Health Insurance Costs for Visiting Foreign Family Members

Updated on June 02, 2012
M.P. asks from Minneapolis, MN
9 answers

I never thought about it until someone was telling me a story about how there aunt came for a month visit from India, and was hit by a car, while in the states. . It racked up bills beyond belief.

Now my in-laws from India, are coming over to stay for 5 months. We are looking into short term insurance, but the lowest so far is 1000 for 4 months... one month they will not be covered. They are both very healthy, but over 60. When we are there, we never get insurance as their medical care is good, and its CHEAP. So they can not afford it here, we are going to pay it for them, but wonder if anyone else had this issue, and did you find anything for cheaper? or longer?

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So What Happened?

Patty and Jo, we have and they are not. We are wanting full coverage the travel insurance they are able to afford is for minor illness. Father in Law worked for Government, but they will not grant any medical compensation if he leaves the country for more than a month. Its super technical.

Cheryl O - yeah excited and happy they are coming, not so sure about the 5 month duration however :( guess we will find out, the longest I have been around them was a month.

More Answers

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

It is usually cheapest to purchase the insurance in the country where they are from. It will be a traveler's health insurance policy that will most likely be reimbursement based - so they will get the bill if any and then ask for reimbursement from the insurance company. I strongly recommend seeking out insurance the includes the following:
medical evacuation: they will be returned to their home country in case of a serious. long term medical problem on a medical flight if necessary. If for example one of them has an accident and requires long term rehabilitation and is unable to return to home for rehab on a regular flight, this coverage will pay for the expenses of a medical transport by air.
Repatriation of remains: yes, it is morbid, but transporting a body home for burial internationally is pretty steep expense.
They should talk to a travel agent in their country for recommendations.

My mom had an insurance policy like this when she came to visit and I believe it was a couple of hundred $$ for 3 months.

Oh, and there is no such thing as affordable private full coverage health insurance in the US... if there was we would not have the problems we are having with our health care system.

Good luck.

4 moms found this helpful
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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

That's the wonderful thing about America, they don't need it.

A lot of foreigners come here just to get free medical. It's a very known fact amongst foreigners, they know they cannot be denied. I have a good friend that is the head nurse at a major hospital in Chicago & these foreigners are very upfront about why they come.

Hope the 5 month visit goes well.

3 moms found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

That's actually a pretty good price. For all 3 of us to get insurance, it's over $1,000 a month. (Hence, why I don't have any.)

You could talk with an insurance agent. They will find the best deals for you, and help you know what it does and does not cover. Also, make sure they have asked their provider in India. They might cover international travel. Or, they might be able to add a short term international policy to their existing.

3 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

M. - have they checked into travel insurance? I've NOT been to India. I don't know how they deal with things like this there.

If it's $1,000 for four months - that sounds reasonable. If it's $1,000 a month? YIKES!!! I think it's great you are offering to pay for it. That's a long visit....hope you guys have fun!!!

3 moms found this helpful
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D..

answers from Charlotte on

Did you read the story this week about the guy who bought travel insurance when he came to California from abroad, and was bitten by a rattlesnake? The overseas insurance company was hit with a bill of something around $140,000 because of the rattlesnake anti-venom.

I wonder if they'll ever sell insurance to travelers to come to the US again...

Added - I think that I would want insurance that would pay the provider directly, and not one that you have to wait to get back to India to be reimbursed. I am worried that if they get a $140,000 bill for treating a snake bite that, number one, your family couldn't pay that bill, and number two, that the insurance company would just walk away from reimbursing your family anyway.

Dawn

3 moms found this helpful
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P.K.

answers from New York on

That is a bargain. Before you purchase this insurance, have them check
with their insurance company back home to see if they are covered in the
states while traveling.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

Ask them to take an insurance from India. Recommend ICICI (Indian company). You get a 6 month coverage for approx 30000 INR ($600). You'd need to pay in $ out of pocket if/when you need here during the stay, but the amount can be claimed back in INR, after their travel.

If your ILs are under any long-term medications (like insulin, or etc), they can get a 6-month prescription from India, and can get their medication in advance. Airports and customs allow them, if they carry their doctor's prescriptions.

Further, take some extra care towards general health. Hopefully all goes well, and you wouldn't need any big medical care! :)

2 moms found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I would not have ever thought about something like this. I guess if it were me I would cross that bridge when it happened. Since they live in a different country and their income levels may not be as high they may qualify for some sort of coverage based on income.

I don't know, if they are wealthier then the insurance sounds like a good idea. I could pay medical bills for just seeing a doc much easier than paying a thousand dollars.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.W.

answers from Eugene on

insuremytrip.com

You can compare travel insurance policies from several different companies. I think there were policies for med insurance for longer stays.

1 mom found this helpful
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