Texas Gold health card for Immigrant Parents (buy, deductible)

[Aliana926]

Originally Posted by thienngo

I see. Thanks for the information.




I wonder.

For example, I work and paid the premium for my parents (who are in their 50s, so they should be able take a baby sitting license and pay for themselves their food).

Like, I will pay premium for them $100 a month. After a year, it will be $1,200.

If they have problem with their health (high lipid in blood for example), isn't it okay if they can get some help from the health insurance I paid before, like, some basic medicine for lipid in blood? (I'm not sure about the cost per once hospital/physician visit, how much it is usually? I never gone to the hospital before even when I was sick so i don't know.)

Of course I'm totally against those who abuse the Gold Card system, but in my case, isn't it fine?

My parents, one in their mid 50's, and the other one 60's. My mom is still working and she buys their health coverage through her company. The monthly premium is about $600 a month, NOT $100. My dad is a diabetic, and the out of pocket for his med is $400 a month. Healthcare is very expensive...so there's no way insuring 2 people in their 50's be around 1200 a year. To ensure my family (I'm in my 30's, my husband is in his 40's, with 2 preteens) of 4 is about $500 a month. And then, if you have to go to the hospital...you have to worry about your deductible and your out of pocket too. You should do research more on how much it's going to cost to get your parents insured...and it's going an eye opener on how much it actually cost.

[houstmom]

Originally Posted by thienngo

I see. Thanks for the information.




I wonder.

For example, I work and paid the premium for my parents (who are in their 50s, so they should be able take a baby sitting license and pay for themselves their food).

Like, I will pay premium for them $100 a month. After a year, it will be $1,200.

If they have problem with their health (high lipid in blood for example), isn't it okay if they can get some help from the health insurance I paid before, like, some basic medicine for lipid in blood? (I'm not sure about the cost per once hospital/physician visit, how much it is usually? I never gone to the hospital before even when I was sick so i don't know.)



Of course I'm totally against those who abuse the Gold Card system, but in my case, isn't it fine?

What is a baby sitting licence?

Please inform yourself about the US health care system (or lack of) and private health insurance. You are woefully uninformed. You can't use the money you paid in premiums in the past for yourself and apply it to your parents' medical costs. I don't see how your situation is any different than the OP. The OP probably paid for his own health insurance premiums too. That doesn't mean his parents get a free ride when they get to the US.

A big reason to pay for insurance is to manage risk. You may pay for car insurance and health insurance for years and never actually use it. The premiums you pay are not directly used to pay for your medical care when you need it.

As someone else mentioned, there is no way your parents' insurance premium is only going to be $100 per month. It will be much more. Also, it's almost certain you can't add your parents to your health insurance at work. I guess you will have to buy private insurance for them like a BCBS HMO policy.

[TexasTony]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

We have to distinguish beytween "how it is" and "how it should be".

If the immigrants were sponsored under the condition they not be a burden to the public and the sponsor is responsible for their support, then they should be not be covered under a government mandate that makes them a burden to the public under the guise of "insurance".

I see your point & the condition for burden to public is not life time. Immigrant is a permanent resident once they get their Green card and a citizen once they get their US passport. Green card holders needing medicaid have 5 yr waiting period usually. For medicare, eligibility criteria for green card holder requires them or spouse to have worked in US and paid medicare taxes for atleast 40 quarters.
The process is there, those who want to abuse it will always find loopholes to exploit the system

[ethanw]

TexasTony is correct. This is the route I took with my parents when they moved here 12 years ago. Without getting into too much details. I basically have my own registered company/business and they worked for me for 10 years as per laws and state requirements. And yes they did work for me, no funny business, they basically took care of my kids since they were born. I paid them more than minimum wages, I paid taxes, medicare, SSN, you name it, just like any other small business will do. They paid their taxes, and we all put money into the system. While doing this they had private insurance which was very very expensive. 10K deductible. Now after 11 years we were able to get health coverage again through legal channels. So yes if you want to do the right and legal think, you can do so. Does it cost a lot of moneys? Of course. But you can't put a price on your parents.

[Hopeful for Life]

Originally Posted by TexasTony

I see your point & the condition for burden to public is not life time. Immigrant is a permanent resident once they get their Green card and a citizen once they get their US passport. Green card holders needing medicaid have 5 yr waiting period usually. For medicare, eligibility criteria for green card holder requires them or spouse to have worked in US and paid medicare taxes for atleast 40 quarters.
The process is there, those who want to abuse it will always find loopholes to exploit the system

40 quarters of work is NOT ENOUGH!! That's only 10 years. 10 years of low income would qualify them for FREE Medicare A& B, Social Security (earned) and SSI check to bring them up to sustenance. It's a slap in the face to those who work their entire lives in this country.

