UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

hey i was just wandering if anyone had any good recommendations for insurance providers?

i can't get put on my fiances insurance until we're married so its about two months i need to find cover for

i can't find for the life of me who i used last time its driving me mad!

I asked this on VJ too but I got a mixed answer, seems some just risk it but I made the same point as you about the driving in Texas! It only takes one accident and suddenly you might have medical bills into the thousands if not more.

As you are no longer resident in the UK you can't get UK insurance so it can only be US policies. Seems you need to search Google for K1 visa insurance, a couple of sites came up in that.

Its easier to use the US version of Google not the UK by using this address www.google.com/ncr the "ncr" part then acts as though you are based in the US. You still get UK sites but the US Sites are prioritized a bit more in the results.

I saw this too which insures non-US Citizens: VJ for some reason won't let me post the URL or the company name not sure why! insu buy is it, maybe they have problems with this company?

I still need to do more research on this as I'm not quite as far in the process as you but hope that helps!

For you future Texans, I would suggest looking at BCBSTX.com which is BlueCross BlueShield of Texas. It is pretty widely accepted. If a doctor or hospital doesn't accept your insurance, then that's not good. Don't pick an off-beat policy no doctors take. BCBSTX have short term plans which are PPO (preferred provider) which means there is a specific list of doctors and hospitals you can use. Use others not in the network and you pay a lot more.

Rob, if you get in a serious accident, it's going to cost you thousands even with insurance. Insurance does not mean free healthcare. Each policy is different but for example you could have

$1500 deductible which means the first $1500 is paid by you.

After getting past your deductible, you pay 20% of the cost.

You may pay an additional $100-200 for an ER or hospital admission.

Something landing you in the hospital and involving surgery, ambulances, scans, etc can hit $100,000 in a week.

The good thing is each insurance company negotiates rates. So a surgeon bills $20,000 for his service. Your insurance has negotiated it is worth about $4000. The surgeon has agreed to accept that rate when they signed up to take BCBS. You only pay 20% of the $4000, not his full bill.

The policy you choose will have an out of pocket maximum. Hit that amount in medical bills paid and you pay no more until the policy period is up. You always ending up paying more than the out of pocket for this and that in the fine print, but it's a concept to grasp when you start comparing policies.

[Tabitha and James 17]

My interview is today!!!

Wish me luck!

#nervous-as-hell

Good Luck

[yuna628 9,676]

I can second that BCB for my own state is an insurance that has been good to me, though it has been expensive. And I also second that having insurance can often mean very little in terms of cost. A long time ago I was one of those uninsured young persons in America, and became very sick which landed me in a week-long hospital stay. Most of it was some tests and supportive care. Coming out of that uninsured left me with a bill of over 5k. I can contrast that with my sister who had a very complex operation with insurance - the price was actually comparable. Granted she saved thousands upon thousand, but it was still a dent to the wallet. My mom however, just recently went through a big operation, 2 1/2 week hospital stay, supportive care, emergency trip back to the ER, followup doctor visits, tests, and oncology -- all on insurance and her out of pocket cost is minimal.

It really all does depend upon the policy you have. I will however, also beware people not to think they are 100% covered that just because they have an insurance policy that is accepted by a hospital doesn't mean that the doctor you see (in an ER, assistance surgeon, or even OBGYN situation) will accept your insurance. I've seen it happen time and time again. A patient will get hit with a bill from a doctor they saw in a hospital setting and the insurance company is powerless to negotiate with them on your behalf -- all because the hospital classes the physician as a 'contractor' and not a full employee.

[Tabitha and James 17]

Unfortunately, you are assigned a doctor when you go to the ER, no guarantee that doctor assigned to you is an approved doctor in your network.

[yuna628 9,676]

Unfortunately, you are assigned a doctor when you go to the ER, no guarantee that doctor assigned to you is an approved doctor in your network.

Yep! My sister argued this point to the insurance company: ''should I have screamed WAIT WAIT DO ANY OF YOU TAKE MY INSURANCE??" before they put her under. She couldn't get anywhere with them, but thankfully the surgeon was nice enough to take care of the bill for his out of network assistant himself.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Yes! a hospital may accept your insurance for room, board, x-rays, meds, IVs, blood draws, etc but the surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, anesthesiologists, and ER doctors will bill for their services and need to take your insurance.

I did argue successfully when charged a lot for an ambulance out of network when I got transported from a small hospital to the big city. I told them I was very, very sick and didn't get to call around and pick an ambulance service. The hospital arranged the transport. Insurance paid. They will do the same for anesthesiologists who you don't get to choose. It's a secret, I think, that you have to challenge.

