Do conditional GC holders need health insurance right away?

[sweet01 39]

Hi everyone,

I just got my two year conditional GC this month of June and I am wondering if anyone of you know the rules with regard to health insurances for conditional green card holders/permanent residents? Do we need to have health insurance right away? Do you know if we are exempted from it or how many months do we need in order to get health insurance to get exempted?

My husband actually just changed jobs and starting on a new company here in MA as a contractor and he was not able to get a health insurance for me yet. We are planning to get one but we are thinking about waiting for at least a month or two to get one most especially I am currently looking for jobs right now.

I would really appreciate you guys for anyone who can help me on this.

Many thanks

[lavv 0]

I'm in the same situation but I already passed the exempt period that I think is 3 months after getting your green card. I'm not sure because I read this like 4 months ago but you may read it yourself in the links I'm leaving you here. There is also qualification for exemption of the fee for not having health insurance. I hope this helps!!!

https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/

https://www.healthcare.gov/fees-exemptions/exemptions-from-the-fee/

[sweetswinks 400]

Hi everyone,

I just got my two year conditional GC this month of June and I am wondering if anyone of you know the rules with regard to health insurances for conditional green card holders/permanent residents? Do we need to have health insurance right away? Do you know if we are exempted from it or how many months do we need in order to get health insurance to get exempted?

My husband actually just changed jobs and starting on a new company here in MA as a contractor and he was not able to get a health insurance for me yet. We are planning to get one but we are thinking about waiting for at least a month or two to get one most especially I am currently looking for jobs right now.

I would really appreciate you guys for anyone who can help me on this.

Many thanks

I'm in the same situation but I already passed the exempt period that I think is 3 months after getting your green card. I'm not sure because I read this like 4 months ago but you may read it yourself in the links I'm leaving you here. There is also qualification for exemption of the fee for not having health insurance. I hope this helps!!!

https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/

https://www.healthcare.gov/fees-exemptions/exemptions-from-the-fee/

The period is within 60 days after a life changing event such as Greencard, marriage, new job, moving etc.

If you apply for insurance after that period you will be denied, you must get health insurance within 60 days of any of those life events

(I know this because we just got health insurance 2 weeks ago).

[sweet01 39]

I'm in the same situation but I already passed the exempt period that I think is 3 months after getting your green card. I'm not sure because I read this like 4 months ago but you may read it yourself in the links I'm leaving you here. There is also qualification for exemption of the fee for not having health insurance. I hope this helps!!!

https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/

https://www.healthcare.gov/fees-exemptions/exemptions-from-the-fee/

Thank you so much for sharing me these links, it is very helpful Kind Regards

The period is within 60 days after a life changing event such as Greencard, marriage, new job, moving etc.

If you apply for insurance after that period you will be denied, you must get health insurance within 60 days of any of those life events

(I know this because we just got health insurance 2 weeks ago).

Thank you so much for this information I will definitely tell my husband about this. Kind Regards

[janet&adonis 57]

I was able to get my husband health insurance within 60 days of our marriage. He only had work permit and not greencard.

Edited June 22, 2015 by janet&adonis

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Fam.-based AOS to Moving to the US and Your New Life in America Forum~

~Similar topics are often discussed at this forum~

(Mod hat off)

Just take the thread title, "Do conditional GC holders need health insurance right away?" and consider a real-life possible scenario.

Are you able to pay, out of your pocket, for any and all emergency health care costs (medical, dental, etc.), as a result of an accident, medical condition, etc.?

In our case, I made a point of researching the topic prior to my wife and stepson even going through their POE. As others have mentioned, a marriage is a major life event, so including my wife on my employer's health plan was relatively easy. However, to add my step-son to the employer's health plan would have likely quadrupled the monthly premium deducted from my salary. I researched and obtained a reasonable stand-alone health and dental plan for him that wouldn't force us to work for spare change on street corners.

YMMV,

Good luck on your immigration journey.

Edited June 22, 2015 by Pitaya

[VOL 425]

Just a FYI most hospital will negotiate on health cost.

I had a $9,000 emergency room visit a few years ago, I got it knocked down to 0.

I was at a customers house yesterday, he passed out and had a bad wreck and broke like 20 bones. He told me he spent 3 weeks in hospital and the bill was $250,000, He was able to negotiate it down to $25,000.

Just a FYI.......

[sweet01 39]

~Moved from Fam.-based AOS to Moving to the US and Your New Life in America Forum~

~Similar topics are often discussed at this forum~

(Mod hat off)

Just take the thread title, "Do conditional GC holders need health insurance right away?" and consider a real-life possible scenario.

Are you able to pay, out of your pocket, for any and all emergency health care costs (medical, dental, etc.), as a result of an accident, medical condition, etc.?

In our case, I made a point of researching the topic prior to my wife and stepson even going through their POE. As others have mentioned, a marriage is a major life event, so including my wife on my employer's health plan was relatively easy. However, to add my step-son to the employer's health plan would have likely quadrupled the monthly premium deducted from my salary. I researched and obtained a reasonable stand-alone health and dental plan for him that wouldn't force us to work for spare change on street corners.

YMMV,

Good luck on your immigration journey.

Thank you for your advice Pitaya. All your advices really helped me understand a lot and it's much clearer to me right now on the health insurance process as an immigrant Regards

Just a FYI most hospital will negotiate on health cost.

I had a $9,000 emergency room visit a few years ago, I got it knocked down to 0.

I was at a customers house yesterday, he passed out and had a bad wreck and broke like 20 bones. He told me he spent 3 weeks in hospital and the bill was $250,000, He was able to negotiate it down to $25,000.

Just a FYI.......

Hi VOL. Thanks for sharing I will keep that in mind.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Just a FYI most hospital will negotiate on health cost.

I had a $9,000 emergency room visit a few years ago, I got it knocked down to 0.

I was at a customers house yesterday, he passed out and had a bad wreck and broke like 20 bones. He told me he spent 3 weeks in hospital and the bill was $250,000, He was able to negotiate it down to $25,000.

Just a FYI.......

I wonder how many new immigrants have $25K spare just lying around. Sure it's a lot less than $250k, but...