Medical Insurance...SO Confused!

[rhirhi 35]

Do you have a link to what you were reading?

http://www.whygetit.com/facts/penalty.html#

This is the MA site so it might be specific to that state.

[English Muffin 59]

MA does have it's own rules regarding health insurance. Romneycare!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You will find in the US that each state manages many things such as public education, marriage, driver licenses, state income tax, property tax, sales tax.......

Your Romneycare is specific to MA and you may get more info by emailing the state board of insurance.

[rhirhi 35]

Aaaah no wonder I was confusing everyone! State board of insurance is my next stop then, thanks

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

MA has Obamacare or Romneycare and there may be a penalty now on the tax return for being without insurance. This is unique to MA as of now. That being said, MA probably has many more available health care options because of this law. Look into getting health insurance through some public MA program.

To all, are we really sure that travel insurance wouldn't cover the time between when a K-1 lands and marriage, when the person can join the spouse's insurance? Because K-1 is a non-immigrant visa and the person does not become a resident for some time, or even apply for it until after marriage. I would make that argument, at least.

Edit: OP: It looks like this is the site to shop for health insurance and compare plans. https://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector

I just did it for me and my cheapest quote was $239/month. Not bad.

Edited July 17, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

MA has Obamacare or Romneycare and there may be a penalty now on the tax return for being without insurance. This is unique to MA as of now. That being said, MA probably has many more available health care options because of this law. Look into getting health insurance through some public MA program.

To all, are we really sure that travel insurance wouldn't cover the time between when a K-1 lands and marriage, when the person can join the spouse's insurance? Because K-1 is a non-immigrant visa and the person does not become a resident for some time, or even apply for it until after marriage. I would make that argument, at least.

Edit: OP: It looks like this is the site to shop for health insurance and compare plans. https://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector

I just did it for me and my cheapest quote was $239/month. Not bad.

I would go along with your thoughts that as a K1, she is no more than a 90 day visitor when she arrives. As far as MA resident healthcare options, she might not even qualify. Look how hard it is for a K1 to get a driver license because they don't have any legal status beyond 90 days. If the insurance programs require proof of MA residency, what does she have the day she arrives?

[rhirhi 35]

I would go along with your thoughts that as a K1, she is no more than a 90 day visitor when she arrives. As far as MA resident healthcare options, she might not even qualify. Look how hard it is for a K1 to get a driver license because they don't have any legal status beyond 90 days. If the insurance programs require proof of MA residency, what does she have the day she arrives?

That's exactly what I was questioning. If I'm not a resident, I can't get healthcare...if I cant get healthcare then I get penalised when tax time rolls around. Have emailed enquiring about the situation, will post the reply on here for anyone curious (or anyone MA-bound in the future).

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I would go along with your thoughts that as a K1, she is no more than a 90 day visitor when she arrives. As far as MA resident healthcare options, she might not even qualify. Look how hard it is for a K1 to get a driver license because they don't have any legal status beyond 90 days. If the insurance programs require proof of MA residency, what does she have the day she arrives?

I would say utility bill, but even that probably requires a SSN, so it would take some time...

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

That's exactly what I was questioning. If I'm not a resident, I can't get healthcare...if I cant get healthcare then I get penalised when tax time rolls around. Have emailed enquiring about the situation, will post the reply on here for anyone curious (or anyone MA-bound in the future).

Well I don't think you have to worry about a penalty if you aren't a resident by their standards. That's a point to argue about any penalty. And don't be surprise if you get an unhelpful answer from them. Nobody seems to understand what a K1 is, especially in state and local government.

[QueenOfBlades 224]

I'm a bit confused about this as well. Not sure how this relates to South Carolina. According to the internet, SC hates this new federal law and gives out money to people who get fined. :S

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Oh and also it says in the new laws -

"Such term shall not include an individual for any month if for the month the individual is not a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States."

So as we will be an alien lawfully present in the US,I would assume it still applies to K1s.

[UK-USA-K1 128]

I'm interested to see what the state actually says, even though it has no affect on me, it's an interesting scenario.

If I were to guess, I'd say that you likely don't get fined because as a K-1 you are on a non-immigrant visa and your actual immigration doesn't technically begin until you marry and file for adjusted status. Once married, you automatically become qualified to be added to a spouses plan (assuming they have one through their work), and therefor you should be considered as insured from the beginning of your residency.

Of course this is the government we are talking about here, so ANYTHING is possible

[QueenOfBlades 224]

I'm interested to see what the state actually says, even though it has no affect on me, it's an interesting scenario.

If I were to guess, I'd say that you likely don't get fined because as a K-1 you are on a non-immigrant visa and your actual immigration doesn't technically begin until you marry and file for adjusted status. Once married, you automatically become qualified to be added to a spouses plan (assuming they have one through their work), and therefor you should be considered as insured from the beginning of your residency.

Of course this is the government we are talking about here, so ANYTHING is possible

Why doesn't it apply to you? It's federal law and will apply to everyone in the US.

http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130418-911290.html

[Bugs 455]

The penalty in 2014 will be only $8 per month for each month of non-coverage or 2.5% of monthly income. So I wouldn't worry about it. The only thing you need to worry about is getting insurance for the reason that it will be very costly if you end up having to go to the hospital with no insurance.

Travel insurance does not cover immigrants, but you can get temporary plans for those coming on K-1s. You can get on one of those until you are married and can get regular insurance, either through your spouse's or on an individual purchase plan.

[Bugs 455]

Oh and also it says in the new laws -

"Such term shall not include an individual for any month if for the month the individual is not a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States."

So as we will be an alien lawfully present in the US,I would assume it still applies to K1s.

Yes. Legal aliens still have to be insured to avoid the penalty.

Basically anyone living in the US who files.