Gap health insurance when moving back to the States

Basic question, what can we do for temporary "gap" health insurance when moving back?

We will need to buy health insurance for six weeks when we move back to the States next month to cover us until the workplace health insurance kicks in. I wasn't too worried as I had browsed ehealthinsurance.com before and thought it sounded good, and as it was recommended by other expats on a thread (can't recall where), I thought it sounded good. Now I wonder if any of them actually used it themselves, or just did the same as I and looked it over without going in depth.

When I looked at the fine print, it seems you have to reside in the US to get the plan -- we want to have it start the day we arrive, so we won't be in the US when we sign up nor will we have a permanent address (though we could use the address of a friend in the area). The second problem is that some of the plans apparently want you to live in the States 3 months before they will start. It's unclear which plans these are. I will call to try and sort it out, but it's not looking good so far. Does anyone have any other options?

I'm also concerned about the "no pre-existing conditions" clause. I understand it won't treat those, but what about "off-shoots" of a sort? Say you are on cholesterol meds, but no record of heart trouble. Then you have a heart attack while on a plan that doesn't cover pre-existings --- will the heart attack count as related to a pre-existing because you were on cholesterol meds?

Also, we have travel insurance, but I imagine once we move to the States that is null. Can you keep it going by using the UK address of a friend?

Just an fyi, we went with Assurant temporary coverage. About $500 for two people for 1.5 months, including extra accident coverage and dental discount on top of the regular insurance. $2,500 deductible total for both of us, then no co-pay. Doesn't cover doctor visits. Don't know how good the insurance is until we have to use it -- here's hoping we don't have to find out!

Thanks for posting this, groovy_yank. We've been looking at this same thing - and finding it a nightmare!

Thanks for posting this, groovy_yank. We've been looking at this same thing - and finding it a nightmare!

I know, I'll be worried about this until his work insurance kicks in, as the temp stuff doesn't cover pre-existing.

BTW, are you moving back to the US soon? Have you looked  over the customs forms yet and do you know what you'll put? I'm talking about the form Declaration for free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles, specifically Part IV numbers 8 and 9.

I'm late to this thread but thought to post for others.
If you had no insurance for the past six months and have a pre-existing condition check out:

https://www.pcip.gov/ [nofollow]

The plans as far as premiums and deductibles vary by state.

Groovy_Yank his work insurance may not cover pre-existing for a year unless you can show you had prior coverage with a certificate of creditable coverage.