Bringing an elderly parent from U.S. to Germany

Hi there. I'm hoping someone can answer this question.

I'm working as an engineer and living with my girlfriend in germany. My mom's health is becoming worse and worse, and I'd like her to live here by us for two reasons:

1) So that she's close.
2) So that she can be better taken care of by the social health care system.

She lives in america right now, and doesn't get necessarily the health care that she needs.

I have a work visa, but nothing else.

How would it be possible to have my mom live here? Is there any way? I know that 3 months is the normal amount of time for visiting, but that's it.

I would greatly appreciate any answers.

The first problem I see is that, even assuming you managed to get her a visa of some sort, she would have difficulty getting health insurance...

He might be able to get her covered under his insurance...as a dependent...!?

Call your health insurance company and speak to them about it...

I think it will all be difficult on a limited work visa...how long is it for?

My visa is good till august, and then it will be renewed for another year. The place I work will keep renewing it as long as I need it.

I'd like my mom to stay here at least 6 months, but up to 1-2 years would be ideal.

I suspect this is a non-starter unless you have the funds to pay medical costs yourself. IMHO you cannot include parents on your medical insurance & I am guessing she is to old to be able to enter the public insurance. Her own private insurance will cost two arms & two legs at least

AFAIK Dependants stop at 25 years max!

I just called my insurance, and they said she'd have to be privately insured. Anyone know how much that would cost?

On a separate note, she has insurance in america. Does anyone know if in general american insurance can be applied abroad?

It's not only health insurance you'll have difficulties with - I doubt she would even be granted residency here, unless of course she had plenty of money (and not just yours!) to support her...

Very expensive, due to the risk. The price rises according to age on entry...


That should be easier to answer - phone them up & follow up in writing!

In general, no. ...but you could always call and see if they have an optional extended service option.

If it were my mom, I'd tell her to stay in the states (because of cost AND better care there), especially since my mom lives very close to Mayo (Rochester, MN)...arguably the best in the world.

I'm sure that we could debate for ages on where the better medical care is, HOWEVER I would agree with you that I would also recommend
against bringing an elderly (or at least much older) person across in these circumstances - so if you are involved in needing medical care the language
barrier (I presume its there) is immense.

When my 80-yr old mother visited us from the UK for 10 day periods we breathed a sign of relief when she was on plane back home for that reason alone...

Hi,

I don't know if that would work but could she maybe get a worldwide travel insurance, or something similar ?

Be sure that she has had her rabies shots.

Hasn't anyone had a similar situation to mine? I'd appreciate any more insightful info possible...

Dude, you want your mother to have the best of care and that is great. Get her on an insurance plan in the states. Your chances are zero to nil that you can get her on the system here where you are neither permanent nor have paid much into the system. You would have better luck moving her to a state with better health care for senior citizens. Harsh reality I know, but that is the shape of things.

BTW, the rabies comment was because your thread title sounded like every other thread about bringing a dog or cat to Germany.