Health insurance for retired people (home, buy, pharmacy) - Hawaii (HI) - City-Data Forum

Texexpat · 06-12-2010, 01:45 AM

We're considering relocating to the States when we retire next year. We're in Europe. We have excellent private health insurance here, but they won't cover us in the U.S. so we'll need to be able to get health insurance for ourselves (my husband is European, I'm American and our daughter - who is a U.S. citizen - has a disability) when we move.

Though we were originally only considering a move to the mainland US, given all the problems with health insurance in the States, it seems like we wouldn't be able to get coverage at our ages with new policies. I have heard Hawaii's health insurance policies are more "open minded", but I haven't been able to figure out (from Googling) exactly what the situation is for people who are not actually employed.

Any information would be much appreciated! Thanks.

mdand3boys · 06-12-2010, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texexpat

We're considering relocating to the States when we retire next year. We're in Europe. We have excellent private health insurance here, but they won't cover us in the U.S. so we'll need to be able to get health insurance for ourselves (my husband is European, I'm American and our daughter - who is a U.S. citizen - has a disability) when we move.

Though we were originally only considering a move to the mainland US, given all the problems with health insurance in the States, it seems like we wouldn't be able to get coverage at our ages with new policies. I have heard Hawaii's health insurance policies are more "open minded", but I haven't been able to figure out (from Googling) exactly what the situation is for people who are not actually employed.

Any information would be much appreciated! Thanks.

Hawaii IS a state. Moving to Hawaii just for health insurance is not a good idea. With the changes that are occurring in the next year or two with the nationalization of health insurance, you would probably do much better in a warm, southern state that has a much lower cost of living.

Texexpat · 06-12-2010, 02:13 AM

Hi, Thanks for the reply. I know Hawaii's a state and as far as I've been able to figure out one of only two states (Massachusetts being the other - far too frigid for us - state) with universal health care insurance.

I've followed the health care debate in the U.S. very closely and if things improve (and I hope they will) this issue will no longer be front and center in our choice of place to live. However, as things currently stand - we can't ignore this issue. My husband had cancer a few years ago, he is in remission but that obviously would be a excluding factor in trying to get a new policy (along with our ages and our daughter's disability). We will, in retirement, be able to live comfortably (even in Hawaii) provided we can purchase health insurance and not end up using all our savings for medical bills.

Tiger Beer · 06-12-2010, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

Hawaii IS a state. Moving to Hawaii just for health insurance is not a good idea. With the changes that are occurring in the next year or two with the nationalization of health insurance, you would probably do much better in a warm, southern state that has a much lower cost of living.

Even the nationalization of health insurance is pretty weak. Doesn't fix any of the problems....I think it basically mandates that all people MUST buy health insurance...and if you are too poor to afford it, the gov't will help you.

Balad1 · 06-12-2010, 10:40 AM

As others may have pointed out there is no silver bullet for healthcare in the U.S.

The only options are to qualify through your employer, purchase a healthcare plan or be so very poor that your qualify for medicade or some other program.

With your husband's issue and a daughter with disabilites I'm afraid you're better off staying where you are.

Sgoldie · 06-12-2010, 10:50 AM

Some states have a plan that you can buy into if you know where you're going but many do not. Joining an organization can sometimes avail an option you can purchase. And then there is always medicare at age 65.

If your child lives at home and is disabled there is a better chance that they could qualify for med ins depending upon your income, which may or may not also extend to you as caregivers. Need to check into the particular state as they're all different.

whynot66 · 06-12-2010, 11:13 AM

We're retired and we have of course, Medicare and a supplement insurance, Blue Cross/Blue Shield. We have EXCELLENT coverage.

Balad1 · 06-12-2010, 12:06 PM

Something to consider for the future...

The state of Hawaii's current healthcare programs and vision are not sustainable. Sooner or later our politicians will have to reduce the various social programs. Our tax base and tourism dollars don't support the vision any longer.

Tiger Beer · 06-12-2010, 06:09 PM

The entire system in the U.S. is not sustainable. Need to have things charged 'at cost' rather than super-inflated prices for everything.

My wife had a baby here in Japan...with 5 nights of 24/7 food/care/tests, etc. Cost me US$2,000 for EVERYTHING. That is because it is 'at cost' here in Japan, even if the country is the most expensive in the world.

Take the U.S., I could fly to Mississippi, where the cost of living is cheap...and the same thing occurring probably would have cost me $25,000...do the middle men involved in the u.s. healthcare really need to make $23,000 in profit off of people's health issues? It's insane there.

No doubt, Hawaii trying to have their state gov't supply that kind of excessive money to middle men healthcare people...certainly not sustainable.

Wish there was a way to get healthcare at 'at cost' rather than the superinflated middlemen profits a lot type prices.

Texexpat · 06-13-2010, 02:09 AM

Though we are definitely retiring to the States (SOME state, don't know which one yet..), I am very leery of this issue - reason why Hawaii's in the running. We're in Switzerland and everybody resident here has to have private health insurance and insurers cannot exclude from basic care (doctor bills, pharmacy, hospitalization on general wards, physical therapy, etc.) for pre-existing conditions. OK, health insurance is very expensive (runs about $1,500/month for the 3 of us, but with private hospitalization included). But the insurance companies here won't cover care in the U.S. if we move because they complain it is too expensive: and Switzerland (like Japan) is one of the world's most expensive places to live! Zurich and Geneva always rank in the top 5 most expensive cities in the world to live it. And Swiss health care is world famous (ask the Saudi kings, etc.). Go figure...