US insurance in the UK?

I've got fantastic health insurance through my parents in the US and I'll be able to stay on it for the next 2 and a half years.  The company also operates here in the UK.  I'm sure that the specifics would depend on my policy, but is it ever the case that you can use your US insurance in the UK?  I'm sure that if it ever does happen, it's incredibly rare and I'd have to pore over a bunch of paperwork and call some people to find out if my particular policy can be used.

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this, but I want to ask you guys so you can confirm whether or not I should even waste my time wondering about this.  At any rate, I'll most likely be going back to the States ever 6 months or so, so I was planning on doing all of my expensive routine medical things there while I can anyway.

I would simply call them and ask if it is an international policy. 

If you are in the UK on a visa lasting more than 6 months, all your healthcare should be covered by the NHS, so you unless you have a specific condition or medication that is not treated by/available on the NHS, then you shouldn't have to pay for your treatment in the UK anyway (the only medical cost is usually for prescriptions - which is £7.20 per item in England, but free in Wales and Scotland).

What sort of things were you thinking of using your US insurance for in the UK? If your routine medical things are covered by the NHS, then you can have them done in the UK and won't need to pay much (if anything) for them anyway.

We have choice of 3 different retirement health policies and I asked Benefits if any of them would cover overseas. She said only if you were a visitor. You'd have to pay whatever the local fee was and then the insurer would reimburse you. I think that was the Blue Cross Medex one. They also warn: "Non-Massachusetts residents should contact insurance companies to check for geographical restrictions."

You would think retirement plans, especially for a large university, would have some accommodation for retirees moving abroad.

What sort of things were you thinking of using your US insurance for in the UK? If your routine medical things are covered by the NHS, then you can have them done in the UK and won't need to pay much (if anything) for them anyway.

I do understand that.  It's just things like eyeglasses, dental work and orthotics that I'd rather do in the US.  I know that pretty much all of those things would be pretty cheap here, but I feel like dental care at least will be of better quality in the US and, even if it's not, it will probably be less of a hassle since I really like my dentist there and have had a couple cosmetic issues.  Also (and most of all), my parents will pay for my medical care in the US.  Free is better than not much.

So, what I'd really like to do in the US is the non-essential stuff.  I will, of course, use the NHS to have a regular GP and won't wait to go to the doctor until I'm in the US, but the things that are just kind of luxurious (and that the NHS wouldn't fully cover anyway), I'd rather just do with the doctors I know.  Of course, if my insurance covers anything over here (which I'm pretty sure it doesn't--just waiting for an email back from them), I would be quite happy to take care of everything here and be able to just relax and visit friends and family in the States without always having to jet off to a doctor's appointment.

I do understand that.  It's just things like eyeglasses, dental work and orthotics that I'd rather do in the US.  I know that pretty much all of those things would be pretty cheap here, but I feel like dental care at least will be of better quality in the US and, even if it's not, it will probably be less of a hassle since I really like my dentist there and have had a couple cosmetic issues.  Also (and most of all), my parents will pay for my medical care in the US.  Free is better than not much.

Fair enough - I did the same when I lived in the US... I used the NHS for dental and doctor's appointments when I came home to visit the UK (although my main reason for doing that was because it was much cheaper and easier to do in the UK and I didn't have to worry about navigating the US healthcare/insurance system).

side note...I dont know how much has changed but you want to have continuing coverage with a US health insurance company as a void may make it harder to get back on a plan later and cost more.  not sure if this still holds true but it used too.

If you are only in the UK for 6 months, I would think it is worth hanging on to it.

As someone else has said, it very much depends on the specifics of your exact plan.  Call them to confirm, reconfirm, get it in writing so they can't just drop you, etc. 

We do still have and use our US insurance here in the UK.

I have great insurance in the US and have decided to hang onto it even though I'm covered by NHS. I'm covered here but it's considered "out-of-network" so they cover a lower percentage of the cost. I have to pay out of pocket and the insurance company reimburses me. Your insurance may be the same.

I have great insurance in the US and have decided to hang onto it even though I'm covered by NHS. I'm covered here but it's considered "out-of-network" so they cover a lower percentage of the cost. I have to pay out of pocket and the insurance company reimburses me. Your insurance may be the same.

Also, if it is an int'l plan, they may well have a network of overseas providers.  The docs listed are much more likely (no guarantee!) to function the same way a US provider would -- where their office submits the claim for you and you pay the balance.  I've had excellent luck with this.  My husband has not -- so we do what White Wabbit says and pay out of pocket and then get reimbursed. 

Whilst in the UK in 2007, I used my parent's health insurance to visit a dentist.  I had to pay for the services upon receiving them in the UK, and made sure I got a receipt.  Afterwards, my mom mailed me a form that I had to fill out in order to be refunded.  I think I remember it taking a while to be refunded, but it was nice to have as an option.

Best bet? Call the company. Despite having a UK Branch, they may make you do everything through your US policy.