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Original poster

DH offered a job in Miami- advice and help needed

49 replies

CatCuddler999 · 08/03/2022 13:22

There is a job in Miami available. He has a good chance of getting it. DD is 12. There would be the three of us plus our pets moving.

I am unaware of the following-

  • how much health insurance would cost a year? Dd and I have health problems including asthma.
  • whether the salary (equivalent to 60k in £) would be enough for us to live comfortably in a nice area?
  • what’s the situation with bringing our pets?
  • would me and DD be able to accompany DH or would it be tricky Visa-wise?
OP posts:
CavernousScream · 08/03/2022 13:24

Do not move to the US with pre-existing health problems. Do not move to Miami on £60k a year.

Original poster
CatCuddler999 · 08/03/2022 13:27

Can you explain further @CavernousScream

OP posts:
motheroftwoboys · 08/03/2022 13:30

That would have been my dream. We love Miami. Pretty sure you will get family health insurance as part of the salary package and they should give you help for relocation.

thisplaceisweird · 08/03/2022 13:32

Miami is SO EXPENSIVE. You will not be close to comfortable on 60k for 2 people!

nearlyspringyay · 08/03/2022 13:32

60k as the overall? What's the package?

It wont be enough for you to live comfortably, unless you're excluding package?

Even if not international school fees you need to factor in exam prices.

Sounds like madness to me.

Blossom64265 · 08/03/2022 13:33

His employer should be offering health insurance.

  1. You need to look at the employee portion of the cost for a family. That will be taken directly out of the paycheck.
  2. Then you need to look at the deductible for individual and family. This is the amount you pay each year before the insurance covers anything.
  3. what are your copays. This is the amount you pay for an office visit or the percentage you pay for something bigger.
  4. how restrictive is the plan. Some plans give you little choice in doctor or hospital
  5. what are the prescription drug costs. Are your asthma meds on the formulary. That means are they on the recommend drug list or would you need to get an exemption to get the insurance to pay for them. Some exemptions are easy. Some are impossible.
  6. what are the individual and family max out of pocket for the year. Does this include prescriptions? It generally does not.

The employer will have all of this information about the health plan.

kateemo · 08/03/2022 13:36

That could be quite challenging. 12 years old is middle school, which is also a difficult time. Not saying it's impossible, but unless the job comes with very good benefits--like assistance with rent and very good health insurance as a given, then I would think twice. The humidity in Florida is a force to be reckoned with. Everywhere is air conditioned, so you should consider this with your asthma. I often caught colds and viruses. Grew up and worked there for the better part of 30 years.

Clarabe1 · 08/03/2022 13:40

Depends on whether healthcare, accommodation costs etc are part of the package. My neice lives in Arizona and is on a lot more than 60k and hasn’t got a lot left over because her healthcare costs are exorbitant and that is with her employers help. You are unlikely to be covered for any existing health conditions btw. Also depends where in Miami. There are some lovely parts but there are areas that are quite frankly the ghetto. Total no go areas ran by gangs. Miami is the gateway for drugs entering North America from the south so gang culture is pretty rife. You really need to look into this and understand where in Miami you would be living and what costs are covered. You will definitely need air conditioning because it’s hotter than the centre of a fire pit plus the humidity is through the roof during the summer months.

SeaToSki · 08/03/2022 13:43

You need to ask the employer all of these questions, they should be covering medical insurance, visas, should put you in touch with a relocation consultancy for housing and school advice. If they dont, dont touch the job with a barge pole

Also ask them about whether dh will be paid in the uk or usa..relevant for tax reasons
Whether he will stay on uk terms and conditions or move to usa ones..relevant for holidays and sick pay
What happens if you all hate it (or a gparent is sick etc) and want to go back to the UK..is there a minimum stay
Will they pay for a certain number of flights to the uk every year..
If you have a house in the uk, will they pay for the costs associated with selling it, or renting it out

RandomQuest · 08/03/2022 13:44

He would need to ask the employer in about their health insurance offering including monthly cost for the whole family, copay, it’s deductibles and the out of pocket maximum.

Miami is expensive and honestly I’d consider that a pretty crap salary, definitely not worth moving for.

You can take your pets. Requirements vary by animal but when we moved the cat it was very straightforward.

Presuming you’re married and that he gets an L1 visa, you and DD would get the dependent L2 visa. You can work on an L2 visa but you have to file an additional EAD application once you’re in the country and processing times for vary widely. If you were confident that you’d find well paid work maybe it would be doable but I don’t think it would be on his salary alone.

SeaToSki · 08/03/2022 13:45

Btw. People saying your pre exisiting conditions would not be covered by health insurance are not correct. The affordable health care act changed that and all health plans have to cover pre existing conditions now

CaMePlaitPas · 08/03/2022 13:50

I don't think that salary is worth uprooting everyone for, particularly to go to somewhere like Miami.

RelentlessForwardProgress · 08/03/2022 13:51

Would it be moving forever or for a set period of time?

