Canadians Obtaining US Health Insurance

[Erica & L 52]

Hey everyone,

I was just about to do some research on this but I figured I'd start off by asking what all you guys did/will be doing for health coverage here in the US.

If anyone has any specific companies they plan to use or are using, feel free to share!

I just got my SSN a week and a bit ago and I was unsure if this gave me grounds to apply for health insurance?

My wife currently does not have any health insurance she can add me to. Her new job offers benefits but not for 3 months and she only started 3 weeks ago. Before that we applied (for her) through the Healthcare Market Place (Obama Care) and the premium was ridiculously high. We then applied to Medicaid of Alabama about 3 months ago and still haven't heard anything despite numerous phone calls and inquiries.

I'm not one to get sick often but it would be nice to have the peace of mind now that I'm somewhat further in my AOS progress.

If anyone has any ideas or thoughts I'd love to hear 'em!

[NikLR 13,232]

You can't get medicaid. She can but you cannot.

I've heard the obamacare website is rather difficult to use.

[Erica & L 52]

You can't get medicaid. She can but you cannot.

I've heard the obamacare website is rather difficult to use.

Yeah I just called medicaid and they could finally tell me after 4 months that she wasn't approved and yet they never sent out anything saying why or even letting us know.

The Obama Care website is total garbage, we tried applying on there, didn't work, tried over the phone, didn't work, and eventually we had to send in a paper application and she was approved it was just expensive still, more than what her work will be offering.

[NikLR 13,232]

Well as soon as her work one comes in, you can switch over.

Sometimes it's cheaper to do things separately as a couple. It's stupid but they either charge you as a single, or as a family of 4. I don't know why my husband and I have to pay for medical insurance for a family of 4 when both our vision and dental allow us a plus 1 (so two people) at a fraction of the cost of a family. Don't get me ranting on medical insurance. LOL

[Erica & L 52]

Being a gay couple in a state that doesn't recognize our marriage though, I don't know if I can be added to her insurance or not? I don't know if the federal or state law comes into play when it comes to health insurance.

[kc247 22]

Agreed about the obamacare website being junk! I tried them since we got married, calling them over and over, kept saying they would call me back and never did. We gave up and applied for bluecross something or other the end of April, hoping to get coverage for May, they haven't gotten back to me yet though. I miss Canada when I didn't have to worry about it!

[NikLR 13,232]

Being a gay couple in a state that doesn't recognize our marriage though, I don't know if I can be added to her insurance or not? I don't know if the federal or state law comes into play when it comes to health insurance.

Im not sure. For obamacare it should be federal. I always forget about the ways of the bible belt states. Which is funny considering hubs is from Alabama.

[jfgk1987 303]

Being a gay couple in a state that doesn't recognize our marriage though, I don't know if I can be added to her insurance or not? I don't know if the federal or state law comes into play when it comes to health insurance.

Im not sure. For obamacare it should be federal. I always forget about the ways of the bible belt states. Which is funny considering hubs is from Alabama.

Actually it's at the state level when it concerns same sex marriage, and in Alabama they don't have to extend coverage to same sex spouses, in most cases...

Must Employers Provide Benefits to Same Sex Spouses?

In states that do not recognize same-sex marriage, state insurance law will not mandate that employers with insured group health plans provide health insurance to same sex spouses.

For employers with ERISA-covered self-funded group health plans which are not subject to state insurance law, the issue of whether to exclude same sex spouses if the employer offers coverage to opposite sex spouses is complex. These employers should consult with benefits counsel.

Same-sex couples who were married in any of the 17 states and the District of Columbia that are entitled to equal access to spousal coverage, no matter where they currently live or where the policy is offered.

So, did you get married in one of the 17 states that allows same sex marriage?

Edit: to answer your original question, if you are allowed to jump on your spouse's plan that is the only way you can get coverage until you get your green card (extra extra edit) I think it counts if you are in the process of adjusting to a LPR, but if the premiums are too much you have to hope you can be added to your spouse's plan.

Edited May 6, 2014 by jfgk1987

[jfgk1987 303]

Actually it's at the state level when it concerns same sex marriage, and in Alabama they don't have to extend coverage to same sex spouses, in most cases...

Must Employers Provide Benefits to Same Sex Spouses?

In states that do not recognize same-sex marriage, state insurance law will not mandate that employers with insured group health plans provide health insurance to same sex spouses.

For employers with ERISA-covered self-funded group health plans which are not subject to state insurance law, the issue of whether to exclude same sex spouses if the employer offers coverage to opposite sex spouses is complex. These employers should consult with benefits counsel.

Same-sex couples who were married in any of the 17 states and the District of Columbia that are entitled to equal access to spousal coverage, no matter where they currently live or where the policy is offered.

So, did you get married in one of the 17 states that allows same sex marriage?

Edit: to answer your original question, if you are allowed to jump on your spouse's plan that is the only way you can get coverage until you get your green card (extra extra edit) I think it counts if you are in the process of adjusting to a LPR, but if the premiums are too much you have to hope you can be added to your spouse's plan.

