Health Insurance woes

Our BC/BS was accepted on stx.

How long ago was that?

BCBS insurance will continue to be accepted on STX even though policies are no longer sold. My BCBS is from FL and has a worldwide list of providers including many on
STX. It's possible to use COBRA from a previous job if accepted in the VI. Read your policy - COBRA could work until you're established on the island.

BCBS insurance will continue to be accepted on STX even though policies are no longer sold.

Only until August 1, 2017.

"Blue Cross must honor existing policies until August 1, 2017, at which time most of them will have expired. It also is required to turn its portfolio over to another company (or companies." This was discussed at length in the previous thread.

As far as "acceptance" goes, several physicians already opted to decline BCBS coverage due to a pile-up of unpaid claims.

my BCBS is a FL policy that is accepted worldwide. It has nothing to do with local well ... BS. Most docs and both hospitals will continue to accept. It is not contingent on where I live.

OP should read his/her policy.

my BCBS is a FL policy that is accepted worldwide. It has nothing to do with local well ... BS. Most docs and both hospitals will continue to accept. It is not contingent on where I live.

Then maybe you could please provide the BCBS FL contact information for all the people here looking for individual health coverage so they can take advantage of it.

I'm porting it in as a retiree from a large enterprise.

thank you so much! i will call my BCBS rep. Only reason I didn't do that first is because I had read somewhere (I forget where, it all begins to become a blur of info at some point) that almost everyone in St. X is living without health insurance, unless they are lucky enough to find an employer who provides it. Did not realize that my existing BCBS would be usable in the USVI, till 2017 or perhaps indefinitely. Will report back what I find out, in case other readers find it helpful. I should clarify, we have independent BCBS, not thru an employer, we are primarily self employed.

There's a little bit of possible misinformation or misunderstanding in these posts:

Since you are not covered under an employer plan, you are not eligible for COBRA.

Someone enrolled in a BCBS plan in the states will not lose the ability to have claims in the VI reimbursed if their coverage allows it. The statement above about having policies honored til 8/2017 refers to the servicing of VI policy-holders. (Although some providers may decide to no longer participate). You may have to submit claims on your own, you may not get reimbursed at the same rate, you may owe more than you would have if the provider participates, and/or you may have certain types of coverage excluded or limited here (for instance, prescriptions, outpatient psych visits). It all depends on what your personal coverage specifies.

You can't hang on to an individual BCBS policy in the states once you are no longer considered a resident of that state (unless you want to be under the fraud microscope). Your residency is used to determine what BCBS plan you can belong to. You can't just buy a policy in Florida if you live here, or in another state or region.

And just for the record, it's STX, not St. X.

And just for the record, it's STX, not St. X.

Or, you can think outside the box: "Croix" meaning "cross", and an "X" being one recognized representation of said cross . . . .

Or, maybe just auto-correct doing its thing.

Or . . . .

There's a little bit of possible misinformation or misunderstanding in these posts:

Since you are not covered under an employer plan, you are not eligible for COBRA.

Someone enrolled in a BCBS plan in the states will not lose the ability to have claims in the VI reimbursed if their coverage allows it. The statement above about having policies honored til 8/2017 refers to the servicing of VI policy-holders. (Although some providers may decide to no longer participate). You may have to submit claims on your own, you may not get reimbursed at the same rate, you may owe more than you would have if the provider participates, and/or you may have certain types of coverage excluded or limited here (for instance, prescriptions, outpatient psych visits). It all depends on what your personal coverage specifies.

You can't hang on to an individual BCBS policy in the states once you are no longer considered a resident of that state (unless you want to be under the fraud microscope). Your residency is used to determine what BCBS plan you can belong to. You can't just buy a policy in Florida if you live here, or in another state or region.

(tu)

There's a little bit of possible misinformation or misunderstanding in these posts:

Since you are not covered under an employer plan, you are not eligible for COBRA.

Someone enrolled in a BCBS plan in the states will not lose the ability to have claims in the VI reimbursed if their coverage allows it. The statement above about having policies honored til 8/2017 refers to the servicing of VI policy-holders. (Although some providers may decide to no longer participate). You may have to submit claims on your own, you may not get reimbursed at the same rate, you may owe more than you would have if the provider participates, and/or you may have certain types of coverage excluded or limited here (for instance, prescriptions, outpatient psych visits). It all depends on what your personal coverage specifies.

