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[drspouse]

This is kind of the-other-way-round, really, but I thought this group might well know the answer!

I'm trying to persuade my department to give me a sabbatical (it is my contractual right, but we won't go into that, or I'd rant for hours) and this would be to the US institution (large state research school) at which I did a postdoc.  They are keen to have me and have suggested I might do some teaching for them.  I would rather just live off my UK salary (and anything my husband can earn while we're there! - he's a UK citizen but I'm US so he'll be able to work) but am worried that a) this might not be standard and also b) this would leave me with no healthcare.

Has anyone with a permanent UK position managed to sort out the health insurance side of things while they spend a sabbatical in the US?

[sandgrounder]

It might just be worth checking with your university's insurance people. I have a feeling I've been told that I'm covered for health care while doing fieldwork abroad on research leave. It wouldn't help with your husband but maybe worth checking out.

[qrypt]

The other thing is - travel insurance.  A semester is too long - but if you break the trip into pieces, each less than 42 days, returning home for a day or two...  I know that sounds expensive, but travel insurance is cheap, and the price of an extra ticket home would surely be less than full-cost health insurance purchased on the market in the US.

[the_walrus]

I think travel insurance is a good idea.  Mine, which costs ~$70/year, allows an unlimited number of trips anywhere (including the US) so long as they are 90 days or shorter.

[drspouse]

We discussed travel insurance and my work insurance, but neither of these would help as neither of them would cover regular doctor visits and medications, and I'm sure at least one of us would manage to get acutely sick while we're there, plus my husband is diabetic and needs regular continuing care and insulin - not emergency room visits...

Also, if you are using travel insurance, however good the cover is, you have to get refunds, usually only after you've come back etc. etc.

[expatinuk]

Take the position with your US Uni and do enough just to get health insurance.

I wouldn't count on Hubby being able to get a job quickly enough or good enough for US health insurance, especially if he has a preexisting condition such as diabetes.

[drspouse]

Well, they are looking into it for me.  My HoD suggested today I take a leave of absence and live on my US salary but I don't think they would pay me enough for us both to live on, with just part-time teaching. So I vetoed that idea...