Is coverage abroad recognized by US insurers?

[dualcitizen]

I live and work in NY state. I recently obtained dual citizenship with Italy, and I will soon be registered with the Italian national health service. I'm concerned that if I drop my US-based health insurance and go to live in Italy for a year it will be considered a "gap" in credible coverage for the period I am abroad. I don't want to continue paying $400 a month for insurance I don't need, but I don't want all my claims to be denied as "pre-existing conditions" when I get back and re-start my insurance. Anyone know the legal ramifications of all this? Thanks.

[seniorjudge]

Ask your insurance carrier. It doesn't make any difference what anyone here says. Get the answer in writing.

[dualcitizen]

Originally Posted by seniorjudge

Ask your insurance carrier..

I did ask. They don't know!

[cbg]

Is your US based insurance employer sponsored?

[dualcitizen]

yes, my insurance is employer-based. I'll probably go back to the same company when I come back to the US. in between I'll be offered COBRA.

[cbg]

COBRA is creditable coverage even if the Italian insurance is not. But I'll see what I can find out.

[dualcitizen]

Thanks for the help. I'm trying to avoid COBRA, as it will cost $400+ a month. (I can't afford to live in Italy if I'm paying that!) But I can't see how I can possibly get a certificate of credible coverage from the Italian system.

[cbg]

I can't find anything to suggest that foreign coverage will be accepted as creditable coverage.

I can't find anything to suggest that it will be denied, either.

So before we both go crazy, let me ask you a couple questions.

Do you have any medical conditions that will make it necessary for you to definitely have medical treatment while in Italy?

Do you take any regular prescription medications?

Are you currently under treatment for anything in particular (you don't have to identify what)?

[dualcitizen]

Originally Posted by cbg

Do you have any medical conditions that will make it necessary for you to definitely have medical treatment while in Italy?
Do you take any regular prescription medications?
Are you currently under treatment for anything in particular (you don't have to identify what)?

I'm healthy right now, so any need for medical treatment will be unexpected. I do take one regular prescription med. I had cancer eight years ago (it's gone), but that experience has made me paranoid about having a gap in insurance. The insurance co. tried to deny all my coverage at the time because I had only been insured for a few months. (I was very young and blithe about my health back then, but needless to say, that's changed.)

[Betty]

cbg - I have some info in a reference that says credible coverage now includes coverage under a children's state ins. plan & coverage under a foreign national health plan (credible coverage re pre-existing conditions). Betty

[cbg]

Betty - for my future edification can you post a link or a reference?

Thanks very much!

[Betty]

Hi cbg - sorry. However, it was in an article I cut out of a newsletter we get quarterly from a hosp. in our area. I did some web surfing this morning & came up with: [url]http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/regs/fedreg/final/2004028112.htm[/url] & [url]http://www.pacounties.org/commissioners/lib/commissioners/March.htm[/url] -- what do you think? Betty

[cbg]

Looks good to me, Betty, and thanks.

The one caution I would make is that it refers to "the public health coverage of a foreign government". I would interpret that to mean something on the order of Britain's National Health or Canada's national health system. I don't know off hand if that would include Italy since I know nothing about Italy's health care system, but no doubt the poster does.

[dualcitizen]

Thanks very much for that. I'm still not sure how I could prove credible coverage (I seriously doubt that the Italian government provides a certificate and confirms your dates of residency - probably more difficult than getting citizenship ) but I'm glad to know there may be a statute in my favor.

Enjoy the weekend.

[ecmst12]

Does your current employer's plan even have a pre-existing condition limitation? Lots of employer sponsored plans don't, because the cost to investigate them is so high and in a large group plan, the overall risk is low.