Health insurance before marriage?

[Bergziege 1]

What is the best thing to do about health insurance from the time between entering the US and getting married? After the wedding I can be on my fiance's plan, but before?

I have read varying accounts, such as that insurance companies require one to have lived in the US for a certain time and that one needs to be a permanent resident already.

Or would it make sense to have travel insurance from the country I'm in the process of leaving - would my stay in the US count as travel until I've gotten married?

Thanks for your help everyone!

[orangedesk 27]

This is a good question. I've already spoken to my employer and they said my fiance is good to go on my insurance plan once we're married, but they can't do anything while he's my fiance. I'm not sure of the answer, but I wonder if getting travel medical insurance from the time of entry in the United States until the day you're married is the best idea since you're technically entering on a non-immigrant visa...

[Bergziege 1]

This is a good question. I've already spoken to my employer and they said my fiance is good to go on my insurance plan once we're married, but they can't do anything while he's my fiance. I'm not sure of the answer, but I wonder if getting travel medical insurance from the time of entry in the United States until the day you're married is the best idea since you're technically entering on a non-immigrant visa...

Yeah, I was wondering whether that would work - since even USCIS and the embassies oscillate between calling a K1 an immigrant and a non-immigrant visa. The only thing I'm worried about is some major unexpected need for medical attention, like an accident, not really about a little cold. And I'm assuming in such expensive cases, the travel insurance company would try to find a good reason to not pay :/

[orangedesk 27]

Yeah, I was wondering whether that would work - since even USCIS and the embassies oscillate between calling a K1 an immigrant and a non-immigrant visa. The only thing I'm worried about is some major unexpected need for medical attention, like an accident, not really about a little cold. And I'm assuming in such expensive cases, the travel insurance company would try to find a good reason to not pay :/

My fiance always gets insurance at www.medexassist.com - maybe calling them and explaining the situation, they'd be able to tell you up front if you'd be covered or not? I'm looking through their site and I can't find anything

[baron555 934]

What is the best thing to do about health insurance from the time between entering the US and getting married? After the wedding I can be on my fiance's plan, but before?

I have read varying accounts, such as that insurance companies require one to have lived in the US for a certain time and that one needs to be a permanent resident already.

Or would it make sense to have travel insurance from the country I'm in the process of leaving - would my stay in the US count as travel until I've gotten married?

Thanks for your help everyone!

I used this place for two months worth:

Immigrant Health Insurance

[Bergziege 1]

I have encountered some problems getting health insurance here in the US. Some companies won't insure me until I've been a resident for six months, and some require proof of residency that I don't have, such as voter registration, a Social Security number or a state issued ID.

What is other people's experience with this? What's the best way to go?

Thanks!

[Golden Gate 530]

I have encountered some problems getting health insurance here in the US. Some companies won't insure me until I've been a resident for six months, and some require proof of residency that I don't have, such as voter registration, a Social Security number or a state issued ID.

What is other people's experience with this? What's the best way to go?

Thanks!

Go to ehealthinsurance.com. I just applied for my husband yesterday and have been approved. Got insurance for $58.81 per month with $2500 deductible.

[Bergziege 1]

Unfortunately even ehealthinsurance.com sends me to companies that I have previously contacted as to whether I am eligible, such as Cigna, who said that I am not. That site is not an insurance company, but only lets you compare different companies.

[Golden Gate 530]

Unfortunately even ehealthinsurance.com sends me to companies that I have previously contacted as to whether I am eligible, such as Cigna, who said that I am not. That site is not an insurance company, but only lets you compare different companies.

Yep. You are right that it is a site that compares. Maybe it is your state which has the restrictions preventing you from getting it right away, whereas my state does not.

[Rob & Monika 87]

Go to ehealthinsurance.com. I just applied for my husband yesterday and have been approved. Got insurance for $58.81 per month with $2500 deductible.

Um I would never trust an insurance company that only charges $60/mo. A single doctor appointment costs more than that. All you have to do is have a baby to eat up that deductible, and the insurance company knows that. My parents complain about their insurance and they pay close to $1200/mo.

Generally, citizen or not, most insurance policies require a 6 month waiting period when going a certain period of time without it unless you can prove you had coverage before hand. Some policies do not, mine does not. Typically once you get married, you would go on your spouses insurance, and you would check with their policy to see what the terms are.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Op - you are eligible for a SSN. Why not get one?

[Golden Gate 530]

Um I would never trust an insurance company that only charges $60/mo. A single doctor appointment costs more than that. All you have to do is have a baby to eat up that deductible, and the insurance company knows that. My parents complain about their insurance and they pay close to $1200/mo.

Generally, citizen or not, most insurance policies require a 6 month waiting period when going a certain period of time without it unless you can prove you had coverage before hand. Some policies do not, mine does not. Typically once you get married, you would go on your spouses insurance, and you would check with their policy to see what the terms are.

My spouse is young, healthy and probably won't be going to the doctor much at all and may never get to the deductible. It gives four appointments for $35 before the deductible has to be covered, then your appointments go towards the deductible. You get a free annual exam. We aren't expecting miracles with this insurance, just to be covered in case of some serious hospitalization and then we only have to pay a maximum $7500, which is more than likely not going to happen. There is nothing wrong with this insurance at all and nothing to distrust about it. You can't compare to your parents or a citizen who will normally have a much better option because of their job. When trying to get individual insurance when you don't have a job that covers it, it is very difficult to get cheap insurance. This is just a security measure in the interim to be covered until he has a job and to show the government we are liable.

And, my husband can't have a baby, and I have my own insurance. You can't really speak about it unless you did the research on it yourself.

Edited April 17, 2012 by Golden Gate

[Bergziege 1]

I am told by the Social Security Office that I am not eligible until my status change has gone through. Was that a wrong information?

Op - you are eligible for a SSN. Why not get one?

[Golden Gate 530]

I am told by the Social Security Office that I am not eligible until my status change has gone through. Was that a wrong information?

We just got my husband's social security card in the mail. It is just a matter of whether USCIS has input your info into the computer from when you arrived in the U.S. It took us about four weeks to get it after we went to the Social Security office.

[Rob & Monika 87]

You can't really speak about it unless you did the research on it yourself.

epinions.com has the site very poorly rated.