I just left my job voluntarily, am self-employed, and will be moving abroad for about two years. I’m trying to weigh my options between (A) taking COBRA as well as getting on my domestic partner’s insurance plan in her home country where we will be going or (B) getting international health insurance. I have some pre-existing conditions so I want to make sure I can be easily covered when I come back to the States in two years and that there are no lapses in my coverage. I also need to be able to be covered nationally within the U.S. even while abroad so that I have options as to where I can be treated when I am back visiting. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Your other option is to get an individual plan in NY, which might be less expensive than your COBRA. And, individual plans do not have an expiration date, like COBRA does. I assume you will be maintaining a U.S. address. You may not be able to maintain your domestic health insurance without one Answer by Moderator - Friday, October 16, 2009 @ 11:34 am No CommentsNo comments yet. Leave a comment |
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Accepting your COBRA option and supplementing that with coverage on your partner’s plan would be your safest bet, albeit not your least expensive. International health insurance plans will automatically exclude coverage on pre-existing medical conditions, or may deny you completely, depending on what these conditions are. This type of health insurance is not bound by U.S. HIPAA regulations and your prior coverage will not be a factor in reducing and imposed waiting periods on certain pre-existing conditions. Does your current health insurance, which you would accept as COBRA, provide you with coverage anywhere within the U.S.?
