Health Care options?

[Joanne n Thanh 0]

Hello!

I got my NOA2 approved on 04/30/2012 for a K1 Visa. My next question is, what is the deal with health care and are there any options available for me (I am from Canada and going to Seattle,WA). After the wedding, I'm praying to get pregnant and unsure of the health care plans available and what-not. This whole thing is still very new to me (I have free health care in Canada)

Thanks a bunch!

[Cathi 5,755]

you will need to go on your future husband's health insurance after you marry. If he does not have insurance you cannot go on government health care in the US. You need to read the affidavit of support your future hubby has to sign if that is the case http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134.pdf

[Joanne n Thanh 0]

He currently has NO health plan coverage. Would it be possible to get HIM on the government health care plan and then add me? Or is there any private companies (like Blue Cross) that I can "buy"?

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

He currently has NO health plan coverage. Would it be possible to get HIM on the government health care plan and then add me? Or is there any private companies (like Blue Cross) that I can "buy"?

There are two main kinds of government provided health insurance in the US. Medicare is available for people over 65 years of age who have worked at least 10 years in the United States. Medicaid (it has different names in some states) is available for people who are very low income. Washington state partners with several major insurance companies to provide managed care options that are funded through Medicaid because these programs provide better coverage at group rates than Medicaid alone could provide. Most people in Washington (over 98%) who receive Medicaid participate in one of the managed care programs.

Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are not generally eligible for Medicaid for the first five years they have LPR status, except for emergency Medicaid. Further, your husband will be signing an affidavit of support promising the government that you will not collect these benefits, as he can be held accountable to reimburse the state. You should probably not consider this an option. You would not be turned down for emergency Medicaid if you were pregnant, regardless of how long you've been an LPR. The US government doesn't risk the lives of children just because their parents are poor or aren't eligible for regular benefits. However, it would be extremely poor planning on your part to get pregnant assuming that the taxpayers of the US are going to pick up the tab. You should wait until you have private insurance coverage.

Private insurance like Blue Cross will be expensive. Insurance companies exist to make a profit, though health insurance companies profits are generally pretty slim, in the 2% to 3% range. What really makes health insurance expensive is the cost of care, which is astronomical in the United States. The cost of insurance will be based primarily on your age and health, but buying an individual plan means that the risk of an expensive illness or regimen of treatment (like prenatal care) cannot be distributed across a group. Without distributed risk, you will pay for the entire cost of assuming the risk to provide you with insurance. The average cost of an individual health insurance plan in the US is around $5000 per year for a young healthy person, and around $14,000 per year for a family. If you get a decent job then your employer will pick up most or all of the cost.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

**** Moving from K1 to Your New Life forum as not K1 process related ****

Private Health insurance is an option. As Jim says, it is expensive, and maternity coverage is usually extra. In addition, most maternity coverage has a waiting period of a year, ie you need to be paying into the insurance for a year before getting pregnant.

[Cathi 5,755]

you cannot go on any government healthcare in this country as a LPR unless you have worked 40 quarters or 10 years..you, not your husband...

[damulag 26]

I had a personal policy and when I inquired about adding my wife I was told that she needed to be a resident for 1 year and then there was a 1 year pregnancy clause. I ended up changing jobs to get work coverage (was independant contractor)

I would play it very safe until you have verified coverage.

[EminTX 131]

For pregnancy care in a normal pregnancy, hiring a midwife is an option. This was my choice for my last pregnancy and it was much better from my point-of-view than the traditional route taken my first time around. It isn't for everyone, but it is certainly more affordable and a great experience for people who generally healthy.

I have to wonder, if you two can't afford health insurance, how do you expect to afford a baby? They aren't cheap and the process of getting them born is just the beginning of the drain on your wallet.

[Joanne n Thanh 0]

Its not that we don't "afford" healthcare in USA, we are looking into different options. He is an independent contractor and has never wish to buy health care. We have purchased health care insurance for his daughter though. I am paying roughly $5000 for Blue Cross in Canada too.

[Peter_Pan 661]

I never understand why babies are supposed to be expensive. What's so expensive? Food? Clothes? Toys? Kindergarden?