[crone]

Originally Posted by Aliana926

My parents, one in their mid 50's, and the other one 60's. My mom is still working and she buys their health coverage through her company. The monthly premium is about $600 a month, NOT $100. My dad is a diabetic, and the out of pocket for his med is $400 a month. Healthcare is very expensive...so there's no way insuring 2 people in their 50's be around 1200 a year. To ensure my family (I'm in my 30's, my husband is in his 40's, with 2 preteens) of 4 is about $500 a month. And then, if you have to go to the hospital...you have to worry about your deductible and your out of pocket too. You should do research more on how much it's going to cost to get your parents insured...and it's going an eye opener on how much it actually cost.

DH and I have Medigap coverage provided by his former employer. The total is over 10000 a year. The people I know who are on Medicare who also provide their own medigap are paying at least 10000 a year for 2 people.

Ten years ago, we were paying less than $200 a month for my mom's medigap. It covered everything Medicare didn't, no deductible.

Some will be surprised if they think the 125. month for medicare is all that is required.

[thienngo]

Originally Posted by houstmom

What is a baby sitting licence?

Please inform yourself about the US health care system (or lack of) and private health insurance. You are woefully uninformed. You can't use the money you paid in premiums in the past for yourself and apply it to your parents' medical costs. I don't see how your situation is any different than the OP. The OP probably paid for his own health insurance premiums too. That doesn't mean his parents get a free ride when they get to the US.

A big reason to pay for insurance is to manage risk. You may pay for car insurance and health insurance for years and never actually use it. The premiums you pay are not directly used to pay for your medical care when you need it.

As someone else mentioned, there is no way your parents' insurance premium is only going to be $100 per month. It will be much more. Also, it's almost certain you can't add your parents to your health insurance at work. I guess you will have to buy private insurance for them like a BCBS HMO policy.

Originally Posted by Aliana926

My parents, one in their mid 50's, and the other one 60's. My mom is still working and she buys their health coverage through her company. The monthly premium is about $600 a month, NOT $100. My dad is a diabetic, and the out of pocket for his med is $400 a month. Healthcare is very expensive...so there's no way insuring 2 people in their 50's be around 1200 a year. To ensure my family (I'm in my 30's, my husband is in his 40's, with 2 preteens) of 4 is about $500 a month. And then, if you have to go to the hospital...you have to worry about your deductible and your out of pocket too. You should do research more on how much it's going to cost to get your parents insured...and it's going an eye opener on how much it actually cost.

I see your points. Be peace, as I never intended to abuse the system like this. As you pointed out that I am uninformed and I'm trying to get informed by asking questions, so you guys do not need to make some aggressive comments like that.

Also, $100 a month is just my example. I know insurance would be a lot (as I pay $400 each month myself via my company). I just want to know the amount I should expect for 2 elders so I could prepare ahead before I bring my parents over to the US.

According to you guys, my parents then cannot buy healthcare coverage. May I ask how much it does cost for a basic health check up by seeing a physician?

Thanks.

[misterno]

Originally Posted by shanv3

Welcome to Soviet Union.

Even for my parents on a temporary visiting visa, I got international medical insurance and paid extra water tax :S

can you elaborate on the extra water tax?

[houstmom]

Originally Posted by thienngo

I see your points. Be peace, as I never intended to abuse the system like this. As you pointed out that I am uninformed and I'm trying to get informed by asking questions, so you guys do not need to make some aggressive comments like that.

Also, $100 a month is just my example. I know insurance would be a lot (as I pay $400 each month myself via my company). I just want to know the amount I should expect for 2 elders so I could prepare ahead before I bring my parents over to the US.

According to you guys, my parents then cannot buy healthcare coverage. May I ask how much it does cost for a basic health check up by seeing a physician?

Thanks.

I'm sorry if I was irritable. The situation with the OP (original poster) was frustrating me.

I assume you can buy private insurance for your parents here in the US. I have to buy private insurance for my child. I go to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas website and buy private insurance there. Unless you have a qualifying event, you have to wait until open enrollment to sign-up which is usually late in the year.

[chris_ut]

If you out cash to see a doctor it is usually $60-$75 for a visit. Specialist $150-$200. Labs you can get for 30% of list price. It is a lot more affordable to pay out of pocket then carry insurance unless you have a major medical issue.