What do you do about health insurance during the transition period

[slowlyman 118]

Good question. Back in the days when I worked for somebody. A new hire did not have to wait for open enrollment. After the probation period you signed up and got coverage. I'm thinking a new spouse may fall under the same criteria. your HR department would be a good place to ask this question.

If they want her to wait, then check back here, I expect good answers.

[Bugs 455]

Good question. Back in the days when I worked for somebody. A new hire did not have to wait for open enrollment. After the probation period you signed up and got coverage. I'm thinking a new spouse may fall under the same criteria. your HR department would be a good place to ask this question.

If they want her to wait, then check back here, I expect good answers.

Yes, I will ask. I haven't because it will be awhile before she comes here (December is the earliest we have targeted). I'll let you know the answer, but perhaps someone else can chime in if they know their employer health insurance policy has a similar "open enrollment" period rule and if it affects NEW spouses (or births for that matter).

[Andy and Pui 16]

Yes, that is a good question and I work for a health insurance provider. When I got hired I got hired during the open enrollment period so I was able to add Pui and I to the health insurance right away.

[Bayareaguy 156]

My employers insurance allows additions/changes for certain life events outside of the open enrollment period (marriage, divorce, etc).

[stevie b 141]

Yes, I will ask. I haven't because it will be awhile before she comes here (December is the earliest we have targeted). I'll let you know the answer, but perhaps someone else can chime in if they know their employer health insurance policy has a similar "open enrollment" period rule and if it affects NEW spouses (or births for that matter).

Yo Leon.. check with your employer.. the insurance should have qualifying life events that allow changes... a new marriage and a baby are definitely included in those definitions

[St&Sv 33]

My company has the open enrollment too, and is in October as well. Getting married, having a child, or getting divorced are the 3 ways to add someone outside the open enrollment date.

[fantonledzepp 159]

Applied for social security number 2 weeks after her arrival, got married 7 weeks after her arrival, added her to my policy 2 days after that. She had her own card 2 weeks after that.

[NickD 202]

Major problem for us was finding an USCIS approved doctor for that I-693. Some study had to be done, first off was for my wife to be and her daughter to get a hold of all of her medical records from her home country. She could translate those into English herself. Next step was to get a list of all the approved doctors in your area, got that off the USCIS site.

Then to make calls starting from the nearest and keep going out, and not to be afraid to ask for a quote. After many calls, found a small country doctor 300 miles away, The difference in quotes from the nearest approved doctor was $5,000 per person down to $600 per person, of course I mentioned I will have to pay cash for this. Was well worth that trip to save 8,800 bucks.

Then I also learned by to going to my local county health department, could get many of those communicable disease test done in the UW medicine school. like for that HIV stuff, they charged me 25 bucks per person rather than 500 buck per person my nearest doctor wanted for the same exact test. They also send that down to Madison as the only one that can do that test, and received the same exact certificate my country doctor would accept reducing his 100 buck price to get that down to that 600 buck price range.

I also downloaded that I-693 form and completely filled out whatever I could using Adobe Pro and double checked everything out., printed out five sheets for each and handed that out to our doctor. With that, all the certificates, the translated medical records, he said this is the easiest I-693 he ever filled out. But that 600 buck agreed upon quote still remained in effect. I didn't argue you that. He still had to do some more lab test, that was part of the deal, so couldn't give us our I-693's until about a week later. Found that a bit unreasonable, was their strict policy not to mail these out, so I had to make another 600 mile trip to pick those up. Their I-693's had to be in a sealed envelop and was doubled warned not to open those. But also was kind enough to give me copies of what was inside, I certainly don't know what harm there is in that. And were mine, used a specila font when I typed them out, rest of it was hen scratching.

With the other concerns, already knew I had two very healthy girls, but we still had to wait about 10-11 weeks before we got married. Really not the time to go roller blading, or skateboarding, etc. Knew I could call a doctor if needed and say I could only pay cash, that makes a huge difference the way health insurance companies rob both the doctors and us. Also, two my of kids are doctors that helps, but kept our fingers crossed and nothing happened. After marriage, no more concerns on this issue. But is certainly something to think about.

[LongRX7 6]

Insurance companies allow enrollment for life changing events, example divorce, marriage, birth of a child. If not, we would all have to get married or divorced and have kids somewhere between November and December. I did basically what fantonledzepp ^^^^ did.

Edited June 28, 2013 by LongRX7

[bigdog 376]

Marriage is generally not dependent on open enrollment, check with your HR.

[joshandgigi 8]

I'm wondering what to do if my employer only has "open enrollment" during a set time of the year, meaning that is the only time I can add family members, and she comes and marries me well before the next open enrollment period starts. For instance, open enrollment is in October, and she comes in December. I have to wait until the following October before I can add her to my employer's plan.

When you marry it creates a exception to open enrollment and you can add her.

[Bugs 455]

Thanks guys. That's a relief. I'll still call my HR to be sure, but it sounds like it won't be a problem adding her outside of the open enrollment period.

[Protocol417 161]

Is insurance required? I have health insurance through my employer and I do have the ability to add a spouse, but that costs more than my monthly rent and I can't even come close to affording that, especially since my fiance won't be able to work for a bit. I didn't think it was required but now I'm starting to wonder.

[deltagal 5]

With employer plans that have an open enrollment period they will be able to add a spouse when you get married. That is considered a life event and you have 30 days from the date of your marriage to add a spouse.

[MrsParker 13]

I'm wondering what to do if my employer only has "open enrollment" during a set time of the year, meaning that is the only time I can add family members, and she comes and marries me well before the next open enrollment period starts. For instance, open enrollment is in October, and she comes in December. I have to wait until the following October before I can add her to my employer's plan.

Usually when you have a life change such as marriage or birth of child employers allow you to make changes.