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Yep - there are programmes for health care for kids.

Just try to find a doctor who actually accepts it, though...

Sorry - a bit bitter about the health care situation in the US.

Peedal  I do understand.....  it does need some work.....especially where kids are concerned....

Bitterness aside though... Greeneyes you might want to check into some of the charities that support diabetes.  Sometimes there are organizations that help to defray the costs of certain medications and treatments for diseases. 

When one of my staff got dropped by her dad's insurance company after her liver transplant (a$$holes) they were saddled with huge bills and meds that cost thousands to keep her alive every month.  She was able to find a transplant support group that helped to pay for the drugs.  In fact they covered 100% of the cost.

There might be something like that to help diabetics.

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Someone mentioned to me that if we kept a residence here (like rent out our house to the kids) that we could come back and get meds via NHS.....I mean, lots of Brits live in Spain.....how do they cover their medical expenses?? (as you can see, exploring EVERY option..lol)

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Oh, would plan on coming back and stay for a month or two. Would take that to undo the damage the boys would do if they lived here unsupervised! lol.......no, but seriously, at this point, every option will be looked at.

Some degree of uncertainty is all part of the adventure of a new move-- I just want it kept to a minimum

Greeneyes.. you mentioned retirement... I think it all depends on how your visa is worded.  I'd honestly check on this as I would assume you would qualify for NHS if you are retired and living a certain amount of time in each country.  There has to be something to allow for mad travelling retirees!

and yes Spain has a system similar to the UK's NHS. 

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You have a valid point, Squirrel. The fact that my husband has a chronic, stable disease does not mean that it couldn't turn at any moment, and know that the UK will not be an option then (it would be mainly for the prescriptions). That's why I'm exploring every option. It is my dear British hubby's idea to move to the states, and he's the one with the pre-existing illness........so why are my panties all in a knot? LOL (I'm the worrier, I guess)

Neither of us are of retirement age yet, but for us, now seems like the time to make the move. We'll have to work at least part-time to pay day to day stuff......but at the end of the day, this is the only thing that nags at me......

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Pay 40 years into SS??? Geez, even I won't qualify unless I go back to work there, and I'm 47! LOL

I'll get back to you when I find out all the sorted details. I am well aware that even in the case of them having to cover you, we would pay through the nose for the pre-existing illness (much like car drivers with bad records). I expect that- just hoping they don't want my firstborn as collateral!

I honestly do not believe that a travel insurance policy would pay out for a US permanent resident. They are meant for holidays only. You could try to pull the wool over their eyes, but it would probably be construed as fraud. It only covers emergency treatment anyway. Chances are if longer treatment was needed they'd expect to repatriate the patient (ie get you back to the UK). I know they do ask to see your itinerary and tickets to prove it was just a holiday (mine did anyway when I claimed for theft recently). I'm sure they are all too aware that some people emigrating to the US will try to cover themselves with cheap travel insurance policies.

1. Return tickets are cheaper than one-ways anyway so any money-wise person would not have a problem showing return tickets if they had to claim on their policy.

2. I am not resident in the US. As long as I am resident in the UK when my policy begins I am covered. Travel insurance is not JUST for "holidays" - it’s for TRAVEL. That’s why they call it TRAVEL INSURANCE.

3. Emergency cover is all one needs until one finds a proper healthcare plan in the US upon arriving. I think anyone who gets short term travel cover knows their policy won’t include their kid’s orthodontics work for the next 6 months.

Playing devil's advocate is one thing, but trying to tell a knowledgeable person that their PERSONAL plan (i.e. what works for them) is unwise is just a waste of everyone's time. I don’t know if you've read a lot of my posts on the repat board, but if you had you'd know that I don’t say anything unless I believe something 100% plausible and would personally recommend to someone else. I don’t just spout off for the hell of it - I do my homework.

S

You might also want to look into hubby's eligiblity for Medicare. I assume you need to pay 40 years SS in the US to qualify so that may be out--but would he qualify as your spouse?
If you find any of this out, do let us know, as I'm sure others will be interested just as much as I am.

Per my Social Security statement ...  You earn 1 credit for every $900 you earn a year.  You can earn upto 4 credits a year.  You need 40 credits to claim Medicare.  You also need to be 65 years old. 

When my husband would come over before we were married and in the weeks leading upto the marriage, he went without health insurance.  He has traveling sports coverage that would have covered a major accident (and they would have transported him back to the UK as soon as he was stable enough).  He showed up at the airport one visit with Montezuma's Revenge (don't eat uncooked veggies in Mexico City).  We went to the local clinic and paid for the visit.  We asked for genaric antibiotics since he'd be paying the whole price, they gave him samples for the whole course.  Very nice of them.

As soon as we were married, I had him put on my insurance.  They covered him immedietly even though he didn't have his green card yet.

On the flip side, on our last visit to the UK, I got a chest infection.  We shelled out ₤30 for the visit and another ₤3 for the antibiotics.  I wasn't bothered about this.  Had I gotten travel insurance, it wouldn't have covered something this minor.  They did give me paperwork to file with my insurance back in the states, but the hassle wasn't worth the $50 I'd eventually get back.

But even if you don't have insurance, you will never be denied emergency treatment.  The government give hospitals some money (not enough) each year to cover health care of the uninsured.  Just be sure to bring enough routine stuff, ie birth control pills and such, to last until your health coverage kicks in. 

Hi all.

Forgive me. I've been a lurker FOREVER.

Just wanted to ask Squirrel why you care anyway? I see you on Americanexpats, Britishexpats and here. Why ask a question if all you are prepared to do is put people down for their decisions?

In the case of Grneyes' husband, he's probably paid his fairshare of money to the NHS to be able to come home and get healthcare--I mean hell, he's probably supported Asylum seekers and their families for years through his contributions, why shouldn't he be able to come back and see his doc if he wants?

As far as travel insurance, I agree with Marsbar--it's travel insurance, not holiday insurance, if it gets you by, it gets you by.  Some us are ready to go home and cannot stand another minute in this country. Not being mean, but some of us feel like we have completed a prison sentence by living in the cramped quarters here (speaking for myself).

I forgot to add.

I cannot wait to get back home in the land of health insurance. I don't care if I have to pay extra to have it. I would rather know that I had it instead of praying that nothing happens to me here. If you want to talk about horror stories Squirrel, maybe we should start talking about some of the horror stories of the NHS.