Open Enrollment at Work

[lindal24 1]

Open Enrollment is just around the corner at my company as well as many others in anticipation of the new year...

Without my husband having a SSN, how am I supposed to sign him up for benefits?? This ties in with the whole beneficiary thing too...basically, everything requires a SSN!!!

Has anyone encoutered this?? Is anyone worried about this happening to them??

[Kevin&Loan 0]

Don't sweat it. Just go ahead and enroll just yourself. When he comes, you can add him later. They will allow it and it's called Life Changing Events or something like that for marriage and births. I was able to add my wife as soon as she came over and when our son was born, I added him to the coverage as soon as day one.

[lindal24 1]

Actually I asked...and they told me they dont consider immigration a life changing event...obviously they're not well travelled! But I'll ask again when the Reps come in for Q&As...

you filed a K-1...did you mean to say you added your wife after you got married (cause then that is why she qualified) not because she came over here...and your child, naturually would get added/approved once he was born.

[Kevin&Loan 0]

Yes, we got married within 3 days of her arrival and then I added her to my covergage. They only asked that I faxed over the marriage license and I submit the SSN to them later, months later. With my son, u were right. It was almost automatically.

You should talk to the Rep when she/he comes in. Each insurance company has different set of rules but they all have to adhere to the same standard.

Beside, don't worry about it too much. Open Enrollment is of course, open for 30days and it won't start till Mid October. So, from now till then, you have about 80 days and I am sure your husband will be in your loving arms sooner, much sooner than that ...

Now, get your mind of that issuse before you explode and get back to work ... What are you doing here? )

[lindal24 1]

lol...had a dentist appt...only worked a half day...

oct is only a few days away...but open enrollment closes last business day of november...hopefully he'll be here before then!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Most companies have more than one category that allows you to change your benefit elections outside of the open enrollment period. A "life changing event" like a marriage or birth is only one category. Check to see if your company has a category for "newly eligible". This would cover your immigrant husband. If they don't, then kick and scream about it. They don't hesitate to revoke benefits as soon as a dependent is no longer eligible (like the month a dependent child turns 19, if they are not a full time student), so they shouldn't squirm about granting benefits as soon as a dependent becomes eligible.

[b_weeks 6]

They are correct. MARRIAGE is considered a life changing event.

Once you get married, most insurance companies allow a 30 day period to add a spouse because of a life changing event like marriage. You will need to go to your HR dept, and ask for whatever form they use, and you will probably have to fax a copy of your marriage certificate.

[kaffy 2]

^ OP is filing for a CR1/IR1 visa which means they are already married

[lindal24 1]

I got married in May 2008. I would have to add him now or wait until the next open enrollment period (next year).

My company does not define immigration as a life changing event--I find this odd. It's probably MORE life changing than getting married (in my opinion)...

On the upside, I asked the Benefits Specialist she said I could probably add him without him having a social. I'm not sure how, but she said it could be done...maybe I can convince them that immigration IS a life-changing event somehow!!!

...on the other side, I wonder if the benefits would apply (get paid out) if he had an accident in VN (knock on wood)...cause if not, this would totally defeat the purpose of having insurance if you can't use it right??

Don't ya just love "Catch 22s" ?!

[Kevin&Loan 0]

Lindal, I can tell that you are over-worried but that's normal. I was like that too but you have to take it easy, the more you think or worry about one thing, the more it drives you insane. However, to answer your questions, I am almost positive that hospitals/doctors in Vietnam will not take your insurance. However, if he goes to "international" hospitals, they might accept it but subject to verification of course. I know one hospital on Saigon would treat US citizens with proper health insurance is Columbia Hospital @ 1 No Trang Long. You can call and ask for more info.

But first thing first, you have to manage to add your husband onto your coverage and with your delicate situation, it might be a few hoops you must jump before anything can be done. If I were you, I would wait till he comes here before I would do anything else.

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

Lindal, I can tell that you are over-worried but that's normal. I was like that too but you have to take it easy, the more you think or worry about one thing, the more it drives you insane. However, to answer your questions, I am almost positive that hospitals/doctors in Vietnam will not take your insurance. However, if he goes to "international" hospitals, they might accept it but subject to verification of course. I know one hospital on Saigon would treat US citizens with proper health insurance is Columbia Hospital @ 1 No Trang Long. You can call and ask for more info.

But first thing first, you have to manage to add your husband onto your coverage and with your delicate situation, it might be a few hoops you must jump before anything can be done. If I were you, I would wait till he comes here before I would do anything else.

Yeap, Linda. you are worry worry too much. My wife arrived on last June. I already signs up for her benefical on July. My company didn't even asked anything. You can signs up for your spouse, and filed in him/her SSN later. That how I did, no problem, now my wife has full benefit from me.

Loi and Suong

[lindal24 1]

Yeap, Linda. you are worry worry too much. My wife arrived on last June. I already signs up for her benefical on July. My company didn't even asked anything. You can signs up for your spouse, and filed in him/her SSN later. That how I did, no problem, now my wife has full benefit from me.

Loi and Suong

That's what I want to do, but I think our luck is changing...he may be over here BEFORE I even have to sign up for benefits!