That pesky health care in the US.....

Expats returning to the US often have questions about health cover when they return.

And of course most expats have heard about the Affordable Care Act and wonder how it will affect them. 

Part of the answer to this question is based upon the US state in which you will live.  Many states have elected not to participate in Medicaid expansion.  And the health care exchanges (wherein a person can buy coverage if they are not offered any through employment) are different from state to state.  So the coverage offered through the exchanges are more affordable in some states than others.

Anywho - I found this link on healthcare.gov which should help some of you figure it all out.  You can find costs of health coverage in your state through this link without actually filling out an application for coverage. 

https://www.healthcare.gov/how-much-will-marketplace-insurance-cost/

I'm so glad there will be options for hubby and I this time around. We struggled when we went to the US last time. We arrived in June and had no health insurance until November when hubby's health insurance through his employer kicked in. And of course we both ended up needing a doctor during that time.
I know a lot of people are angry about the Affordable Care Act, but hubby and I are those people that would fall between the cracks, middle aged, both with health issues, and too much money to qualify for help, but not enough money to buy it ourselves without the ACA.

Thanks for this link.

Does anyone have any information about how the Affordable Care Act will work in the future, i.e. after March 31 deadline? One of the obstacles to my partner and I moving to the U.S. has always been health care; if I didn't get something through employment that also covered her, we figured it would be impossible. (She's British, retired.) What if we wanted to repatriate in the future? Would there still be an option for us to apply for health insurance then?

I am just curious how that works for someone moving back to the country.

Thanks for this link.

Does anyone have any information about how the Affordable Care Act will work in the future, i.e. after March 31 deadline? One of the obstacles to my partner and I moving to the U.S. has always been health care; if I didn't get something through employment that also covered her, we figured it would be impossible. (She's British, retired.) What if we wanted to repatriate in the future? Would there still be an option for us to apply for health insurance then?

I am just curious how that works for someone moving back to the country.

If you were to move back to the U.S. outside of open enrollment, you'd have a "qualifying life event" that would allow you to sign up for insurance outside of the usual period.

Got it. Thanks, Kelly85!

If you were to move back to the U.S. outside of open enrollment, you'd have a "qualifying life event" that would allow you to sign up for insurance outside of the usual period.

Thanks for posting that link! This is important info OH and I needed since we are likely planning our move back.

Are you moving back soon, Bluegrass Lass?

It depends on a few things Geeta. I'm a contractor for an American company (whom I worked for before moving to the UK) and I need to approach my manager and see if I can get my position transferred back to the US. If she's able to work that out for me, then we are possibly thinking about late May/early June to move back. But it's not definite yet. I hope we can get it worked out.

This bouncing back and forth must be getting annoying Bluegrass Lass! Wouldn't it be worth your while to stick here until you get citizenship?

Well DrSuper, it is pretty damn pricey to bounce back and forth, and yeah I am annoyed at yet another move. But, not only am I not entirely happy here, my Brit OH wants to leave too. There's a variety of reasons, but one of the main ones is that we just found out I'm pregnant. And we have a more solid support structure back in my home city.

Congratulations! I'm sorry your move hasn't worked out again.

I tried the link in the OP and it says access denied.  Does anyone else have that problem?

I tried the link in the OP and it says access denied.  Does anyone else have that problem?

It works for me, and I'm in the UK.