health insurance for foreign spouse?

[beelishy]

Hi all

My husband and I are talking about repatting to the USA from the UK. I am American and he is a UK citizen. I am wondering if anyone can tell me or point me in the right direction....My husband has a pre-existing condition - Polymyositis (and auto-immune condition such as RA and lupus, etc) and he is on daily medication and has to have his blood monitored every 4--6 weeks. I am wondering how or if we could even get him any coverage. Is there a private plan that is realistically affordable? We've only seen quotes that were downright laughable! Or....If he gets a job...could he get insurance through his emplyer or if I were to get a job first...could I add him and get him coverage? Are there time periods in which foreigners are not eligible for coverage? Can/do they exclude his condition? Anyone know where or how I could go about finding out some more information on this? Its is pretty much the ONLY issue stopping us from repatting and it is frustrating as I cant seem to get any straight answers. Any help would be greatly appreciated, please!

[DaiSpy]

If you wait until 2014 the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a., "Obamacare") will mean that an insurer can no longer deny coverage for a pre-existing condition. That said, there is no guarantee that the premiums they charge will get any better for such things.

The one thing you definitely want to avoid is a period without insurance or some kind, because that is usually the loophole that insurers like to use to avoid paying for almost anything, but especially pre-existing conditions (based on horror stories of denied coverage).

[JoannaV]

What David said. Many insurance options provided by employers already cover pre-existing conditions, and the NHS will count as previous coverage.

[danny]

I think whatever the time period is going they should compensate for all of the health care expenses, then whether these are pre-existing or just happened in the present. As, if lots of people is paying for a insurance out of his pocket, whether they are having some issues is not.

[Ives]

The husband of a friend of mine in NY State has a pre-existing condition-Crohn's Disease, also an autoimmune disease (and my husband has it too) and he has this insurance called a Bridge Plan, I think it's a 'bridge' between the current lack of medical care and the new Obamacare coming out in Jan 2014. She said it is about $400/mo and is specifically for people who have had no cover for at least 6 months and have a preexisting condition. I don't know what it's like in other states, or what the new obamacare will be like but am trying to find out myself, particularly about Florida.

[JoannaV]

Prices can vary a lot between states.
In your case the NHS would count as prior cover so you shouldn't have to worry about that aspect of it at least.