You can't hang on to an individual BCBS policy in the states once you are no longer considered a resident of that state (unless you want to be under the fraud microscope). Your residency is used to determine what BCBS plan you can belong to. You can't just buy a policy in Florida if you live here, or in another state or region.

You may be able to get a travel insurance policy to hold you over until you can secure health insurance in the VI. I think travel policies are good up to a year but have pre-existing condition limitations.

BTW - a recent VI Source article stated the uninsured population is estimated at 5,000 persons.

BTW - a recent VI Source article stated the uninsured population is estimated at 5,000 persons.

In 2009 (and individual health insurance coverage has always been an issue here) it was estimated that close to 30% of the population was uninsured which would be about 30,000. That 5000 figure was a very conservative estimate and didn't include those covered under Medicaid and Medicare.

And just for the record, it's STX, not St. X.

I usually write it as STX, but sometimes I write St.X, just depends how I'm thinking at the moment I guess, but is there a reason why the small distinction would be remotely important?

There's a little bit of possible misinformation or misunderstanding in these posts:

Since you are not covered under an employer plan, you are not eligible for COBRA.

Someone enrolled in a BCBS plan in the states will not lose the ability to have claims in the VI reimbursed if their coverage allows it. The statement above about having policies honored til 8/2017 refers to the servicing of VI policy-holders. (Although some providers may decide to no longer participate).

Oh! Thanks for the clarification!!

 

You may be able to get a travel insurance policy to hold you over until you can secure health insurance in the VI. I think travel policies are good up to a year but have pre-existing condition limitations.

Brilliant idea, thanks for the input!

You may be able to get a travel insurance policy to hold you over until you can secure health insurance in the VI. I think travel policies are good up to a year but have pre-existing condition limitations.

Brilliant idea, thanks for the input!

Tried that route. Like expat insurance they wouldn't cover because we were still "traveling" technically in the US

And just for the record, it's STX, not St. X.

I usually write it as STX, but sometimes I write St.X, just depends how I'm thinking at the moment I guess, but is there a reason why the small distinction would be remotely important?

It's not. We all knew you weren't referring to St.T. It demonstrates free thinking. Good for you.

You may be able to get a travel insurance policy to hold you over until you can secure health insurance in the VI. I think travel policies are good up to a year but have pre-existing condition limitations.

Brilliant idea, thanks for the input!

Tried that route. Like expat insurance they wouldn't cover because we were still "traveling" technically in the US

Travel insurance is readily available for travel within the US. With one airline, you have to decline it before you complete your reservation.

Why do you think you need health insurance? If you're young and healthy, why bother. The VI offers you the opportunity to save that money you would have wasted on premiums.

I think there is considerably more than 5000 people here without health insurance.

There likely more than 5000 drivers in the VI without car insurance.

Travel insurance is readily available for travel within the US. With one airline, you have to decline it before you complete your reservation.

I think we all know that. It is NOT a substitute nor can be used for health insurance coverage for VI residents. The more you throw out this tangential misinformation the more confusing you make it for potential newcomers.

Travel insurance is readily available for travel within the US. With one airline, you have to decline it before you complete your reservation.

I think we all know that. It is NOT a substitute nor can be used for health insurance coverage for VI residents. The more you throw out this tangential misinformation the more confusing you make it for potential newcomers.

As a Band-Aid to get to real health insurance it works just fine. This couple will not be considered VI bona fide residents for months after relocating. Many hoops to jump through, particularly if they follow your advice to leave their stuff in storage in the US.

Of course it's not a solution.

Travel insurance is readily available for travel within the US. With one airline, you have to decline it before you complete your reservation.

I think we all know that. It is NOT a substitute nor can be used for health insurance coverage for VI residents. The more you throw out this tangential misinformation the more confusing you make it for potential newcomers.

As a Band-Aid to get to real health insurance it works just fine. This couple will not be considered VI bona fide residents for months after relocating. Many hoops to jump through, particularly if they follow your advice to leave their stuff in storage in the US.

Of course it's not a solution.

1. Extended travel insurance is limited by most carriers to 30-45 days for any one trip with a mere few offering coverage in one stretch up to 90 days.

2. I assume your remark about the advice to leave large personal belongings in storage (frequently echoed here over the years and certainly not something I dreamed up) relates to the sometimes-used clarification of "bona fide resident" which - amongst many other factors - sees the shipment of personal belongings as intent to stay. Not shipping a huge amount of personal belongings is absolutely no impediment to obtaining bona fide US residency. I'm sure that as a prospective VI resident you know the conditions attached to claiming residency.