Possible Move London UK to Atlanta (Gay: middle-class, apartments, neighborhood)

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

Really? I think the closest "European" American city is Boston.

Easily!

[Forrest Of Deen]

Originally Posted by london-tawn

Yes this is a concern.
We are still looking at insurance options.
From what i can gather - and we have not talked to a broker / group scheme yet - that we should be able to get maternity covered under a corporate group policy but the insurance has to be in place by week 20 of the pregnancy. Equally not what coverage we would get - all prenatal etc.

Mate, I just wouldn't move at this time in your life. Wait until your wife has the baby in London so that you aren't caught up in this convoluted American insurance racket. It's just not worth blowing all your dosh on some greedy "health" corporation scheme.

And when you do decide to move to the States, please place San Francisco way, way, way above Atlanta as your potential new home. Trust me on this, as a fellow Brit.

[Lady's Man]

Originally Posted by Forrest Of Deen

Mate, I just wouldn't move at this time in your life. Wait until your wife has the baby in London so that you aren't caught up in this convoluted American insurance racket. It's just not worth blowing all your dosh on some greedy "health" corporation scheme.

And when you do decide to move to the States, please place San Francisco way, way, way above Atlanta as your potential new home. Trust me on this, as a fellow Brit.

it's really kind of pointless comparing atlanta and san fran. They are two very different places. If money and family are not a factor, then sure San Fran wins hands down. But San Fran is one of the most expensive cities in the world, is prone to earthquakes, and has no seasons. It's also a much longer flight to London. San Fran may be a better overall city, but it's hardly a city to get super excited over. Personally, I prefer the east coast cities and chicago to San Fran.

[FromGA]

Originally Posted by london-tawn

D) Yes the baby delivery and insurance coverage is a concern, i've done a fair amount of research and HIPPA rules state that previous coverage (which we have in the UK) would mean we should be okay for full coverage. But need to cover all that with the broker and make the appropriatte call.

Are you sure about the meaning of previous coverage? Does it mean insurance coverage by another insurance company in the USA, or insurance coverage anywhere in the world (are you enrolled in additional private insurance in UK?), or the catch-all UK style government health system.

Can you provide a link to where you read this?

[FromGA]

Originally Posted by FromGA

Are you sure about the meaning of previous coverage? Does it mean insurance coverage by another insurance company in the USA, or insurance coverage anywhere in the world (are you enrolled in additional private insurance in UK?), or the catch-all UK style government health system.

Can you provide a link to where you read this?

Additionally, perhaps if the health insurance in the USA is through one of your employers, the rules would be different (and more in your favor) than if you were to go get it by yourself in the private market. Just wondering if you will be covered through one of your employers in the USA....

[lorilove]

In most cases, I would not let insurance in the US scare you off from the move. The US definitely has its issues with the rising cost of healthcare and health insurance, but if you are covered by a plan the quality and availablity of healtcare is outstanding (and in some areas superior to Europe).

Your issue of course is that your considering this move in the middle of a pregnancy so there are lots of details you need to confirm to make sure you are properly covered. If you were changing to a new employer, you would want to make sure there is not a 3 month waiting period before you are eligible for insurance. Based on your comments earlier, this does not sound like the issue.

If you will be covered by a current employer plan, you just need to make sure that the move creates a qualifying event that makes you immediately able to enroll in the plan and do not have to wait until open enrollment.

If you are obtaining private insurance, you just need to confirm what restrictions there are on the existing pregnancy. Just an FYI, private insurance for maternity/pregnancy is significantly more expensive. I have friends much younger than me with identical policies expect for the maternity coverage and they pay more than me.

[cittic10]

Originally Posted by london-tawn

Yes this is a concern.
We are still looking at insurance options.
From what i can gather - and we have not talked to a broker / group scheme yet - that we should be able to get maternity covered under a corporate group policy but the insurance has to be in place by week 20 of the pregnancy. Equally not what coverage we would get - all prenatal etc.

Yeah and even then, it's probably co-insurance where you're stuck paying for a large portion of it.
The healthcare system in this country is a disaster. The number of people in this country without health insurance is almost equal to the entire population of the UK. Contrary to what others have said, it should definitely be a concern of yours in my opinion. Even if you're in a group plan you'll need to figure out what it covers and doesn't cover and how much you'll be on the hook for. And even with insurance, you'll still have to fight with them every time you have a claim. Even simple things like doctors visits will get "coded" wrong and you'll get a whopper of a bill for something that should have been covered. People with insurance can still very much go broke in this country.

And hate to say it but god forbid the baby isn't healthy, any necessary treatment might not be covered. It sucks to always have to worry and wonder if something you need that will save your life will be covered. And if you'll end up losing the roof over your head for it. Have the baby there then come over.

[simensays]

for the people talking about better healthcare in America, that's just preposterous. The average hospital in the states is not going to be any better than the ones in Canada or western Europe. For the affluent who arent relying on insurance to pay for healtd can and will get better doctors because they will privately pay for them.

with that said, don't plan on leaving a socialist place for a capitalist one. it will take a long time to get used to. If you really want to try Atlanta be my guest. life is all about living. but I do recommend the bigger and wealthier cities in America.

[london-tawn]

The HIPPA rules are very clear about previous credible coverage, and outlined again verbatum on Page 10 on this link.
My broker has also confirmed.

http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-G...Tips_Rev_1.pdf

Yes, my insurance would be through employer so qualms there.
And all the posts are fair in terms of ensuring there is coverage - even the slighest hint of an issue/something not being covered that is going to cost and arm and a leg - then we will be staying in UK until the birth et al.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by simensays

for the people talking about better healthcare in America, that's just preposterous. The average hospital in the states is not going to be any better than the ones in Canada or western Europe. For the affluent who arent relying on insurance to pay for healtd can and will get better doctors because they will privately pay for them.

with that said, don't plan on leaving a socialist place for a capitalist one. it will take a long time to get used to. If you really want to try Atlanta be my guest. life is all about living. but I do recommend the bigger and wealthier cities in America.

This is just another opinion...I lived in the UK and thought the health care was atrocious. It took me 4 months just to get an appointment and I had a pressing medical condition at the time, and the doctor was subpar at best. There are probably good points and bad for each type of system, but to say that one is defintively better is just not true because it depends on individual needs.

Atlanta IS one of the bigger/wealthier cities in the U.S.