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Posting on behalf of T1 friend from Ireland wishing to move to the USA

Metalmama

Well-Known Member
Please can anyone help my friend with some advice? :

Hello Everyone,

I currently live in Ireland and am thinking of moving to the USA in the next few months.

I'd like to know a little more about the healthcare provisions there for diabetes and hope you can help with some advice.

Can I get insurance as a non US citizen, and also is there a list of companies that provide healthcare so I able to pay for my insulin if I cannot get insurance? .

Any help will be much appreciated
Thanks.

C
 
What a road he / she is embarking upon

What makes the person think he / she will get a visa that quickly? If emigrating, no way will that be possible in that timeframe

Medical insurance (private) is an ENORMOUS expense unless it features in an employment benefit package.
 
Hi, @Metalmama , I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but USA doesn't seem to be that great a gig for T1s.

My aunt lives there, her partner worked there all his life and now, in retirement, even with insurance, he's paying about $400 per month for insulin etc.

There's a few US sites such as fudiabetes and tudiabetes with forums which might give a few on the ground steers about the reality of it.

One tweeter, Laura Marston, seems to spend a bit of time campaigning about the ridiculous cost of insulin there. It seems to be a major problem.

https://mobile.twitter.com/Kidfears99

I wouldn't even consider USA unless I was absolutely sure I was in a job with solid insurance which covered it.

There used to be a few American posters here, but I've not seen them for a while. They had a few tips on how to pick up cheaper off-patent insulin from Walmart, and doing border-hops to buy in Canada.

All in all, it really didn't seem like a place where you can pop across and get a free script like we do here.
 

Metalmama - I don't know why your friend doesn't join our community here, and interact to those responding to her. We have members from all over the world.
 
Mike D said:
What makes the person think he / she will get a visa that quickly? If emigrating, no way will that be possible in that timeframe
Click to expand...

They might have come up trumps (oops) in the visa lottery, something citizens of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland can apply for but citizens of the U.K. cannot. Makes you think Irish citizens get preferential treatment although it's probably just as difficult in the long run.
 

Doubt it 100%. She / he said "thinking" about moving. Is that sponsorship or just a desire to go.

I won't go into it, but if anyone qualified for quick entry, it was me. The rigmarole they put you through is off the scale. I have 300mg of files, affadavits, clean police records, health, bank statements, the lot

And that's with me married to an American who holds a US passport !!!!!!.
 
Mike D said:
And that's with me married to an American who holds a US passport !!!!!!.
Click to expand...

My friend and his American wife have just had the same issues trying to get her residency in the U.K.

I was referring to something called the Diversity Immigrant Visa, 50,000 green cards available in what is essentially a lottery. In mentioning it, I was more intrigued by the idea that you can apply if born in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, but not the U.K.
 
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