I have to quote myself because I've made too many edits...

So, did you get married in one of the 17 states that allows same sex marriage? Well duh, of course you did! What I meant to ask is if Alabama recognizes the marriage, if not then I'm afraid you're out of luck

[Erica & L 52]

I have to quote myself because I've made too many edits...

So, did you get married in one of the 17 states that allows same sex marriage? Well duh, of course you did! What I meant to ask is if Alabama recognizes the marriage, if not then I'm afraid you're out of luck

We were married in Maryland.

We are planning to move to Portland in a few months, which also doesn't recognize our marriage, but it's a lot more progressive of a state that currently down in the south at the moment, so I suspect it won't be too long before Oregon establishes new equality laws.

With that being said, is our only option for my wife to get insurance through her work and then I just get insurance independently as well? or through my job (if they offer it, I'll have to find out)

Since we're moving I didn't know if it was better to hold off, that maybe there are more health insurance options that cover the state of Oregon that won't cover Alabama?

[jfgk1987 303]

We were married in Maryland.

We are planning to move to Portland in a few months, which also doesn't recognize our marriage, but it's a lot more progressive of a state that currently down in the south at the moment, so I suspect it won't be too long before Oregon establishes new equality laws.

With that being said, is our only option for my wife to get insurance through her work and then I just get insurance independently as well? or through my job (if they offer it, I'll have to find out)

Since we're moving I didn't know if it was better to hold off, that maybe there are more health insurance options that cover the state of Oregon that won't cover Alabama?

(Portland, in Oregon right?) Oregon doesn't actually ban same sex marriage by law, they just don't allow them to be performed, if that makes sense. They do however recognize same sex marriages performed legally where allowed, so you can file taxes together as married, [and I believe] your spouse can include you in her health plan if she works for company that has a self-funded benefit plan. How soon are you moving? When your wife gets her plan you should still check to see if you can receive benefits too.

[Erica & L 52]

(Portland, in Oregon right?) Oregon doesn't actually ban same sex marriage by law, they just don't allow them to be performed, if that makes sense. They do however recognize same sex marriages performed legally where allowed, so you can file taxes together as married, [and I believe] your spouse can include you in her health plan if she works for company that has a self-funded benefit plan. How soon are you moving? When your wife gets her plan you should still check to see if you can receive benefits too.

Yes haha Oregon! Oh really? That's great, I didn't know that. I'll have to do some more research. We're planning to move in the next 3 months ideally, and it's going to take about 2 more months before my wife qualifies for benefits through her job. If she stays with that job, since they have an office near Portland in Vancouver, Washington and allow her to transfer, she could still look into it but it may make more sense to wait perhaps.

[NikLR 13,232]

Actually it's at the state level when it concerns same sex marriage, and in Alabama they don't have to extend coverage to same sex spouses, in most cases...

Must Employers Provide Benefits to Same Sex Spouses?

In states that do not recognize same-sex marriage, state insurance law will not mandate that employers with insured group health plans provide health insurance to same sex spouses.

For employers with ERISA-covered self-funded group health plans which are not subject to state insurance law, the issue of whether to exclude same sex spouses if the employer offers coverage to opposite sex spouses is complex. These employers should consult with benefits counsel.

Same-sex couples who were married in any of the 17 states and the District of Columbia that are entitled to equal access to spousal coverage, no matter where they currently live or where the policy is offered.

So, did you get married in one of the 17 states that allows same sex marriage?

Edit: to answer your original question, if you are allowed to jump on your spouse's plan that is the only way you can get coverage until you get your green card (extra extra edit) I think it counts if you are in the process of adjusting to a LPR, but if the premiums are too much you have to hope you can be added to your spouse's plan.

Isn't obamacare the equivalent of a federal health care?? I thought you shopped for a health care on their marketplace and could find one that offers to both.

I'm not talking about employers. I understand her employers do not have to cover same sex marriages (which is a whole other level of stupid IMHO, but this is the bible belt we're talking about.... ) But I thought they could still find some on the ACA website. Granted I haven't had to look at it either.

[jfgk1987 303]

Isn't obamacare the equivalent of a federal health care?? I thought you shopped for a health care on their marketplace and could find one that offers to both.

I'm not talking about employers. I understand her employers do not have to cover same sex marriages (which is a whole other level of stupid IMHO, but this is the bible belt we're talking about.... ) But I thought they could still find some on the ACA website. Granted I haven't had to look at it either.

Yeah, it is federal healthcare.

Now that I think about it I'm not sure why I quoted your post, my bad, I was a hot mess this morning (I mean really, I edited my post so many times I had to quote myself to continue making corrections).

[Erica & L 52]

Thanks for the help, guys! In my orientation today they said they offer health care for same-sex partners, so we're going to look into it and compare to see which company is better or if her's even can offer me anything as her spouse.