All about medical insurance in the state of New York: Fidelis Care experts answered our readers' questions

Фото: Depositphotos

In the United States continues the season of registration of health insurance for the next year. In order to help New Yorkers understand the process’s nuances, ForumDaily organized an online Q & A session with representatives of the insurance company. Fidelis care. Especially for our publication, Russian-speaking specialists of the company answered readers' questions regarding the design of health insurance in the state of New York.

1. Hello! In August, we made free insurance for children, and we, as adults, were given insurance. Emergency. Then we were in tourist status, and now we are awaiting a new status on political asylum. Question: Do we need to renew our insurance now or is it renewed automatically? Thank.

If your status has changed and political asylum has been confirmed to you, then you can update the data in your file, without waiting for it to be renewed. The system automatically extends all the data entered into it, it cannot change your status without your participation.

2. Interested in dental treatment insurance that covers the implant. Where to find insurance companies in New York, preferably with a Russian-speaking employee. Search only PPO plan? Are there sites or Marketplaces?

Implants are not covered by insurance. At least for now. Only conventional prosthetics are covered. Regarding other questions - where to find someone, why you need to look only for PPO - you need to talk and find out the details. It’s not a bad idea to call the Russian Marketplace service and ask a question about Russian-speaking employees at insurance companies other than Fidelis.

3. Is it possible to buy good medical insurance (not tourist) for Russian citizens who come to the USA for medical tourism (for examination and treatment at an American hospital)? People do not have SSN and come to the US for the first time.

Medical tourism in the sense in which it exists in Germany or in Israel, no. Most medical agencies seek to send Americans to other countries or focus on domestic medical tourism.

Voyagermed is a medical tourism market for international patients seeking high-quality medical care in the United States. Based in New York, it expects at least 500 foreign patients a year to seek treatment in the United States. Voyagermed seeks to attract overseas patients to US hospitals.

Saving money is not a priority, but the platform strives to direct U.S. and international patients to places that offer the most appropriate treatment—for price and quality.

There is no central government website or organization offering information about hospitals and doctors in the United States, so future patients themselves try to contact the right doctor.

Do not forget that medical services in the USA are very expensive.

4. What is the maximum income for a family of 3 people to get insurance?

There are no income restrictions to obtain insurance. It’s just that in one case it may be free insurance, and in another it may be paid. To qualify for free coverage, income must not exceed $28,180 for three people. Then paid insurance begins.

Фото: Depositphotos

5. Is it possible to get insurance from Fidelis at the expense of the state while being in the US using a green card?

It is not entirely clear what “at the expense of the state” means. Most likely, we are talking about free insurance. The answer may be yes and no. It all depends on family composition, income and age.

6. Please help me with the situation. I went to the doctor with a small question (in City MD), I preliminarily clarified whether they work with my insurance, they said that they work and that the visit costs 50 $. I was at the doctor for just a minute, the doctor gave me a prescription for medicine and directed me to a more narrow specialist in City MD, giving me the coordinates of the new doctor. There the story repeated: a minute at the doctor, a referral to another doctor and 50 $ per visit. Today I get an invoice to still pay 125 $ in city ​​MD and 400 $ to the second doctor. They called their insurance company, they said that city ​​MD and the second doctor deceived us, they do not work with our insurance and this is not the first time they lie to people like that. It was my first trip to a hospital in the USA, I don’t know what to do. What happens if I don’t pay this money?

Here, most likely, you need legal advice. You need to talk again with a representative of your insurance company and find out whether they will file a complaint against these doctors if the situation repeats itself repeatedly. If the case took place in New York, then your insurance company can give you the address of the city regulatory agency that inspects the work of medical offices. And for the future, before you see a doctor, check with your insurance company to see if the doctor or office accepts your insurance.

7. In the US, a lot of insurance companies and insurance plans. How to understand them and choose exactly the plan that will fit most?

Much depends on where you live in the USA. If this is New York, if you are legally in the country (you have the right to work) and you want to pay reasonable money for medical services, go to the website www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov — there you will find the names of insurance companies, plan names and prices. In addition, you need to contact the doctors you plan to visit. They are the ones who accept or do not accept certain insurances, doctors work with insurances, you just pay for the insurance.

8. My older parents are visiting on the 4 of the month in New York. Is it possible for them to make insurance in your company?

Unfortunately, you will not be able to arrange for parents the usual insurance not only in Fidelis, but also in any other company. They are not permanent legal residents of the United States. You can contact one of the city hospitals (Coney Island Hospital, Kings County Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital, Jamaica Hospital and a number of others) and arrange for them the NNS program. This is insurance for emergency cases.

Фото: Depositphotos

9. Good day. I plan to come from Russia to New York and give birth here. Can you get insurance for such cases?

You can get a temporary insurance upon arrival. Initially, you will need to visit a gynecologist to obtain the necessary documents confirming pregnancy and determining the expected month of birth. You will have to pay for this, since you do not have insurance. Then you will need to go to one of City Hospitals - Coney Island HospitalFor example, in order to arrange insurance there.

10. I need to do an ultrasound, found kidney stones. The previous insurance has ended, but the new one is not there yet. What can be done in this case?

Immediately draw up a new one, especially since now is the season of registration of insurance. If you do this before December 15, the new insurance will start working on January 1.

11. I am now in the US illegally. Can I get some insurance?

Unfortunately not. Go to the legal position. You can only become a participant in the NNS program in one of the city hospitals (if you are in New York).

12. We are moving to New York from Kazakhstan on a green card. We are two adults and two children. What kind of insurance can we apply at least for the first time while we are looking for a job?

In your case, you can safely arrange any insurance available to you at a price. The company Fidelis will gladly help you. You can contact, for example, with the supervisor of our Russian team Evgeny Kupin on the phone: (917) 608-5257.

13. My mom is already 80 years old, and we are thinking about getting home care for her. How does it work and what kind of insurance should we choose? How much will we pay for this care monthly?

The question requires clarification: the status of the mother, what is her insurance. Judging by the question, there is no insurance yet. In general terms, it looks like this: there is an MLTC program designed to care for the elderly at home. To obtain this program you need to contact either Medicare, or in the provider company (for example, in Fidelis). The company's specialists will tell you in detail how such a program works, what services it provides and how to properly prepare the necessary documents.

14. Do you have Russian-speaking specialists? How can I contact them?

Yes, we have a team of Russian-speaking specialists. Moreover, they speak not only Russian, but also in many other languages ​​of the peoples of the former Soviet republics. You can contact them at the following numbers:

External Relations Specialist Leonid Kopeikin: (347) 642-2993.

Or send your question by mail

Read also on ForumDaily:

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4 Essential Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan

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10 life hacking for new immigrants in the US

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