Someone please recommend a company for i..., posted by Scaught on Jul 5, 2003

I can tell you if you don't have it, you can get burnt bad.  I don't know if you follow the latin board, but for the last two weeks I have been posting about my wife who developed a terrible infection that required her to be hospitalized for a week.  I had been COBRAing my health insurance but May 1st the company I had been COBRAing through dropped health insurance for all employees including COBRAed ex-employees.  I was left without health insurance because I can't get private health insurance because I have pre-existing conditions and I couldn't find any for my wife alone because she has been in the US less than 6 months.  I am now facing a $30,000 to $35,000 medical bill (for those of you who have been following the story and to whom I said $50,000, that was just an estimate because I didn't know how much the doctors were charging, but now that the bills are coming in it appears the amount is lower).

... in response to Someone please recommend a company for i..., posted by Scaught on Jul 5, 2003

There are a lot of decent plans on the internet for immigrants. You don't need a SS# and the monthly premiums vary according to your deductibles and policy limits. Being an HR Director I feel it's vital that you have your fiancée covered by some type of insurance to cover emergencies. Of course once you get married then she falls under your employer group plan. I'm using Long Term Consumer Care. Their # is 800-544-9505.  The web site is www.consumerbenefits.net  Once I got into the web site I ended up at this site http://www.specialtyrisk.com/inboundimmigrant/  Their # 800-335-0611 this is the product I subscribed to. I pay $100 per month for this coverage.

Some guys are willing to take the risk of nothing happening during the 90 day period and most of the time nothing does happen, but we've all read recently here on the board about the devastating affects when something does go wrong and our fiancée’s are not covered. I sleep much better knowing she's covered.  Good luck to you.

Mark

... in response to Re: Someone please recommend a company f..., posted by tbirdjoy on Jul 6, 2003

This coverage is not very good Mark.  I just looked at the website for inboundimmigrant and read the rate schedule.  My wife was incurring medical expenses at the rate of about $5000 a day average and inboundimmigrant's policy would not have covered her for even half the bill.  I think policies like these are very deceptive because they lull you into thinking you are protected when you are not.

... in response to Re: Re: Someone please recommend a compa..., posted by lswote on Jul 7, 2003

I agree it's not perfect but it's far better than having nothing. I have been following your situation and if I had a similar experience at least my bill would be half of what it could be.  Also many times hospitals and doctors will accept the plan limits and not bother trying to collect the balance.  Either way on August 1, my fiance/wife will be under my employer group plan and I won't have to worry about it. I do wish you and your wife the very best in your current situation. I'm glad to hear that she's doing much better now both physically and emotionally.

Mark

... in response to Someone please recommend a company for i..., posted by Scaught on Jul 5, 2003

I always understood that health insurance companies wouldnt assume the risk of recent immigrants. Before i was layed off my BCBS group plan had to cover my new wife as a part of the contract. Up until a couple of years ago independent or self employed folks looking for medical insurance for foriegn brides were turned away flatly or given a premiums that was unrealistically high. Maybe Insurance companies have re-evaluated the risk and are now writing health polices, if this is the case I know people who would be very interested in these companies.

I would also like to note being layed off and with the wife pregnant medicaire would not cover her or the pregnancy because of the 5 year means tested benefits rule in the affidavit of support. As we slipped through that crack we were caught by a net administered by the county that will cover her pregnancy, I think this program is partly funded by the Federal govt or medicaire.

... in response to Re: Someone please recommend a company f..., posted by bryan on Jul 6, 2003

that you mention was true in Texas six months ago.

... in response to Someone please recommend a company for i..., posted by Scaught on Jul 5, 2003

The idea is a good one for medical coverage for your fiancee.  When my wife was coming over, I checked the web with a search as well as checking my own health insurance carrier.  Essentially they both ended up with the same company name -- at least here in Oregon.  I think the price was about $200 per month -- but it depends on age, number of months of coverage, where you are located, etc.  What you are looking for I presume is catastrophic coverage rather than the small stuff.  The plans offered had deductables so the small stuff wasn't covered.  I ended up not getting coverage.  Of course, within about 10 days, we were at the doctor's for an ear problem.  Cost $80. But that was all the medical problems we had for the 90 day period before we got married and she was covered by my plan.  Call it luck or the fact that most of the women are in pretty good shape.

... in response to Someone please recommend a company for i..., posted by Scaught on Jul 5, 2003

I use NASE, National Assoc. for the Self-Employed, underwriter is Mega Life. My coverage is much better than Blue Cross/Blue Shield, cheaper and when traveling I am garanteed a English speaking staff member or to be flown to a English speaking country if possible. Haven't ever had the need, but just in case. BCBS will never get another dime from me.

my 3 or 2cts.

  Lynn

... in response to Re: Someone please recommend a company f..., posted by Lynn on Jul 5, 2003

n/t

... in response to Re: How much a month 4 you ?, posted by wsbill on Jul 6, 2003

264 fiat notes, that includes the RX plan. BCBS was around 75-80 more w/less coverage.

... in response to Re: Re: How much a month 4 you ?, posted by Lynn on Jul 6, 2003

with BCBS TN.  40yo, non-smoker.

... in response to Re: Hmm, I was paying like $150 a month , posted by wsbill on Jul 6, 2003

Make a claim and see what happens. Were you covered no matter where you were? Did it have RX plan? How good was the coverage? Anyone can sell you a "feel-good" policy.

... in response to Re: Re: Hmm, I was paying like $150 a mo..., posted by Lynn on Jul 6, 2003

Don't have any right now.  knock on wood nothing catastopic happens, I guess I need to sign on to the VA website and get atleast registered so when I do start falling apart I have somewhere to go.

You'd be surprised how many don't have any insurance, with all these massive layoffs those dopey cobra plans aren't worth it.

When I have ear problems, I break out the hydrogen peroxide and pour some in and listen to the hiss and pop sound for a few minutes and follow up with a Q-tip.  Clean as a whistle.