Moving Question Please

[flyrr100]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by SheilaF
Hi again

We need to look into the pension issue, my husband has a private pension that will initially be our only source of income. Problem with son is he left school after GCSE's and is working in the IT dept of a local company (has a factory in the US I think). My husband is looking into a business venture which will involve our son.

Not having a mortgage is an idea my husband and I both favour, having paid the UK one off years ago. We would just ship over furniture, we have plenty of family to give the electrical stuff to and the two cars will be sold.

We have been looking at properties, but can't do anything at all until we get the all-clear (IF)...

Hubby is thrilled to hear of Fox Soccer Channel, we spent last summer in Orlando and he really missed the footy. Spent Saturday nights glued to the laptop trying to find the results.....

I am sure you can get results online but if you need any info or a quick score, let me know.

Thanks again for your help
SheilaF
[/quote]


Shelia... your son's GCSEs are not worth the paper they're printed on here. Belive me I've been through it. I came here with a bunch of CSEs, a few O levels and a year at Twickenham Poly. The US university I went to told me none of it counted torwards a degree. I had to take basic math and english clases to just get into the program.

I disagree with keeping UK property unless you want to still pay taxes in the UK. Remember all property you have in the UK is liable for the apropriate taxes.

Banks. I never kept mine, but I agree if you go back to the UK a lot they can be useful. But in this day of Intl. commerce a Vias card is a Visa card, wherever you are!

Later!!!!!!

[Nostromo]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by flyrr100
You need insurance from day one. Don't even tempt fate by not having it. If you get sick you'll bankrupt yourself.
Obviously I don't know your work situation. Most employers will have a plan you can get into. I pay around $50.00 a month.

I've been here since the mid 80s. Anything I can help with, feel free to ask.

[/quote]

Flyrr, could you elaborate on this a bit? With the "average" employee Health Cover provided in the US (if there is such) and the small premium that you mention, excacly how much health and dental cover would you receive? For example, does it cover all eventualities like the NHS does in the UK?

The $700-a-month Blue Cross mentioned by Martin is expensive, but does that give full cover?

[florida4sun]

Most employers insurances are fine but you usually have to pay some towards costs. The problem with employers cover is that of you move jobs, more than likely any existing conditions would not be covered. For instance we new someone who worked for 'certain' burger chain. Hated his job but was stuck there due to his reliance on their health care for his wife who had a long term illness.
The $700 a month we paid is probably around $300 more than a 'standard' policy. I did this because a freind who had standard coverage, went into hospital with a suspected heart attack. It was just stress and he spent 2 days in hospital. Each dept billed him seperately and had had to pay the 'co pay' amount for each bill. This still cost him around $7000!!! Scarey stuff.

[florida4sun]

Florida4sun - scary !!! does that really happen with the neighbours? Even with paying $700 a month you still had to return home ? It has really opened my eyes but thats good we need to go into this fully aware and informed. Was it worth it ? ...............

<span style="color:blue">We enjoyed our time in Florida and I would not have changed it for the world. It is mainly the sun we miss, waking up to that every morning does lift your spirits somewhat. I think overall Florida is more expensive than the UK (if you want live well and enjoy yourself).
The $700 just covered my wife and I, it was florida kidcare we had trouble with. Even so, any insurance company will look long and hard at trying not pay a claim. Its not nice having to battle when you or a family member is ill.</span id="blue">


Thanks for all the info we now have a rough idea what to expect to pay. Will you return to the US?

Would we go back? Not to live full time, I would certainly spend 3 or 4 months out there each year. First I think I would give Spain or France a chance. As long as there is sun we would try it
Just for a refence I honestly think a family of 4 setting in Florida needs in excess off $100,000 income per year to have a good standard of living.

[SheilaF]

Morning Everyone

Yes the 0-1 visa is correct, for persons of exceptional ability. Hubby has to work, not full time but nevertheless he has to be seen to do something. He has an "idea" which is only that at this stage to do something in his field, which would involve my son. Still waiting to hear back from the Lawyer regarding my son working.

Medical insurance is horrific, we paid £90.00 a month and thought we'd overpaid !!! I think I need to draw up a budget list, approx how much it would cost a month to live. For insurance quotes do you got to a broker who will advise the best deals ?


Wow £100,000 a year, not what I wanted to hear, sounds like he will HAVE to work !!!!

Many thanks again to all (Hi Angela, hope you are feeling better)

SheilaF

[Nostromo]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by florida4sun
Most employers insurances are fine but you usually have to pay some towards costs. The problem with employers cover is that of you move jobs, more than likely any existing conditions would not be covered. For instance we new someone who worked for 'certain' burger chain. Hated his job but was stuck there due to his reliance on their health care for his wife who had a long term illness.
The $700 a month we paid is probably around $300 more than a 'standard' policy. I did this because a freind who had standard coverage, went into hospital with a suspected heart attack. It was just stress and he spent 2 days in hospital. Each dept billed him seperately and had had to pay the 'co pay' amount for each bill. This still cost him around $7000!!! Scarey stuff.
[/quote]

This is something like what I guessed it might be. A relative in California had work related health insurance which covered part of his expenses when he had a heart attack. But when he changed jobs 2 years later, there was a fortnight 'between jobs' during which time he had no health cover. He was so stressed that he sat at home doing nothing for 2 whole weeks! But he is very reluctant to discuss the details of what his policy covered and did not, but Martin's post gave me an idea.

Health Cover issues are the major deterrant in the option for applying to move to Florida after my wife and I retire. For that matter, it is a factor to be considered while moving anywhere out of the UK, even back home to India.

