Health insurance options for our family?

If you want individual health insurance, the only choice that I'm aware of for new policies in the USVI is Healthcare International. See this thread from last year: https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?4,185065

Dear Jarrod,
You may want to contact Healthcare International and have them clarify this statement in their brochure:

"Your 'Home Country' is your country of origin/nationality and we understand that many of our members living abroad occasionally return home for short visits, where your cover will be continued. As our plans are tailored for expatriates which means that you must be living outside your home country for at least 6 months each policy year."

The Healthcare International plan is an Expatriate Insurance Policy, since we are United States citizens living in a United States Territory you may want written clarification from the carrier confirming that their coverage is valid in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

My girlfriend and I are seeking health insurance for ourselves and our infant son. Any reccomendations? Insurance isnt provided by my employer. We are a family on a tight budget and need something we can trust. Thanks for any help you can provide

I could not buy individual insurance while a full-time resident of STX when it wasn't offered through an employer group plan. It just didn't exist. I found "expat" coverage out there, but you had to live in the States for a certain period of time to qualify.

Affordable health insurance? In the USVI?

It doesn't exist.

even when you get it from your employer affordable is not the word for it

That all may be changing with ACA and the exchanges. Found this on the govn's website
http://www.governordejongh.com/healthreform/exchange/index.html

The U.S Dept of Health & Human Services (HHS) has extended the deadline for states to establish Health Insurance Exchanges until further notice.

The Governor in his State of the Territory address indicated that the Virgin Islands will opt for "Medicaid Expansion" to meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Excerpts from the governor's website are below:

"The Affordable Care Act provides an additional $255 million($285 million if V.I. chooses not to elect to establish an insurance exchange) over 9-year reform for the Virgin Islands to expand its Medicaid Program.

Eligible for 55 percent FMAP (increase from current 50 percent level).
Eligible for 91.5 percent FMAP for Children’s Health Insurance Program (“CHIP”).
Additional funding will allow expansion of Medicaid program from current level of 8500 enrollees to over 20,000.
Expansion will set stage for jump to parity with States at the end of the reform period (2019).
More categories of Medicaid costs, however, will be subject to (increasing) Medicaid cap.
Expansion may include (but not require) “newly eligibles,” i.e., childless, non-pregnant adults not currently eligible. "

carl, the last line your wrote. thats where the help is needed the most

So Carlstx...does this mean the rest of us who are not of Medicaid age will be screwed out of affordable healthcare?

Dear Vicanuck,
You are confusing Medicare with Medicaid. Medicare is age based, Medicaid is income based.

The Governor in his State of the Territory address indicated that the Virgin Islands will opt for "Medicaid Expansion" to meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Excerpts from the governor's website are below:

"The Affordable Care Act provides an additional $255 million($285 million if V.I. chooses not to elect to establish an insurance exchange) over 9-year reform for the Virgin Islands to expand its Medicaid Program.
...
Expansion may include (but not require) “newly eligibles,” i.e., childless, non-pregnant adults not currently eligible. "

Ima gonna go ahead and guess it won't. And that means that for most of us who currently can't get coverage here, absolutely nothing will change. And also, quelle suprise. Since when has the VI ever taken the initiative to timely establish something it has been authorized to do by Congress? Let's just take the big check instead.

So...in other words....nothing will change for hard working people currently unable to afford health "insurance" here in the VI. I guess folks will have to continue to go to the hospital and use fake names. Such is life in the VI.

I hope you are kidding. If not you are part of the problem faced by the USVI hospitals.

when an ER charges a few hundred dollars for crutches something is very wrong with the health care system. I am still depressed about my ER experience. The attitude of this Country is if you cannot afford healthcare, and you get sick; you need to hurry up and die.

the one here charges you that just to walk in the door

the one here charges you that just to walk in the door

And then you have to lay on the floor for six hours until you're seen! And then they commit malpractice! FUN! Yes, I just LOVE sending more money down that freakin' rabbit hole.

The attitude of this Country is if you cannot afford healthcare, and you get sick; you need to hurry up and die.

TRUTH.

did you here, more layoffs for the hospital here on stx. even more fun

it's just like wapa!! as long as the goverment runs and manages the hospital and the energy co.they will continue to be nightmares,mismanaged and in financal ruins.

should have been hear and not here

I hope you are kidding. If not you are part of the problem faced by the USVI hospitals.

Nope...not kidding. Using a fake name is very common in the usvi and the only real way to get affordable healthcare. I'd never carry my ID with me if I had to go to the hospital here and they can't refuse treatment. Happens everyday.

I hope you are kidding. If not you are part of the problem faced by the USVI hospitals.

Nope...not kidding. Using a fake name is very common in the usvi and the only real way to get affordable healthcare. I'd never carry my ID with me if I had to go to the hospital here and they can't refuse treatment. Happens everyday.

That is extremely unethical behavior. Basically you lie, cheat and steal? What's up with that!(td)
I certainly would be not proud of broadcasting such a lack of moral behaviour.

That is extremely unethical behavior.

I wonder if giving a false name at the hospital really is "common practice" and I also question the assertion that it's, "the only real way to get affordable healthcare". I thought any hospital had to treat an emergency patient whether or not that patient had insurance coverage so what would be the point of giving a false name and not carrying ID? :S

So they can't bill you and have collections calling when you don't pay. And so it won't show on a credit report for failing to pay. Pretty common practice here in VT as well. But since I DO pay mine I am now paying for all the false name droppers too.