Washington State Medical Insurance for Diabetics Experience

[biglos 0]

I'm still waiting for my SSN, just made my POE a week and half ago.

Anyone have any experiences they want to share with finding medical insurance in Washington state? I have asthma and Diabetes.

[Married2009 32]

No, sorry. If your wife works, you might be able to be added to hers, under the 'life changing event' or something like that. When I was checking on that in Nov, my insurance company (thru work) told me I could add him when he got here, but he would need a letter showing he lost insurance due to moving here.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Yes check with his work, usually 1 only has a certain time period to opt in to a spouses health plan afte they are married,then one has to wait for "open" season!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

We only had 30 days to have me added to my husband's health insurance after I moved. I don't have any experience with diabetes but I have asthma as well and it never caused an issue.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I have type 1 diabetes and to add me to my husband's insurance I had to provide written documentation to show I had coverage up until when I was added. I was able to obtain a letter from my previous employer's health coverage stating the dates of my coverage and what was covered, as well as providing the print out from OHIP that showed what was covered under the provincial health plan - and who was covered. If I wasn't able to provide this then my diabetes would not have been covered for a full year as a pre-existing condition. I was fortunate that my employment health coverage continued for 30 days after my final day of employment so there was an overlap of coverage for me.

My first US coverage was with CIGNA (they requested proof of previous coverage), and then when my husband's employment plan switched to Blue Cross Blue Shield, I had to provide a letter from CIGNA that I had been covered the previous year.

Also, obtain either copies of your relevant medical records from your family doctor and/or specialists or information from them about how your new medical provider can contact them to obtain necessary medical records so you can provide them to your new medical provider. Try to obtain at least 3 months worth of prescriptions/ supplies when you do move as it may take a while before you a) get medical coverage and b) get an appointment with your new medical provider to get prescriptions renewed. Canadian prescriptions don't work in the US.

Hope this helps.

edited to add that I see you are already here so may not be able to obtain medical records or prescriptions now. Hopefully, you are well provided for the time being.

Edited February 18, 2010 by Kathryn41

[ZansGirl 0]

hey Number One...i read on here that after 2 weeks, just head to the nearest SSN office and nquire about your SSN Number.... I know it is early for me, but Z and I are gonna head down there and enquire to see if my number is in the system yet....

and does anyone know what SAVE stands for??

[Flames9_RN 358]

hey Number One...i read on here that after 2 weeks, just head to the nearest SSN office and nquire about your SSN Number.... I know it is early for me, but Z and I are gonna head down there and enquire to see if my number is in the system yet....

and does anyone know what SAVE stands for??

SAVE: Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements

After 10-14 days no SSN--simply head to ur local SSN office and ask whats up??? Best to be prepared and fill out the form ahead of time for a new SSN!!

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html

[biglos 0]

Good stuff guys! Thanks for the great info!!!!

[Pauley 2]

Yes check with his work, usually 1 only has a certain time period to opt in to a spouses health plan afte they are married,then one has to wait for "open" season!

Each state's rules are different, but I was advised by my employer in New York State that my wife being dropped by Ontario's government-provided insurance counts as a "qualifying event" to allow me to add her to my coverage after she immigrates. As Married 2009 suggests, have your wife check with Human Resources at her workplace and see if this is the case in your state; you may be eligible to be added to her coverage before the next Open Enrollment (which is usually in November for the upcoming calendar year).