Health Insurance?

[laura819 0]

OK, here is my situation. Please do not judge me or something.

I just graduated from college in March. My fiance's visa got approved May 19 and he is going to POE on June 9th, in order to see my college graduation (I finished a term early so although I have been done for awhile, I couldn't go through actual graduation until everyone else finished in June). Anyway, we aren't getting married until August, so we can't start the AOS process until then. Obviously, I am sure everyone realizes the economy is horrible and finding a job, with benefits, is REALLY hard right now, and I haven't found one yet.

I am able to be covered under my dad's insurance, even after getting married, because my parents will be paying the majority of my living expenses (obviously, no job...can't afford to move out). But, due to the age limits, although my fiance would be considered a dependent, he cannot be covered.

Has anyone had a situation where they had to get their fiance(e) health insurance on their own BEFORE the fiance(e) has received a green card? Could you point me in the direction of this process, and maybe some companies to approach?

Thanks

We will be living in Indiana...I don't think that matter, but in case it does...

[tallcoolone 102]

Why do you need to get your fiance health insurance?

It's not part of the Visa Process

[reeses16 8]

You might look into Traveler's Medical insurance for him. Or perhaps a private policy, which will be expensive. If he is a young and without any major or chronic medical issues, he can go without insurance for a while.

If an emergency comes up such as an ER visit, you can apply for assistance at the hospital in which case they will cover or reduce your bill and work out a payment arrangement(medical bills do not accrue interest). Also should he need to be seen due to a minor illness (cold/flu) an office visit is probably around $190, cheaper than an insurance premium. You can call around for the best price or go to a community clinic where you pay what you can afford/based on income. And if he has any plans to begin school in the US, perhaps he should start ASAP and enroll in the student insurance plan.

Are you sure you're covered by your parent's policy? Typically coverage doesn't continue because they pay your living expenses, it continues because you are unmarried or a student. Just suggesting you double check.

Edited June 2, 2009 by reeses16

[tallcoolone 102]

You might look into Traveler's Medical insurance for him. Or perhaps a private policy, which will be expensive. If he is a young and without any major or chronic medical issues, he can go without insurance for a while.

If an emergency comes up such as an ER visit, you can apply for assistance at the hospital in which case they will cover or reduce your bill and work out a payment arrangement(medical bills do not accrue interest). Also should he need to be seen due to a minor illness (cold/flu) an office visit is probably around $190, cheaper than an insurance premium. You can call around for the best price or go to a community clinic where you pay what you can afford/based on income. And if he has any plans to begin school in the US, perhaps he should start ASAP and enroll in the student insurance plan.

Are you sure you're covered by your parent's policy? Typically coverage doesn't continue because they pay your living expenses, it continues because you are unmarried or a student. Just suggesting you double check.

Agreed.

I have never heard of a married person being on a parents insurance

Hospitals in each county have and offer free medical insurance, it's called indigent insurance and it free and your services are free.

Find out which hospitals in your area offer it.

[Ed+Cindy 1]

Try this:

http://www.visitorscoverage.com/immigrant/...s.php?pln_id=83

Its is limited and probably only useful for emergencies, but the best I could find to cover my fiance until she has insurance through her work (when she starts to work). I would not go without health coverage in the US, IMHO. My fiance and I are active and health, but you never know when an accident or something could happen. It was not worth adding her to my work policy because the co-pay from my salary was too much. We only wanted emergency coverage, not daily GP or Rx.

[HWANG0926 0]

Yes. Once marriage takes place, i will place fiance under my work insurance.

I don't think there is any way he would be able to receive benefit through your father. Unless you apply for Medi Cal?

[laura819 0]

Why do you need to get your fiance health insurance?

It's not part of the Visa Process

Because I don't think its a smart idea for him to be without it....?

[laura819 0]

You might look into Traveler's Medical insurance for him. Or perhaps a private policy, which will be expensive. If he is a young and without any major or chronic medical issues, he can go without insurance for a while.

If an emergency comes up such as an ER visit, you can apply for assistance at the hospital in which case they will cover or reduce your bill and work out a payment arrangement(medical bills do not accrue interest). Also should he need to be seen due to a minor illness (cold/flu) an office visit is probably around $190, cheaper than an insurance premium. You can call around for the best price or go to a community clinic where you pay what you can afford/based on income. And if he has any plans to begin school in the US, perhaps he should start ASAP and enroll in the student insurance plan.

Are you sure you're covered by your parent's policy? Typically coverage doesn't continue because they pay your living expenses, it continues because you are unmarried or a student. Just suggesting you double check.

