Hi

I am a US citizen living and working in Florida and New York. My Thai wife of several years is naturalized a US citizen .

My wife's Mother, in her early 50s is in renal failure (kidney) and requires dialysis .

We are both working and it is impossible for as to move to Thailand at this time, we were planing to retire there in about 5 years.

In the mean time , we would like to bring her Mom to the US so that we could take care of her.

Is it possible? would some one with such medical condition be allowed to immigrate to the US?

I know not the best idea, once the Mom is here and attached to the US Medical system, it will be difficult for as to retire to Thailand in 5 years, but we have limited choices.And we love her Mom.

It seems that I found my answer.

She would be allowed to immigrate. but before she is we have to demonstrate that we would be able to take care of her,

The average dialysis costs in the US being $72,000 per year with out insurance, does not make it a financially viable option .

I would have to check to see if it is possible for her to recovered by my insurance plan, but I don't' think so.

At $ 72,000 a year it would be less expensive to fine some one in Thailand to take care of her.

Let's shift this one to the Medical Forum where you'll probably get some comments on obtaining care in a Thai government facility. It would help to know where she's located, province and district.

Mac

She is located in Khon Kaen , and unfortunately her medical coverage will only pay for Peritoneal dialysis, which she has to do 3-4 times a day.

We were kind of hopping to bring her here, where we would be better able to take care of her, but we knew it was a long shot.

My wife's sister is taking care of her now. but it is a full time job, and we might have to hire some one else.

The Hemodialysis might be a better option because it only has to be done a couple of times a week, and the prospect of infection is smaller, so she can have a more active lifestyle. but her Medical coverage does not cover it and as I understand it it is very expensive in Thailand also and not widely available.

It is a same and we are all very sad for her, as she is a young woman, and a truly wonderful person

You mention her medical coverage. What coverage is this? Private? Through employment?

I thought that the Thai government's Universal Care coverage now included Hemodialysis.

Mac

The UCS does include dialysis and has since 2008. And it is available at KKU Hospital. So your MIL is either working in out of date information or has been misinformed.

I suggest you have your wife call the NHSO for more detailed information http://www.nhso.go.th/FrontEnd/Index.aspx

No US insurance company is going to cover pre-existing renal disease so US is a non-starter.

Srinagarind Hospital

Thank you all for that info. I will have my wife look in to it .