K-1 visa after entry into the U.S. - Health insurance options?

[zeewhite 0]

Hello all, I have been trying to figure out what I can do for my Fiance as far as health insurance goes. All the insurance companies I have talked to inform me that one needs a social security number to be able to take out a policy. I guess my first question would be: Does anyone know when/how she would get a social security number? I remember that on the DS-230 form she had to check that she wanted to receive one and she gave permission for the embassy to send her info to the social security administration...so I imagine that she'll receive one at some point, but when? Second question: does anyone know of a company that will provide insurance without a soc sec #? Thanks!

[san diego 407]

You do need social security number in order to get medical through your company. I would not wait but go to the nearest SS office the next day after arrival.

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

I think it will depend on your state. Here in Arkansas, you can get short-term insurance as long as you can prove being in the country legally and not a tourist (work visa, K1 etc). We went with BCBS short term, which starts the day your check is postmarked, so we could have it the day we arrived in the country, and until we could get all the paperwork for proper insurance done. It covers pretty much everything (ER, primary care visits, diagnostics, labs etc), but you can have it for a maximum of 180 days only.

[Messybrownhair 251]

10 days upon arrival you can get a SSN. Hopefully she will be in the system already. You'll receive the card in about a week if all goes well. I was eligible to join my hubby's insurance after marriage, as long as I had my SSN, but we only really worked on it last May and my coverage started in June. I think its a really good idea to work on getting insurance right away, I got strep throat my first month in the US and had to pay about $150 for the doctor's fee and antibiotics- not good! Thankfully, that was the only thing that happened. I was very careful for those 3 months