Individual Insurance in the VI

I have expat insurance through Cigna Global as do some of my friends. I'm a Canadian and my wife is an American. We're extremely happy with the coverage and its less than half the price of anything comparable I've ever been quoted in the USVI. They offer very flexible plans that you can tailor to your needs so you're not paying for coverage you don't need or want. After going without health insurance for 10 years, I'm relived to be covered.

The group is called Caribbean Expatriate Medical Group and they're offering it through HCI Global.

The only relevant "HCI Global" I can find is Healthcare Caterers International ( http://hciglobal.org/) and I would be a little leery about "Caribbean Expatriate Medical Group" which apparently has no website but is only on FB.

If you're not a US citizen, Cigna Global might be your best option.

It's Health Care International
www.healthcareinternational.com

Ah, I see! It's a company based in the UK. Again, a quick read-through indicates that - like the Cigna Global policy - it's for expats. US citizens seeking coverage in the US wouldn't be eligible. US citizens traveling/living overseas would.

As an American citizen you are without options. I was told my wife and son could qualify for travelers insurance. Even paid a deposit only to be told (and refunded) we weren't eligible. I am now going to have to add them to insurance at work for a hefty price

We have a group policy for our business. Premiums just doubled because the old policy wasn't "Affordable Care Act Compliant" Oh the irony!!!!!

The Cigna Global policy doesn't have to the ACA compliant so that's likely why its so much cheaper. My policy is tailored to my needs so it doesn't cover maternity costs and a bunch of other stuff that we don't use.

Canuck- do they pay on your claims?

If I am a US citizen living in the USVI, I cannot get Cigna Global, correct?

Correct.

So, if I understand correctly, there is NO option for individual health insurance in the USVI? Can't policies be purchased on the mainland that cover living in the USVI???

about 2 years before obama care there was individual insurance but it was pretty high.

Pdmargie - we kept our individually purchased BCBS coverage we had in the states and so far it's been accepted everywhere we've went for medical services since moving to the VI

This just in: http://viconsortium.com/business/blue-cross-blue-shield-proposes-individual-health-insurance-plans-in-the-virgin-islands/

"Blue Cross Blue Shield Proposes Individual Health Insurance Plans In the Virgin Islands"

interesting, i had heard rumors that they were going to

Canuck- do they pay on your claims?

I've not actually made any claims yet so I can't can't confirm personally. However, a friend of mine who is Canadians and also has Cigna Global recently underwent surgery in Florida for some sort of cancer. They raved about how responsive Cigna Global was and seemed very happy with the coverage.

It would be wonderful to have some "affordable health-care. insurance." Even AARP isn't available to us presently.
If you don't have insurance thru working for the government or a business, you just can't get individual policies.
If you're not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, you're out of luck since the VI did not opt into the affordable health-care system but took the money for Medicare and left everyone else in limbo.

Not that I trust or support the VI Consortium blog but here's a relevant post about Blue Cross Blue Shield making a proposal for individual policies in the territory.

http://viconsortium.com/business/blue-cross-blue-shield-proposes-individual-health-insurance-plans-in-the-virgin-islands/

I got a quote from them a few years ago for our small business to cover my wife, daughter and I but at the time it was ridiculously expensive. The Cigna Global coverage we have now is way less than half what BCBS offered back then.

Whats interesting is BCBS will be offering tiered plans just like Cigna Global, ie: silver, gold and platinum so you can choose what the coverage that best suits you and not feel like you're paying for services you don't use.

Maybe it will be cheaper this time around!

I recently contacted Blue Cross Blue Shield of USVI http //www.bcbsusvi.com/ they started offering Group policies recently. I requested an individual quote through ELAN Insurance LLC in USVI and was told to check back in December!!! Hope

How odd...I just received this letter from BCBS by email even though I hadn't ever spoken to BCBS directly nor Elan Insurance LLC. Read on...

November 27, 2014

Richard Schiavo Omar Haedo, GBA
Chief Revenue Officer President
BCBS of USVI Elan Insurance Solutions, LLC

I'm not sure why they are contacting me!

So what exactly are they expressing in the letter?
It doesn't really say anything.
Double speak for "we're not doing or offering anything?"

I thought that too Alana33. But it might also say that we will only sell policies through of brokers and agents. Its hard to tell.

I sent them an email asking for clarification of their clarification!!!

I'm cautiously optimistic about bcbs. As it stands now my premium for myself is manageable. To add my family may require cuts in other budget area or wife getting part time job

That strange (and lame) letter from BCBS to vicanuck starts with this:

"We would like to apologize for the release of a communication that has created some confusion and we ask you to kindly disregard such."

And it goes on to say how wonder the local producers are.

So apparently you need to see that previous communication (in which local producers were dissed? I dunno) in order for the current letter to make any sense.