Problem adding spouse to Insurance

[chagalafamilia 0]

I got a new job in January. Instead of adding Alex to my insurance then, since he was still in Mexico, the HR departments said that when he came in they could do a "Status Change" and add him when he got here. He came into the US on February 3rd on a K-3 VISA (Valid for 2 years). Now Anthem is not wanting to add him to the insurance.

Here their fist responce "At this point, we are unable to add the spouse to the plan based on the documentation provided. The VISA is just a document granting permission to visit the United States, but then he has to return to his home country. Do you have any other documentation that maybe I can present? "

So we gave Anthem a copy of the I-797 NOA on the approved I-130. This was the second response (from a different person): "I am sorry to inform you that Underwriting can not approved the enrollment of Bruno Chagala because the document that was submitted did not reflect verification of citizenship. The attached document is a visa and states that the purpose is for a visit. The member can submit other documentation that confirms citizenship and the application will be re-considered."

It makes it sound like they did not review the I-797 and were still commenting on the K-3 visa. I know that you can not deny coverage because of citizenship. I am hoping that we get the NOA on the I-485 soon, maybe that will prove that we are working on perminant residency and it will be enough. Otherwise I guess we will have to wait for the EAD and hope that works.

Has anyone else had simular problems?

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Don't give up. Call all the way to the top Don't take 'no' for an answer.

[chocolaterie 0]

It sounds a bit absurd. My husband had no problem with adding me on to his insurance, they didn't ask for any documentation! Doesn't a k- 3 show immigrant intent? And I don't think they did fully review the I-797, because an I-130 is definitely not for "visitation purposes". Keep at it, eventually it'll get to someone who knows what they're doing.

[chagalafamilia 0]

Thanks for the support. I plan to keep on them until they add him.

[desert_fox 32]

If this is something thru where you work, go to the HR dept and dont leave until they tell you what they want.

[Kelvin 0]

My wife just arrived Saturday on a K3. Last week I filled out the forms to add her to my insurance. Apparently, here in CA, adding someone to insurance has to be done within 30 days of a "qualifying event". That could be marriage (we were married 9/20/05), or change of employment of the person being added. I didn't add her within 30 days of 9/20 because there was no point until she's here. She had insurance in Japan.

The HR dept of the company I work for is awesome. They called her arrival on the K3 a "qualifying event" and said that if the insurance company gave them any guff about it, they'd call in the broker for a face to face meeting and get it done. The insurance company just asked for a copy of her I-94 & K3. I'm assuming the insurance company knows our HR people will 'break their kneecaps' if they don't come through.

I think the bottom line is that if you work for a big enough account to the insurance company, a little pressure from HR can work wonders.

Good luck!

KZ

[motu 5]

I had absolutely no problem adding my wife to the insurance - all they asked was for her SSN. I did it all over the internet. The card arrived shortly after that! Perhaps different rules are used by different insurance companies - I didn't tell them that she is on a K1 or her AOS is pending - they didn't ask for any of that - just the date of marriage and her SSN. We got married in September but I added her as of January 1 (because I had her on a catastrphic medical insurance coverage till December.) Good Luck

[Peggy 1]

My husband had no problems either adding my son and I to his Insurance.

They asked for our SSN. My son doesnt have one yet. He needs his EAD before he is allowd a SSN.

He was allowd to add us the day we were married here. We received our cards within a few days.

I would keep on them till he gets on it. He is your husband.

[chagalafamilia 0]

Again I want to thank everyone for their responses and suggestions. I got the following e-mail from Anthem.

"Benita, Great News! J I just heard a response from our legal department that Anthem will enroll your husband to your policy effective 2/3/06. I have forwarded that response to our enrollment unit for entry into our system. I asked that they let me know once it has been keyed. Once I get that verification, I will send you another e-mail.

I hope everything goes well with your endeavors."

FYI: We could not supply a SSN as he does not have his EAD so according to the Social Security Administration he does not have a legitimate need for a SSN.

[kc456 0]

Congratulations! Insurance people can be a pain sometimes with their rules, but your case was pretty straightforward, and they were just giving you a hard time for no reason.