July 2010 AOS

[AandB 3]

Ok i'll explain.. I'm a chiropractor, and i'm currently doing my American Board exams so i can work in the USA. But this is gonna take a little more than a year before i can work in my field. And when i'm gonna start, i'll have to build a clientele, and it's not a good idea to be pregnant at that time. So... Or it's now, or it's in 2-3 years. And i don't want to wait 2-3 years! Right now is my best chance to have a first one. That's why i'm trying to figure out a way to be insurred so i don't have to wait forever

[BULLWINKLE 3]

Ok i'll explain.. I'm a chiropractor, and i'm currently doing my American Board exams so i can work in the USA. But this is gonna take a little more than a year before i can work in my field. And when i'm gonna start, i'll have to build a clientele, and it's not a good idea to be pregnant at that time. So... Or it's now, or it's in 2-3 years. And i don't want to wait 2-3 years! Right now is my best chance to have a first one. That's why i'm trying to figure out a way to be insurred so i don't have to wait forever

AWESOME!!! I totally understand where you are coming from! I am a massage therapist.. well.. just about to take my State exam for licensure. I've been waiting on my social security # so that I can apply. I am also thinking of getting into Chiropractic but that's a few years of school, and then yes.. as you mention, building clientele. Did you go to school here in Dallas?

Personally, I would wait the 2-3 years (you are young too!) and I would pursue career.... but I understand your position. If you feel now is the time, then you have to go with your gut instinct (pun intended lol!) I don't know what to suggest about the insurance tho.. that's a tricky one. Can your husband hold off on his career change and school for a year or so?

I guess there is always Medicaid?

Edited November 2, 2010 by BULLWINKLE

[AandB 3]

I went to school in Trois-Rivières, Canada. (chiropractic program is only given in Trois-Rivières and Toronto in Canada). I had to go to the Parker College here in Dallas to complete my first part of the American Board exams though!

My husband can't hold off on this carreer opportunity. He has been waiting for more than a year, and now it's starting to get more and more positive (he wants to be an air traffic controller), and if he gets called in an interview and they choose him, he's gonna have to go to that school. And it's a once in a lifetime opportunity..

I know i could go with some medical insurrance companies, I'm just wondering which ones i should consider, which ones are the cheapest, etc... And i'm not sure GC holder can get Medicaid.

[BULLWINKLE 3]

I went to school in Trois-Rivières, Canada. (chiropractic program is only given in Trois-Rivières and Toronto in Canada). I had to go to the Parker College here in Dallas to complete my first part of the American Board exams though!

My husband can't hold off on this carreer opportunity. He has been waiting for more than a year, and now it's starting to get more and more positive (he wants to be an air traffic controller), and if he gets called in an interview and they choose him, he's gonna have to go to that school. And it's a once in a lifetime opportunity..

I know i could go with some medical insurrance companies, I'm just wondering which ones i should consider, which ones are the cheapest, etc... And i'm not sure GC holder can get Medicaid.

How exciting... sounds like you and your husband have some great opportunities ahead of you I took a class at Parker.. I really enjoyed my time there and I am thinking of enrolling there in the future. Maybe we can open a practice together in the future

If you want, I can ask the HR lady at my husband's company if she can recommend any insurance policies to buy into.. I guess those HR people are supposed to know all about them, right?

It's times like this that I miss the health care system we have back home It's been tough trying to find doctors who offer parallel service and care that I had back home.

I even told my husband that if/when we get pregnant maybe we should consider having the baby in Canada.. I just adore my doctors there!

[brightskte 18]

Mathew and I are paying for our own insurance out of pocket since I'm only part time at my job and we pay about $220 a month through Anthem. They were the cheapest that we could find and that doesn't even cover me if I were to get pregnant. I think the price for that was somewhere close to $400. I'm not sure if health insurance is like car insurance where the area you live in can change your premium, but it may be worth it to do some online quotes. If you google health insurance there's a place (I think it's called ehealthinsurance.com or something) that will give you multiple quotes.

It's sad though that my health insurance is almost as much as my car payment. I'm so ready for Mathew to get a job with insurance or for me to become full time. Just as soon as one of those two things happens we're going to try for a baby. I'm itching to be a mommy.

[MrsBocanegra 3]

I went to school in Trois-Rivières, Canada. (chiropractic program is only given in Trois-Rivières and Toronto in Canada). I had to go to the Parker College here in Dallas to complete my first part of the American Board exams though!

My husband can't hold off on this carreer opportunity. He has been waiting for more than a year, and now it's starting to get more and more positive (he wants to be an air traffic controller), and if he gets called in an interview and they choose him, he's gonna have to go to that school. And it's a once in a lifetime opportunity..

I know i could go with some medical insurrance companies, I'm just wondering which ones i should consider, which ones are the cheapest, etc... And i'm not sure GC holder can get Medicaid.

I'm addicted to chiropractors LOL!!!! I've been going since I was 12!

I had to get medicaid because at the time I found out I was pregnant I only had a part time job with no benefits. I had just returned home from living out of the country so I took any job I could get. I even tried buying insurance after I found out but everyone denied me because of my pre-existing condition (pregnancy). The other problem I came across was most individual insurance plans would not cover pregnancy. My chiropractor has two girls and his wife is self-employed so they have to buy individual insurance. He said they still had to pay 10,000 out-of-pocket because his insurance would not cover it. When my parents had individual insurance plans they paid 400 plus a month and still had a deductible. Your best bet is medicaid or talking to an insurance broker who may know of a company that will cover your.