[Cathi 5,755]

I never understand why babies are supposed to be expensive. What's so expensive? Food? Clothes? Toys? Kindergarden?

Its not that we don't "afford" healthcare in USA, we are looking into different options. He is an independent contractor and has never wish to buy health care. We have purchased health care insurance for his daughter though. I am paying roughly $5000 for Blue Cross in Canada too.

It doesn't matter what you pay in Canada you will be in the US. Unless your husband can afford to pay for insurance privately for you, you have no options.

[DandT14 272]

I'm no expert on Obama's new health plan, but my understanding is that if it goes into effect as scheduled, in 2013, your husband will have no choice but to buy insurance. But, it will be subsidized.

(I'm sure someone here knows a lot more about it than me.)

I never understand why babies are supposed to be expensive. What's so expensive? Food? Clothes? Toys? Kindergarden?

Daycare and diapers.

[eagle+eyed 8]

I would love an update on this from original poster!

And any one else who may have options for person coming to American on K-1 Visa and in need of insurance without using government funding.

My job will be ending soon, as I'm pregnant I will have emergency aid until husband's work picks back up in the spring time. We have been searching for options for him for short term, basic coverage from October until March or so. From what I've learned, private insurance isn't really all that expensive when compared to what I pay through my work each and every week!

The comment previous to this stated Obama care and changes that will be taking place. Any effect on immigrants??

Health insurance... makes my head spin!!!

[ca_babe 129]

I would love an update on this from original poster!

And any one else who may have options for person coming to American on K-1 Visa and in need of insurance without using government funding.

My job will be ending soon, as I'm pregnant I will have emergency aid until husband's work picks back up in the spring time. We have been searching for options for him for short term, basic coverage from October until March or so. From what I've learned, private insurance isn't really all that expensive when compared to what I pay through my work each and every week!

The comment previous to this stated Obama care and changes that will be taking place. Any effect on immigrants??

Health insurance... makes my head spin!!!

I've been searching for health insurance for my mom as well and from what I've learned she can get insurance through work, or buying an individual plan. We're planning to use https://www.pcip.gov because she has pre-existing condition. It's $500 per month just for her which is a lot more expensive than I pay for at work. I pay $310 for a family of 4. Kaiser Permanente doesn't have pre-existing clause but the one offered by pcip is cheaper by $270 per month.

[kev_n_jena 89]

There are two main kinds of government provided health insurance in the US. Medicare is available for people over 65 years of age who have worked at least 10 years in the United States. Medicaid (it has different names in some states) is available for people who are very low income. Washington state partners with several major insurance companies to provide managed care options that are funded through Medicaid because these programs provide better coverage at group rates than Medicaid alone could provide. Most people in Washington (over 98%) who receive Medicaid participate in one of the managed care programs.

Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are not generally eligible for Medicaid for the first five years they have LPR status, except for emergency Medicaid. Further, your husband will be signing an affidavit of support promising the government that you will not collect these benefits, as he can be held accountable to reimburse the state. You should probably not consider this an option. You would not be turned down for emergency Medicaid if you were pregnant, regardless of how long you've been an LPR. The US government doesn't risk the lives of children just because their parents are poor or aren't eligible for regular benefits. However, it would be extremely poor planning on your part to get pregnant assuming that the taxpayers of the US are going to pick up the tab. You should wait until you have private insurance coverage.

Private insurance like Blue Cross will be expensive. Insurance companies exist to make a profit, though health insurance companies profits are generally pretty slim, in the 2% to 3% range. What really makes health insurance expensive is the cost of care, which is astronomical in the United States. The cost of insurance will be based primarily on your age and health, but buying an individual plan means that the risk of an expensive illness or regimen of treatment (like prenatal care) cannot be distributed across a group. Without distributed risk, you will pay for the entire cost of assuming the risk to provide you with insurance. The average cost of an individual health insurance plan in the US is around $5000 per year for a young healthy person, and around $14,000 per year for a family. If you get a decent job then your employer will pick up most or all of the cost.

We pay less than $4K per year with $5K deductible (private insurance) for both my wife and son. Individual plan would be about $2K per year. It includes maternity coverage. We could have gotten cheaper insurance without maternity.

Edited September 29, 2012 by kev_n_jena