Obamacare for CR-1 Wife

[Isabela 20]

I didn't add my wife to my work health policy as she will be out of country until her CR-1 visa is issued. I don't expect her to arrive until the second half of the year. Will I need to get one of the Obamacare policies to avoid a penalty once she gets here?

Edited December 28, 2014 by Isabela

[msbau764 245]

I didn't add my wife to my work health policy as she will be out of country until her CR-1 visa is issued. I don't expect her to arrive until the second half of the year. Will I need to get one of the Obamacare policies to avoid a penalty once she gets here?

Have you asked your insurance company if you can add your wife to the plan mid year?

[Isabela 20]

They only allow changes during open season unless it's a qualified life event.

[msbau764 245]

They only allow changes during open season unless it's a qualified life event.

So basically you are going to miss out on the qualified life event because you are already married as opposed to in the process of getting married?

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

***** Moving from CR-1 visa to Moving Here and your New Life forum *****

[NikLR 13,227]

So basically you are going to miss out on the qualified life event because you are already married as opposed to in the process of getting married?

Sometimes a company will consider immigration a life event but sometimes they don't. My husband is a federal employee and had to wait until the open period to add me.

But a CR1/ir1 can use obamacare

[Isabela 20]

I'm also a federal employee. I'm not worried about the insurance. I'm worried about the penalty.

[NikLR 13,227]

Not sure how the penalties work to be honest.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

Moving is a qualifying life event for obamacare and LPRs are eligible for subsidies. Are you against enrolling her in a policy mid year?

[Darnell 8,478]

They only allow changes during open season unless it's a qualified life event.

might need to train up some staff with the insurance company,

noting that 'immigrate to USA' is a qualified life event.

It is, really ! it's on you, however , to train those humans !

[NikLR 13,227]

Moving is a qualifying life event for obamacare and LPRs are eligible for subsidies. Are you against enrolling her in a policy mid year?

It may be a qualifying event for Obamacare but it isnt for federal employee healthcare plans. The OP would have to wait until Nov next year to enroll his wife in his healthcare plan (which would be considerably more affordable than obamacare.)

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

It may be a qualifying event for Obamacare but it isnt for federal employee healthcare plans. The OP would have to wait until Nov next year to enroll his wife in his healthcare plan (which would be considerably more affordable than obamacare.)

He was concerned about a penalty and frankly, should be concerned about the cost of hospitalization enough to insure against it. I'd rather pay for some months of higher cost or catastrophic health insurance than be bankrupted with medical debt. You just really don't know when a perfectly healthy person will encounter an emergency.

[NikLR 13,227]

I think i found a spot in the FEHB where you can enroll your wife starting 31 days before she moves and ending 60 days after.

Check 1M

http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/reference-materials/reference/federal-employees-receiving-premium-conversion-tax-benefits/

Employee or eligible family member loses coverage under FEHB or another group insurance plan including the following:

• Loss of coverage under another FEHB enrollment due to termination, cancellation, or change to Self Only of the covering enrollment
• Loss of coverage due to termination of membership in employee organization sponsoring the FEHB plan6
• Loss of coverage under another federally-sponsored health benefits program, including: TRICARE, Medicare, Indian Health Service
• Loss of coverage under Medicaid or similar State-sponsored program of medical assistance for the needy
• Loss of coverage under a non-Federal health plan, including foreign, state or local government, private sector
• Loss of coverage due to change in worksite or residence (Employees in an FEHB HMO, also see 1I.)

As long as she has health care already, then you can add her without penalty when she moves.

Edited December 28, 2014 by NLR

[Isabela 20]

He was concerned about a penalty and frankly, should be concerned about the cost of hospitalization enough to insure against it. I'd rather pay for some months of higher cost or catastrophic health insurance than be bankrupted with medical debt. You just really don't know when a perfectly healthy person will encounter an emergency.

It would of cost about $2600 for the year extra if I remember right. The way immigration goes I can't be sure she will even come to the United States in 2015, so getting a health plan didn't make sense. I can self insure her in the Philippines as medical is very affordable there. I was originally thinking she wouldn't arrive until at least mid October 2015 as I filled around this date this year. USCIS expedited her on their own it seems as my NOA 2 came real fast.

I can also just get a Obamacare required policy when she gets here as they seem affordable and I wouldn't want her without a policy once she arrives. I'll also try to change mid open season as qualifying life event as NLR found some good info.

[Isabela 20]

I think i found a spot in the FEHB where you can enroll your wife starting 31 days before she moves and ending 60 days after.

Check 1M

http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/reference-materials/reference/federal-employees-receiving-premium-conversion-tax-benefits/

Employee or eligible family member loses coverage under FEHB or another group insurance plan including the following:

• Loss of coverage under another FEHB enrollment due to termination, cancellation, or change to Self Only of the covering enrollment
• Loss of coverage due to termination of membership in employee organization sponsoring the FEHB plan6
• Loss of coverage under another federally-sponsored health benefits program, including: TRICARE, Medicare, Indian Health Service
• Loss of coverage under Medicaid or similar State-sponsored program of medical assistance for the needy
• Loss of coverage under a non-Federal health plan, including foreign, state or local government, private sector
• Loss of coverage due to change in worksite or residence (Employees in an FEHB HMO, also see 1I.)

As long as she has health care already, then you can add her without penalty when she moves.

Wow I really appreciate the help you provided!

I need to call for my employment letter, so I'll ask about this too. Thanks again!