[ChasUno 101]

I am going to be put on my partner's insurance when I get to the USA, though for some technical reason it can only be done at the beginning of a month. As I am arriving on the 10th August, I can't be included on his insurance until 1st September.

Could I use UK travel insurance for this interim period? Technically, being a K1 means I am non immigrant, and wouldn't officially be classed as immigrant until we file for AOS. I know it's a bit of a grey area (sort of), but it's likely to be a lot easier to get travel insurance in the UK than it would be for me to get 21 days insurance in the US. Or is using UK travel insurance too dodgy seeing as my coming in on a K1 means the intent is to stay and become a permanent resident after marriage?

[yuna628 9,676]

I am going to be put on my partner's insurance when I get to the USA, though for some technical reason it can only be done at the beginning of a month. As I am arriving on the 10th August, I can't be included on his insurance until 1st September.

Could I use UK travel insurance for this interim period? Technically, being a K1 means I am non immigrant, and wouldn't officially be classed as immigrant until we file for AOS. I know it's a bit of a grey area (sort of), but it's likely to be a lot easier to get travel insurance in the UK than it would be for me to get 21 days insurance in the US. Or is using UK travel insurance too dodgy seeing as my coming in on a K1 means the intent is to stay and become a permanent resident after marriage?

TBH, I find travel insurance useful for visits and protecting oneself in the event belongings are lost or helping your family in the event something goes wrong up in the air. Generally travel insurance needs a return date doesn't it? Companies like ((that one company you can google but that VJ hates us to mention)) offer ''fiancé visa insurance'' but I just find the notion kind of outdated especially with the ACA. Nor do these travel medical insurance plans actually count as being ''insured'' in terms of the federal mandate. I also do wonder if doctors even participate with these type of insurances..

Edited July 17, 2015 by yuna628

[rob999 51]

For you future Texans, I would suggest looking at BCBSTX.com which is BlueCross BlueShield of Texas.

Thanks! I'll check that out.

Rob, if you get in a serious accident, it's going to cost you thousands even with insurance. Insurance does not mean free healthcare. Each policy is different but for example you could have

$1500 deductible which means the first $1500 is paid by you.

After getting past your deductible, you pay 20% of the cost.

You may pay an additional $100-200 for an ER or hospital admission.

Thanks for explaining that, I had no idea, kinda makes the NHS look simple. Can I not tell them to forward all invoices to the NHS instead for our years of tax service

Edited July 17, 2015 by rob999

[rob999 51]

Could I use UK travel insurance for this interim period?

I read on VJ that the K1 would/could be viewed as immigrant as you have left the country with the purpose to immigrate into the US, so you're not on "holiday" or what they would define as "travelling". As you would no longer be a permanent resident of the UK with a UK address it seemed that insurance companies will either deny you or use that as a reason for not proving any money in the event of a claim somewhere hidden in their T&C's.

I considered calling a UK Travel Insurance company but didn't in the end as firstly wanted to focus on the US options like Nich-Nick has suggested and secondly I'm not convinced the people in the call center will understand what a K1 is in the eye's of the insurance company's T&C's until you give them a $20k bill and then suddenly they might "understand" but not in one's favour. Just seemed a bit risky to me.

[MSCastillo 27]

thank you for all the advice! this is turning into one hell of a money pit.

gosh they don't like to make everyone starting out have a whole lot against them!

[ChasUno 101]

Hard to believe that my K1 Embassy interview is tomorrow.

When I got my interview date letter on the 19th June, it seemed so far away. I guess that as I've been so busy since then the time has flown past. I've collected all my required documents together, printed out a map (I pretty much know where to go, it's just a back up!) and don't know whether to be nervous, excited, or both!

I'm not sure whether to scan and print copies of some of the documents or not. London does not keep the originals apparently?

I've used Nich-Nick's excellent list for the documents needed. Can't think of anything else that is needed!

Actually needed:

-Visa Appointment Letter
-Passport
-Police Certificate that says NO TRACE
-Birth Certificate Long
-Affidavit of Support (with supporting Documents)
-DS-160 Confirmation
-1 Photos American Sized
-Visa Interview payment Receipt

(That is assuming you have no name changes, military service, divorces and the other possible documents listed by the embassy.)

Enjoy your interview

Most that interview say they do not want photocopies and don't take them if you bring them. I would certainly photocopy anything for my records, just in case they keep something.

Edited July 19, 2015 by ChasUno

[yuna628 9,676]

Just because I'm OCD, I'd copy everything, and make backups of that too!

If you're only a little OCD make copies of the important stuff just in case.

Good luck tomorrow!

[ChasUno 101]

Thanks Yuna!

I'm going to dig my scanner out shortly and will get scanning and printing, just to be on the safe side.

[-Shana- 152]

Looking forward to hearing your approval tomorrow, Chas! You'll be fine