Yes, I am sure. I have a very serious pre existing condition that hasn't caused any problems in almost 20 years, but if it did, the cost would be ENORMOUS, so my parents are taking this issue very seriously and have looked into both my mom and dad's insurance policies. My mom's insurance will not cover me, which is what we were expecting. We have looked in all the literature of my father's insurance, as well as called his employer to confirm the information, because we know its unusual. But, according to all of the information we have seen, this insurance company defines a dependent as an unmarried OR MARRIED (specifically says this) child who the parents are paying at least 50% of the living expense.

We are looking into getting him private health insurance, but so far every plan we have seen, he would need to already have a green card, so I wanted to get K1 specific info...

Yes. Once marriage takes place, i will place fiance under my work insurance.

I don't think there is any way he would be able to receive benefit through your father. Unless you apply for Medi Cal?

According to my father's employer it would be possible, because he would be considered another dependent. Its irrelevant for us though because this rule (for me as well) only covers people up to 24 years old, and my fiance is 25 (I am 22).

[anitacastillo 0]

Seven Corners offers a recent immigrant policy. We used for a few months on my husband's K-1.

[wizzard1663 0]

Here is a web link for a health plan your Fiance can use; until, he qualifies for regular health insurance in the US: https://www.hpainsurance.com/(S(aqww2f55enh...FTOKEN=67085026 This is an International Health Plan which can be used by Foreign Citizens visiting the US or for US Citizens visiting in Foreign countries.

Most individual major medical plans will not cover a person new to the US, until the person has lived in the US for at least one year and usually two years. One of the companies with a more liberal attitute is Aetna, and they will permit application after six months of residence in the US. All of the companies will require that the person have established contact with a US physician and have had at least a basic physical exam with blood work etc. If a Fiance is marrying a person who works for a company with a Group Health Plan, then the situation is simple. They can be added immediately, and the coverage will of course be excellent.

I am a health and life agent in Florida, so I can help anyone arriving in that State with regular health plans. The link I gave above is for a plan I can represent in any state in the US.

I'm here in the Philippines waiting for my Fiance interview, but I can always answer questions like this through internet.

Carl Ehrlich

OK, here is my situation. Please do not judge me or something.

I just graduated from college in March. My fiance's visa got approved May 19 and he is going to POE on June 9th, in order to see my college graduation (I finished a term early so although I have been done for awhile, I couldn't go through actual graduation until everyone else finished in June). Anyway, we aren't getting married until August, so we can't start the AOS process until then. Obviously, I am sure everyone realizes the economy is horrible and finding a job, with benefits, is REALLY hard right now, and I haven't found one yet.

I am able to be covered under my dad's insurance, even after getting married, because my parents will be paying the majority of my living expenses (obviously, no job...can't afford to move out). But, due to the age limits, although my fiance would be considered a dependent, he cannot be covered.

Has anyone had a situation where they had to get their fiance(e) health insurance on their own BEFORE the fiance(e) has received a green card? Could you point me in the direction of this process, and maybe some companies to approach?

Thanks

We will be living in Indiana...I don't think that matter, but in case it does...

[wizzard1663 0]

In reply to Laura's concern about health insurance, there is a plan that all new entrants to the USA can use until they qualify for regular health insurance coverage. This is the link https://www.hpainsurance.com/(S(xn345g55tjp...aspx?agent=NBA7

It is important for the new Fiance to establish contact with a physician in the States and have a basic physical. The companies will look for this physician patient relationship, and most will require one to two years of continuous stay in the States before considering them for Indilvidual Health Insurance. If the person the Fiance is marrying has Group Health Insurance coverage, the Fiance can be added to the Group Plan immediately upon marriage. This is considered a "Life Changing Event"; thus, they do not have to wait for Open Enrollment. If a Group Plan is not a possibility, then Individual Health Plans are the next option. The Group Health Plans are Guaranteed Issue, which means they have to take all applicants without regard to pre existing conditions; however, Indilvidual Health Plans are medically underwritten.

I am a Health and Life agent in Florida, so I can help those who will live in that state. The plan I mentioned above is an International Travel Plan, and it can be applied for by persons visiting in almost every state in the US.

Carl

[Ed+Cindy 1]

Seven Corners offers a recent immigrant policy. We used for a few months on my husband's K-1.

This is the same policy I referenced above in my post, and the same we got for Cindy for her first 4 months here.

Posting again here:

http://www.visitorscoverage.com/immigrant/...s.php?pln_id=83

Edited June 3, 2009 by Ed+Cindy