I never wanted to be on medicaid but I got lucky because the doctor I have is great. He is the same doctor my sister used for all three of her babies and she has medical insurance; I just got lucky he accepted medicaid. Good luck and I really hope you find a solution because I know how nerve wrecking this can be. I am 3 days shy from reaching 40 weeks and I am ready for this baby to come out LOL!!!

[AandB 3]

Kayla*Mathew, thanks for the info! I went on the website, but i couldn't find any quotes in my area that had a Maternity coverage... Can't believe it's that complicated to find quotes on internet that cover pregnancy!

MrsBocanegra, i think Medicaid can apply for GC holder.. Since my biometrics are not even done, i don't have my green card yet! So i don't think this can apply to me!

I'd like to give birth with a midwife, because i want it to be a natural birth. But you know, if any complications, you still need a medical coverage for maternity.. Grrrr all of this is so complicated! It'd be so much easier if my husband decided to move to Canada instead

[brightskte 18]

I know it's like pregnancy is the same thing as HIV to an insurance company. No one wants to pay for it and if they do they're going to charge you an astronomical amount. I totally understand that being pregnant means you go to the doctor way more than a normal person, but upping a premium by $200 and then STILL asking for a $2500 deductible is just crazy. I almost wish I had gone with my company insurance, but for Mathew and I to have insurance it was going to cost $427 a month, but at least that covered pregnancy and only had a $300 deductible.

I'm so tired of shelling out money for everything. I'm ready for Mathew to get an awesome job in his field so that I can buy a huge SUV that gets 6 miles to the gallon(think military tank since I can't drive and have awful road rage, LOL) and not worry. But this is real life and I'll probably end up driving my Kia Spectra until the wheels fall off and Mathew will end up flipping burgers since apparently embedded software engineers are a dime a dozen. Booh.

Edited November 3, 2010 by Kayla*Mathew

[FrostyMist 1]

Got another email from USCIS today.

This time to inform me that they have ordered production of my green card.

So, I guess this means that I am approved!

Right now, I think my excitement and relief is holding off until I get the actual thing in my hands. I'm too weary of complications or errors to be celebrating just yet.

But this is very good news for me.

[AandB 3]

I wish health care here was the same as in Canada... Soooo much easier and no stress

[FrostyMist 1]

I wish health care here was the same as in Canada... Soooo much easier and no stress

In England, we have free health care. Learning to deal with the health care system in the US has been difficult for me to adjust to at times.

Because of my pre-existing medical condition, my insurance is very expensive (around $600 a month). In addition to that, I also have to pay the majority of costs for my medication every month (about $300). Also, the insurance plan I have is pretty poor. There's a low annual cap of $8000, and a fairly high co-pay for every claim. Unfortunately, because I was newly arrived in the US and because of my medical history, no other insurance company would take me. At the moment, I dislike my insurance provider immensely because it seems that I'd be better off NOT to pay them at all! They really don't offer much.

Aside from cost though, I've so far had a very very positive experience with doctors here in the US. Despite having a very rare medical condition, they've quickly been able to set up an excellent care plan. I feel far healthier than I ever felt in England. I just wish the costs didn't eat a massive chunk of our income every month.

Edited November 3, 2010 by FrostyMist

[SunnyCalifornian 6]

Just a question: MY AP status on the USCIS website mentions that it is in "Post Decision Activity" (the 4th circle) and it states: "On November 1, 2010, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I131 APPLICATION FOR USCIS TRAVEL DOCUMENT. Please follow any instructions on the notice."

Does this mean that they sent the AP travel document on Nov 1st? Or that they just sent me a notice that mentions it was approved (...and I have to wait for them to send me the actual AP travel document)? On the website, when you see your AP status do you get the 5th circle of Card/Document Production or it stops at the 4th circle? I know this question is annoying, but I am desperate to make international travel because of family matters.

Thank you in advanced!

[brightskte 18]

Just a question: MY AP status on the USCIS website mentions that it is in "Post Decision Activity" (the 4th circle) and it states: "On November 1, 2010, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I131 APPLICATION FOR USCIS TRAVEL DOCUMENT. Please follow any instructions on the notice."

Does this mean that they sent the AP travel document on Nov 1st? Or that they just sent me a notice that mentions it was approved (...and I have to wait for them to send me the actual AP travel document)? On the website, when you see your AP status do you get the 5th circle of Card/Document Production or it stops at the 4th circle? I know this question is annoying, but I am desperate to make international travel because of family matters.

Thank you in advanced!

They don't mail a notice just stating that they've approved your AP, at least not from our experience. We got the notice and then 2 days later the AP was in the mail.

[BULLWINKLE 3]

got my interview notice today! December 7th

now i have the fun task of compiling all of our evidence.. lol!

question: we had submitted all of the employee documents, W2's, Income tax returns with the I-864... do we need to bring them again?

It will have taken taken 5 months but it will all be over soon.. the anticipation is gonna kill me.. another month til interview time!

[MrsBocanegra 3]

got my interview notice today! December 7th

now i have the fun task of compiling all of our evidence.. lol!

question: we had submitted all of the employee documents, W2's, Income tax returns with the I-864... do we need to bring them again?

It will have taken taken 5 months but it will all be over soon.. the anticipation is gonna kill me.. another month til interview time!

CONGRATS!!!! :dance:

I would take everything because as we all know you NEVER know what they will ask for.. I hope this means my husband will be getting an appt. soon.. we really want to go visit his family in December, but we want the whole process to be over with before we go...