Moving back to the USA - health insurance question

wheels · #1 11.06.2008, 18:04

Hi all,

Hopefully someone who has gone through this before can answer. I'll be moving back to the USA in a while and I'm concerned about pre-existing conditions for health care. Specifically, I was wondering if my Swiss health plan will count as "creditable coverage" under HIPAA? If so, what documentation would I need? Any input is appreciated.

Thanks!

#2 12.06.2008, 00:14

It would appear so....

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_hipaa.html
and
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CreditableCov....asp#TopOfPage

Although may not be eligible for medicare, many US rules are made that apply to medicare, and then insurers generally follow suit.

But, you probably want evidence of your health coverage in Switzerland, probably an official document from your insurer (e.g., written on letterhead), and of course in English. Evidence of payment for your health insurance might be a good thing to have as well. And, you might have to push a bit if you get push back from people at your US insurer who are reluctant to look at foreign forms - in fact, I'd follow what the insurer is doing pretty closely.

HollidayG · #3 06.10.2009, 10:56

	Quote:
	It would appear so.... http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_hipaa.html and http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CreditableCov....asp#TopOfPage Although may not be eligible for medicare, many US rules are made that apply to medicare, and then insurers generally follow suit. But, you probably want evidence of your health coverage in Switzerland, probably an official document from your insurer (e.g., written on letterhead), and of course in English. Evidence of payment for your health insurance might be a good thing to have as well. And, you might have to push a bit if you get push back from people at your US insurer who are reluctant to look at foreign forms - in fact, I'd follow what the insurer is doing pretty closely.

Just like this poster says. Get all the forms in English BEFORE you
leave.

American insurance companies will look at you like you are from
another planet if you don't have it in English.

Are you getting your insurance private or through your employer?