[blott]

Sheila, you can get ex-pat insurance for the first year or two so try http://www.imglobal.com/ which provides quite comprehensive cover which you can purchase online if you wish. Generally, no insurance company covers pre-existing conditions, at least for one or two years if you haven't required treatment for them in the meantime.

If you already have UK private health insurance, companies like BUPA and PPP also provide ex-pat policies.

It's not just the health insurance monthly costs, you also have a deductible (or excess) which you may be able to choose by paying a lower or higher insurance premium, which adds additional costs to being ill, sometimes quite high ones. It's best to be fit and well if you're going to live in Florida!

[chrizzy100]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by florida4sun
Florida4sun - scary !!! does that really happen with the neighbours? Even with paying $700 a month you still had to return home ? It has really opened my eyes but thats good we need to go into this fully aware and informed. Was it worth it ? ...............

<span style="color:blue">We enjoyed our time in Florida and I would not have changed it for the world. It is mainly the sun we miss, waking up to that every morning does lift your spirits somewhat. I think overall Florida is more expensive than the UK (if you want live well and enjoy yourself).
The $700 just covered my wife and I, it was florida kidcare we had trouble with. Even so, any insurance company will look long and hard at trying not pay a claim. Its not nice having to battle when you or a family member is ill.</span id="blue">


Thanks for all the info we now have a rough idea what to expect to pay. Will you return to the US?

Would we go back? Not to live full time, I would certainly spend 3 or 4 months out there each year. First I think I would give Spain or France a chance. As long as there is sun we would try it
Just for a refence I honestly think a family of 4 setting in Florida needs in excess off $100,000 income per year to have a good standard of living.





[/quote]

I don't think you need anywhere near $100k to have a good standard of living....we have nothing like that and in 5 years we own one of our two houses almost outright...2 cars and we have 4-5 hoildys a year......and we are a family of 4...with a daughter living at home in a low paying job right now waiting to go back to school.....and a son at school.....we came over with $60k.....in that time my husbands also been out of work.....in FL we could half our income ....its always nice to have more.....but if you know how to handle money...you can do very well in the USA on a lot less then a $100k......

[flyrr100]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Nostromo
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by flyrr100
Most employers will have a plan you can get into. I pay around $50.00 a month.[/b]



[/quote]

Flyrr, could you elaborate on this a bit? With the "average" employee Health Cover provided in the US (if there is such) and the small premium that you mention, excacly how much health and dental cover would you receive? For example, does it cover all eventualities like the NHS does in the UK?

The $700-a-month Blue Cross mentioned by Martin is expensive, but does that give full cover?
[/quote]


My employer enrolls into a group insurance plan. We have around 3500 employees. So we get a substantial reduced rate. As I said I pay around $50 a month. That gives us full coverage with different deductables depending on what we have done. Also that gives us a perscription plan. I think we pay around $20.00 for a bottle of pills. My wife just had her gall bladder removed and we ended up paying around $300. That included deductables to the hospital and the surgon's office. A little better than the $10,000 it would have cost without insurance!
This also gives us eye cover. I think we pay $100 flat fee for an exam and basic eye glasses if needed.
Dental is seperate. My employer pays that. Again we have a deductable. I think it's around $50 per procedure. Different procedures have different deductables.
So, understand, insurance is something you gotta have, wherever you get it. If you plan on retireing here look into senior's plans. The bigger the plan you get into the lower your premiums should be. Be sure to have all and any documentation concerning any pre-exsisting conditions you may have. And it's better to be a non-smoker!

Also, any medical bills over (I think) $5000 are tax deductable. Remember as a US resident you will be liable for all US taxes. No breaks just because you aren't citizens! Nice thing about Florida is we are one of around 3 or 4 states (Tennessee, Nevada, Delaware, Florida) that has no State Tax. In Ohio we had to pay around 7%-8% income tax to the State as well as the regular Federal income taxes.

Phew. Is it worth it? Absolutely! I came here in the late 80s with $10,000 and my guitar. I now have a 4 year degree. I'm an airline captain. I live in a big house with a pool and drive a convertible Mustang.

Eeeewww, by 3 year old just pooped! Gotta go change him.

Have a great weekend.

[chrizzy100]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Nostromo
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by florida4sun
Most employers insurances are fine but you usually have to pay some towards costs. The problem with employers cover is that of you move jobs, more than likely any existing conditions would not be covered. For instance we new someone who worked for 'certain' burger chain. Hated his job but was stuck there due to his reliance on their health care for his wife who had a long term illness.
The $700 a month we paid is probably around $300 more than a 'standard' policy. I did this because a freind who had standard coverage, went into hospital with a suspected heart attack. It was just stress and he spent 2 days in hospital. Each dept billed him seperately and had had to pay the 'co pay' amount for each bill. This still cost him around $7000!!! Scarey stuff.
[/quote]

This is something like what I guessed it might be. A relative in California had work related health insurance which covered part of his expenses when he had a heart attack. But when he changed jobs 2 years later, there was a fortnight 'between jobs' during which time he had no health cover. He was so stressed that he sat at home doing nothing for 2 whole weeks! But he is very reluctant to discuss the details of what his policy covered and did not, but Martin's post gave me an idea.

Health Cover issues are the major deterrant in the option for applying to move to Florida after my wife and I retire. For that matter, it is a factor to be considered while moving anywhere out of the UK, even back home to India.
[/quote]

With my husbands first company we paid no payments towards healthcare...or dental the company paid everything........then it went to $150 a month for a family of any size with co payments after a company buyout....now we are back with a smaller company its $90 per family a month no co payments for health for kids... $10 per illness for us....so much for dental in some cases.... with free cleanings and check ups......that follows us for 9 months if my husband leaves his company for any reason....then we pay $200 a month for 18 months after that....