Health Insurance for Americans Returning to the US
UPDATED September 2025
What are your plans for health insurance when you return to your home country? If you are a US citizen returning to the US to work, you can get your insurance through your new employer. Most other countries have national health plans, so you are typically covered. But what if you are a US citizen retiring or taking a year or so sabbatical and who doesn’t yet qualify for Medicare?
If you are not working, you will need to purchase private health insurance. One option is to access the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange through HealthCare.gov to find a policy. I read in one article that private insurance providers mainly work through the HealthCare.gov marketplace as their point of contact.
Another possible approach is to take a course from a university that offers student health insurance policies. You then purchase your policy through the university’s insurance provider. I learned this from a corporate friend who retired to the US from Asia a few years ago. He wanted to take a course from the local state university and noticed he could purchase health insurance for his family by taking one 3-hour course per year.
Another option, if you are semi-retired, is to work part-time for a company that provides health insurance. My friend, who took university courses for personal growth and health insurance, decided he wanted to work, which recently led to a part-time job and health insurance benefits.
As for Medicare, which kicks in when you turn 65, it is important to start researching ahead of time. You might not know that Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not cover all your costs. It only pays a portion of medical expenses and there is no limit on out-of-pocket costs.
Here are a few resources to get you started with your research:
Get Started With Medicare - The official Medicare website research page
Demystifying Medicare for Retirement - An overview including explanation of options
Medicare Specialist - Abt Insurance Agency YouTube Channel - You can purchase either Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) through an insurance agent to cover costs not paid by Original Medicare. There is no charge to purchase these policies through an insurance agent. There are many video providers to choose from.
Check out health insurance resources on YouTube, Facebook, Reddit groups, and other information sources to learn about your choices when repatriating to the US.
Disclaimer: I am not an insurance broker or an expert on health insurance decisions. I offer this information only to help you begin your research.
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