With DD's education, once she is in the US system, it would make sense for her to stay there rather than arrive back half way through GSCE teaching etc, if so, what is the plan for University (or college out there?)

Look very carefully about the co pay element of family health insurance and how long the policy covers DD also, you do not want it to finish at 18 but run through the college period at the very least.

Miami is very expensive. Housing is expensive. Fresh produce is shockingly expensive! A pound an apple etc. (Crap processed food less so)!

Do your sums carefully, its not a lot of money for Miami.....but honestly, if it was me, I'd still bite their hand of, I mean, its Miami! The sunshine, the beaches, the cuban food......

elbea · 08/03/2022 13:51

So he’d be on about $80,000 a year? It’s all dependant on what your healthcare plan covers really which only his employer can answer.

For what it is worth, I moved to America in middle school and loved it.

BigWholeBean · 08/03/2022 13:53

Miami is so expensive. I live in the US (not Florida) and DH makes a little over that salary, and finances are tight at times. And we have excellent health insurance through his business so I’m not even factoring that into our expenses. Running 2 cars, housing, etc… I would want double that salary for living in Miami.

NOTANUM · 08/03/2022 13:58

Unless he’s on an expat deal, it isn’t enough. If housing, schooling, medical insurance and flights home are included, then it’s okay.

Take a look at rentals in Miami - they are expensive!

Blossom64265 · 08/03/2022 13:59

Your chronic health conditions are covered by new insurance.
You can keep a child on your plan past 18 as long as they meet certain conditions. I don’t know the exact details, just that we will be fine covering our dd through university and then she should be able to get health insurance through her employer.

givethatbabyaname · 08/03/2022 14:04

£60,000pa won’t be a comfortable or easy life, with a soon-to-be-teen and (I’m assuming) no nearby friends or family. Neither would it be impossibly tight. It will all depend on your attitude. You would need to really, really want to be there, and to turn a blind eye to a lot, to make it worth.

Don’t underestimate Floridian summers. They can be brutal.

If I had to live anywhere in florida (god help me) it would be Miami. But I’d want triple that salary, plus benefits, to even consider it.

Strokethefurrywall · 08/03/2022 14:07

Agree with the above - $60k is tight to get by on in Miami.
Even if the package includes health insurance, you’ll have to cover deductibles yourself, which can be pricey depending on what you need.
Rent is very high in MIA as well.

I would find out what the package is first and then decide. For us in Cayman, our family health insurance is is $1100 a month but around $800 is covered by my firm, and it’s similar in the US for a premium family package. You could get cheaper coverage but it’s pretty basic and may not cover pre-existing conditions.

Clarabe1 · 08/03/2022 14:10

@SeaToSki

Btw. People saying your pre exisiting conditions would not be covered by health insurance are not correct. The affordable health care act changed that and all health plans have to cover pre existing conditions now
I think this only applies to American citizens doesn’t it? Op will not have a green card.
Seraphinesupport · 08/03/2022 14:12

60k hell no. my uncle lives in Miami on 90k and struggles to visit his family in England because everything is so expensive.
Its only him and his wife and 2 kids but apparentely most of his earnings go on rent and health insurance and Tax is a Nightmare. i wouldn't move with less than 80-100k
His rent is 3k a month on its own and health insurance apparentely about $300 per person and he has to pay for 4 people!

lapasion · 08/03/2022 14:15

Miami is cool and I’d love to live there, but I think that salary would be a struggle. The housing market is crazy in the US at the moment. Lots of remote workers are leaving places like NY and shifting to places like Florida and Texas, which is pushing up the prices. I’m assuming as a spouse you won’t be able to work? I think I’d find that frustrating and get bored pretty easily.

LifeExperience · 08/03/2022 14:19

I'm American and lived in Florida (not Miami) for several years. Miami is very expensive, especially where housing is concerned. Look at rentals on Zillow for an idea. You need more info from his prospective employer. You need to know what kind of visas you and your daughter will have. Will you be able to work if you choose? Depends on the type of visa. What type of insurance package will you have? Who pays moving costs? Will you get a paid house hunting trip? Will you get paid temporary housing while you're looking for a place?

Where in Miami is the job? That will determine where you live, which will determine where your daughter goes to school. Schools in Miami vary greatly in quality.

You will need at least one car, possibly two. Traffic is horrendous and public transportation is not adequate.

BTW, health insurance in the US is required to cover children until they turn 26 so don't worry about that aspect, but you will want to look carefully at the policy. Your husband's prospective employer should have a Human Resources professional who can answer those questions.

Bottom line: IMO $80K in Miami will give you a decent lifestyle but certainly not luxurious.

LifeExperience · 08/03/2022 14:25

@Clarabe1

Being a US citizen is immaterial. The employer is US based and therefore must offer health insurance that covers pre-existing conditions.

TheHoptimist · 08/03/2022 14:27

You cant live on £60k a year- that is very low for the USA to keep a family and Miami isnt a cheap area. Fast Food Concession managers are on $60,000. Uber drivers earn over $100,000 in Texas

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