[ers99w]

Hi, I have a bunch of questions about health insurance. I'll explain my situation and then ask my questions--

My boyfriend of 2 years and I are moving down to NZ from the US this summer so he can pursue his PhD at U. Auckland. He's been approved and has funding. As part of the U. Auckland system, his de facto partner (me) gets a work visa for as long as he is studying--no idea what initial time limit they will put on that. I've been researching health insurance options and I'm pretty confused--

1) I know I'm not eligible for the national healthcare (totally understandable), but can I buy private NZ health insurance? Or are permanent residents only eligible for this?

2) Do I need to keep my US health coverage for when I return to the US on visits and, eventually, to live?

3) If I were to become a permanent resident of NZ and didn't have to pay for healthcare anymore, would this be considered a 'gap' in coverage when I return to the US and have to buy healthcare? I'm not sure of the rules of pre-existing conditions and such, but I do know the healthcare industry doesn't look well upon gaps in coverage.

4) Do employers in NZ offer health insurance?

Basically, does NZ insurance coverage count as coverage to the US insurance companies? What have other Americans done?

Thank you for your time!

[CJ22]

I can't answer the American-specific stuff, but as to your other questions:

1/. Yes, anybody can get private health insurance. It's sold by privtae companies in the regular way.

2/. I wouldn't have thought so. Get private cover in NZ, and get travel insurance for when you go abroad (from NZ). Otherwise your US cover would be a bit of an expensive luxury.

3/. Not sure. Chances are it depends on the policy of the US insurance company in question. You could always call a few companies and ask.

4/. Varies. Some offer cover, some offer subsidized cover, and some don't.

[JoHnH]

Just to confuse matters, I think you will be covered by the Accident Compensation scheme while you are here. This may affect any decision about the amount and type of insurance that you need to buy, so it may pay you to look into that - but don't take my word as gospel, I don't know very much about it.

[ers99w]

Thanks, all! The ACC is a great deal, that would NEVER happen in the US.

I am still very confused about the whole deal--I contacted a US insurance rep and they said that as long as the NZ insurance policy has a "Certificate of Credible Coverage," it will be treated as adequate coverage when being considered for future insurance. My next step is to figure out if NZ insurance policies have this.

I still want to hear from other Americans--did you check into whether you could come back to the US and get health coverage? What did you do?

[Keith C.]

We are in a similar situation, only in our case it will be me getting the Ph.D. In the literature I've read, there is a policy that is guaranteed to be available for the international student. As I recall, it costs something like $450 or so per year. The policy that VUW uses gives the option of having family members apply to be covered by the policy too. That part was less clear. I don't know whether that applies to "significant others" as well as family members, nor do I know how much discretion they have in deciding whether to cover the non-student. Nor do I know the cost.

Ask the U. Auckland international office about those things. Then, let me know what you find. :D We won't be moving until October or so.

Keith

[dilanium]

I'm getting insurance through my school as is my husband. I just asked for him to be added and they added him. I'm not sure how they'll treat it for a SO relationship.

:/

Good luck!

[ers99w]

I sent an email to the insurance rep of the U. Auckland policy, asking:

1) Does the insurance through the University cover me
for visits back to the US?

2) I asked a U.S. insurance rep if the insurance
through U. Auckland would be considered as adequate
insurance coverage (so there are no 'gaps' in my
coverage) when I move back to the US. The rep said
that if I want to buy health insurance upon my return
to the US, the U. Auckland insurance needs to have a
"Certificate of Credible Coverage." Does the U.
Auckland insurance have this? If not, do most
American students keep their US health insurance as
well as buy NZ insurance??

3) If I were to become a permanent resident and take
part in the national health care system, and THEN move
back to the US, would I have problems buying coverage
in the US, as there would have been a time where I did
not have a paid-for policy in NZ?

Their reply didn't clear up much, if anything:

"The insurance policy offered by the University of Auckland is only
designed for international students studying in New Zealand.

Please refer to the policy wording for terms and conditions, also if
you become permanent resident and have paid full year premium but have made claims then you can not cancel your insurance but continue to use until
the expiry date.

Regards
International Insurance Office."

What next? I've emailed them back with ONLY the question about the Certificate of Coverage--that seems to be the sticking point for American health insurance companies.

I've seen what happens when you can't get health insurance in the US--it's horrible and full of debt and worry. I am fervently hoping that by the time I'm ready to move back to the US, some type of national healthcare system will be in place. But as that is highly unlikely given the nature of my fellow Americans (and our government), I DO NOT want to move back to the US, and suddenly not have any sort of coverage, nor qualify to get it, because of living overseas. On the other hand, I can't afford to pay $75-200 US$ a month to keep health insurance in the US while I'm in NZ for 3-4 years!

Are most Americans on this board planning to live in NZ for the rest of their lives, and don't have to worry about things like this? It is basically the only thing that is really tripping me up about this move.

Thanks for your time and patience reading this...is there anyone else I could ask?

[sweetpea]

My impression was that the international student insurance does not cover you on visits back to the US. I do not keep US insurance, I simply don't have that kind of money.

I'm coming back to the States after I finish school in 2010. I will be in a profession where group health insurance is a common benefit - and won't take a job where it isn't offered. I'm older, so it is possible I'll come down with something here that makes me uninsurable, I just hope that doesn't happen.

Yours is a valid concern, though.

[Keith C.]

I'm surprised they didn't give you some kind of document to read. FWIW, VUW offers a policy from StudentSafe for which I have a 25 page PDF document telling what is and is not covered. This policy does offer coverage for trips back to your country of origin, provided the trips are 90 days or less. There are certain limits on expenses, but on the whole, it looks to me like great coverage for the cost.

[ers99w]

Thanks, all. I have decided upon several emails back and forth with both US insurance companies and the StudentSafe NZ insurance reps that no one knows the answer! NZ reps don't know what the Certificate is (language barrier?), and the US reps need it to confirm coverage. Oh well. I suppose the point is moot because I probably won't be able to afford a policy I don't use in the US (is it even possible to keep?). I just have to hope I don't get ill down there, and if I do, I can get a job with medical insurance in the US after I return.

I'll just get travel insurance for when I return to the US on visits (I think U Auckland requires this, actually). If the university doesn't let me piggy back on my boyfriend's (domestic partner's?) insurance, I guess I'll buy my own policy down there through tim (?). (I've seen his name on these boards but don't remember exactly what it is.)