Health Insurance for visitors

Introduction.

There is a very large segment of the annual visiting population to the US , who has hardly any insurance coverage for their pressing health care needs. This article addresses how this problem has been generated and how to handle such a demanding issue.

How the problem arises.

There are a large number of international employees working in the US . Many of them get their graduate studies here .After their higher education, many of these people find employment here. Later on they get green cards, become permanent residents. The largest number of such people is from China , India , Philippines etc. Once they are settled, they invariably bring their parents on a visit to US. Sometimes these visitors arrive even when their children are students. In several cases, the parents stay for six months and later on extend their stay to one year.

Most of these elderly visitors to the country suffer ailments, predicaments during their stay. They often are here without any insurance coverage due to the following reasons.

1. Lack of awareness of the costs of health care in the US.
2. Lack of knowledge of the harsh climatic conditions in the US in the East Coast etc.
3. Lack of information, that without insurance, it is quite hard to get healthcare in US.

It is common to see many such visitors suffering without medical care since they do not have adequate pacific prime. Ocassionally this has resulted in serious, fatal events.

This is a pressing problem that needs to be taken care of by the authorities and insurance companies.

Suggestions to handle the lack of insurance coverage for visitors.

1. Create awareness among the expatriate work force within the US that they should take medical insurance for their parents /relatives when they come on a visit.
2. Provide affordable premiums for such a visiting population by reducing the premiums.
3. Extend the operation of American health insurance companies to the countries from which this segment of the visiting population originates.
4. Advise proactive action to be taken by such people (on matters like appropriate diet, exercise etc) when they arrive.

Conclusion.

This article has addressed the generation of a serious health related issue that has gone largely unattended in the past i.e. the lack of health care for visiting parents. Suggestions to handle this problem have been given. Incidentally an existing niche in the insurance market has also been brought out.