Canadian Traveling to America?

[CanadianToAmerica]

Hey everyone,

Before I start I'd like to say "Thank you".  I've been reading the forum now for probably a good four-five months and it's really helped.  It's helped me know HIV is not a death sentence and that unfortunately a lot of what I thought about the disease was stigma and not fact.  It's helped me know there is a community dedicated to really beating this thing.  And that there is actually a whole lot of options at this point in time.  So yah thanks guys/gals.

My question has to do with traveling and living in the states.

I am from Canada and although we don't have a perfect government response to HIV/AIDS we have a pretty good one.  In some provinces *I think B.C. And Alberta* HIV medication is covered by the government.  In the other provinces I think it varies but a lot of the costs are assumed under our health care system and then the rest usually gets covered by work and or with support groups.

I know though that the US has health insurance versus a right to health care like here in Canada.  If I had the opportunity to live in the states is it possible to purchase health insurance having HIV?  Are the costs insane?  If you become a citizen and ever find yourself without ways to pay for health insurance do you just die?  I know these are kinda crazy questions but having no experience with your health care systems and hearing the horror stories it's kind of frightening to think about it. 

If anyone has the time to help inform I'd really appreciate it.

And thanks again!

[Almost2late]

Hi Canadian and welcome to the forums,

To answer a couple of your questions, yes you can purchase private insurance and thanks to Obama you can not be denied coverage due to prior health problems.. Also yes it is expensive, at least I think so.. I get mine through my work.. There is ways of getting health care if you lack funds but I have not crossed that bridge yet, I'll leave that for someone else to answer.. Hope I helped.

[Since1993]

If I had the opportunity to live in the states is it possible to purchase health insurance having HIV?  Are the costs insane?  If you become a citizen and ever find yourself without ways to pay for health insurance do you just die?  I know these are kinda crazy questions but having no experience with your health care systems and hearing the horror stories it's kind of frightening to think about it. 

If anyone has the time to help inform I'd really appreciate it.

And thanks again!

In general, those who are  “lawfully present” inside the United States would qualify for Affordable Care Act ("ObamaCare") insurance plans even if they are not yet US citizens.  Also, through the Ryan White Care Act, those with HIV+ are eligible for assistance with costs associated with insurance premiums, medication co-pays, mental health and dental care, etc..  Legal status is not required to receive services funded with Ryan White dollars.

If you know what state you will be moving to, it would behoove you to do research of AIDS Service Organizations in the local area you will be moving and they can assist getting you linked into care.

[Irish Eyes]

I have bronze level Obamacare  with Anthem Blue Cross, it costs  me abt $280 per month.
You have to ba a legal resident/US citizen to receive Obamacare.
 You can apply for ADAP, which based on your income (and I believe each state has diff income requirements)
in california income limit is $50000, with ADAP I pay nothing for doc visits, meds (my Stribild is $2500+ per mth.) plus they pay the above med insurance premium of $280.

The only thing I have had to pay for was blood/lab work.
But there are options to have that covered.

[idee]

The ACA, (Affordable Care Act),  started by Obama requires everyone to have healthcare. Whereas before the ACA all my internet searches said that pre-existing conditions were not a reason for an insurance company to deny a person health insurance. The way I was denied, at the time I was living in California, was because the insurance companies considered my illness a terminal illness. Even when my doctors called HIV a manageable disease. I don't know how the US is when accepting HIV positive people from anywhere.
When my husband and I looked into moving to Canada we saw that our health may keep us from becoming Canadian citizens do to our health care being expensive.
I wish you luck in coming to the US. Maybe call the US consulate.

[idee]

I have bronze level Obamacare  with Anthem Blue Cross, it costs  me abt $280 per month.
You have to ba a legal resident/US citizen to receive Obamacare.
 You can apply for ADAP, which based on your income (and I believe each state has diff income requirements)
in california income limit is $50000, with ADAP I pay nothing for doc visits, meds (my Stribild is $2500+ per mth.) plus they pay the above med insurance premium of $280.

The only thing I have had to pay for was blood/lab work.
But there are options to have that covered.

I wanted to ask if the way you have ADAP with your Obama care/Blue Cross can you purchase and own property? Is there an income limitation on ADAP?

[CanadianToAmerica]

I just wanted to say thanks so much for the awesome replies! 

I can't even imagine the fear of thinking you might not be covered when you find out you have HIV, especially with how far the medication has come.  Kinda shameful in a way that the most powerful country on the globe for a while there had people like idee struggling for coverage.

The details that you all posted are making me feel better already   Hopefully more answers come in, and I have reached out to some HIV groups to get some more clarification. 

Thanks guys

[Since1993]

You have to ba a legal resident/US citizen to receive Obamacare.

That's incorrect.

You don't have to be a US Citizen, but you must maintain "lawful presence" in the United States to be eligible for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health plan.

You don't have to be a US Citizen to receive Ryan White Care/ADAP funds either, but provide proof of residence in the US.

I could provide many different internet sources, but this website gives more specifics as it relates to ACA immigration issues:

http://www.nilc.org/immigrantshcr.html

[Since1993]

I wanted to ask if the way you have ADAP with your Obama care/Blue Cross can you purchase and own property? Is there an income limitation on ADAP?

Assistance with insurance premiums and medication co-pays would fall under Ryan White Care Act Part B/ADAP.

Every state has different asset-eligibility requirements to qualify for Ryan White Care Part B Assistance/ADAP.  Most allow you to own a home, but limit income from 100-500% of the Federal Poverty Level.

[Since1993]

Whereas before the ACA all my internet searches said that pre-existing conditions were not a reason for an insurance company to deny a person health insurance. The way I was denied, at the time I was living in California, was because the insurance companies considered my illness a terminal illness.

For decades before the ACA, insurance companies were denying patients coverage due to pre-existing conditions.  Most pre-existing conditions weren't terminal illness-related. 

[Since1993]

I don't know how the US is when accepting HIV positive people from anywhere.

Anyone HIV+ can legally visit or immigrate to the United States.

[Irish Eyes]

I wanted to ask if the way you have ADAP with your Obama care/Blue Cross can you purchase and own property? Is there an income limitation on ADAP?

I'm a 'resident alien'  and own a property.
In CA when I enrolled Jan. 2014 income limitation was up to $50k.

[Irish Eyes]

You have to ba a legal resident/US citizen to receive Obamacare.

That's incorrect.

You don't have to be a US Citizen, but you must maintain "lawful presence" in the United States to be eligible for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health plan.

I believe I'm right. Arn't you dismissing what I said and then repeated what i said.
I recon 'lawful presence' = legally residing.

[mrtoad]

other thoughts..you can purchase travel insurance in CA before leaving.giving you time to get "set up" here.It covers office visits and meds.there are any number of clinics here that offer a sliding fee scale.obviously the bigger the city the more of those you'll find.though most cities over 75k will have at least one.Also you could marry a hot american

[CanadianToAmerica]

Haha Mrtoad

[mrtoad]

*I think B.C. And Alberta* HIV medication is covered by the government.  In the other provinces I think it varies but a lot of the costs are assumed under our health care system and then the rest usually gets covered by work and or with support groups.
"I Think'?? Don't you know? What are you doing to treat it now? Obama care which really we can thank Hillary for, is in it's infancy.I'ld think twice about leaving a place that obviously has superior health care..just sayin