Health Insurance questions

[JL818 18]

My fiancee is pregnant and I am trying to have her come to the US so that she can deliver here. We are currently waiting for a few documents to schedule the interview, which will hopefully some time in mid January. The expected due date is May. In addition, I want to get married and meet all the requirements so that she can be under my company's health insurance plan prior to the due date, or I will go broke from the medical expenses.

Given the above, I expect that the timing will be pretty tight, and I am trying to make sure I have all my bases covered. How long would it probably take for us to get married, get her a SSN, and get her under my health care plan? Are there any other considerations other than getting married and getting the SSN that I need to plan for?

Thanks!

[Yuri S 4]

Hello JL,

We had the same concern right before the interview. Things go pretty fast after the interview. Between the Interview and getting the SSN was three months. But it could have been two months. Here is our timeline:

Service Center :

California Service Center

• Consulate : Manila, Philippines
• I-129F Sent : 2014-04-22 – The date when the package was sent to USCIS.
• I-129F NOA1 : 2014-04-27 – Received the first Notice of Action Receipt (only the US petitioner receives NOA1)
• I-129F NOA2 : 2014-05-31 – Received the second Notice of Action Approval Notice Valid from 5/28/2014 to 09/27/2014
• NVC Received : 2014-06-10 – National Visa Center received the Approval Notice. (only US petitioner receives NVC letter)
• Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : 2014-06-12 – Case Number created. Case # is used to track your visa status @ https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/
• NVC Left : 2014-06-13 – Case sent to US Embassy Manila.
• Consulate Received : 2014-06-16 – US Embassy Manila received my visa case mail from NVC.
• Packet 3 Received : 2014-06-30 – Beneficiary received a letter from the US Embassy Manila
• Packet 3 Sent : 2014-07-07
• Packet 4 Received : 2014-07-14
• Interview Date : 2014-08-07 – Interview questions here. Interview experience here.
• Interview Result : Administrative Review – Approval was pending due to late arrival of medical result.
• Second Interview
• (If Required): If your case gets an AP or RFE (request for evidence) you can send an inquiry at https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/under Provide Feedback section.
• Second Interview Result: Approved
• Visa Received : 2014-08-29 . Note: CFO Seminar is required before leaving the country.
• US Entry : 2014-09-24 . Passport was stamped with a condition of marrying within 88 days. ( Not 90 days)
• Marriage : 2014-11-03
• SSN : 2014-11-03
• Filed i864: 2014-11-14
• Biometics: February 10,2015
• Recieved EAD: February 25,2015
• USICS Appointment: November 5, 2015
• Conditional Green Card Received: November 12, 2015

Here are some alternatives:

• https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/
• She can probably get insurance withOUT an SSN http://forums.immigration.com/threads/health-insurance-without-ssn.197576/

[Anh map 2,098]

The pregnancy won't likely be covered by your plan. Once your child is born he/she will be covered.

It's probably a lot cheaper to have the preganancy outside of the US.

[JL818 18]

The pregnancy won't likely be covered by your plan. Once your child is born he/she will be covered.

It's probably a lot cheaper to have the preganancy outside of the US.

Hi,

Why do you say that pregnancy won't likely be covered by the plan? My understanding is that pregnancy cannot be legally considered a pre-existing condition? In addition, post-Obama Care, insurance companies are banned from imposing pre-existing condition exclusions?

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/health-care-reform-bans-discrimination-against-those-with-pre-existing-illnesses.html

If I can't get it covered under my group insurance then I will definitely want to deliver the baby abroad as the costs are prohibitive.

Edited November 23, 2015 by JL818

[JL818 18]

Hello JL,

We had the same concern right before the interview. Things go pretty fast after the interview. Between the Interview and getting the SSN was three months. But it could have been two months. Here is our timeline:

Service Center :

California Service Center

• Consulate : Manila, Philippines
• I-129F Sent : 2014-04-22 – The date when the package was sent to USCIS.
• I-129F NOA1 : 2014-04-27 – Received the first Notice of Action Receipt (only the US petitioner receives NOA1)
• I-129F NOA2 : 2014-05-31 – Received the second Notice of Action Approval Notice Valid from 5/28/2014 to 09/27/2014
• NVC Received : 2014-06-10 – National Visa Center received the Approval Notice. (only US petitioner receives NVC letter)
• Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : 2014-06-12 – Case Number created. Case # is used to track your visa status @ https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/
• NVC Left : 2014-06-13 – Case sent to US Embassy Manila.
• Consulate Received : 2014-06-16 – US Embassy Manila received my visa case mail from NVC.
• Packet 3 Received : 2014-06-30 – Beneficiary received a letter from the US Embassy Manila
• Packet 3 Sent : 2014-07-07
• Packet 4 Received : 2014-07-14
• Interview Date : 2014-08-07 – Interview questions here. Interview experience here.
• Interview Result : Administrative Review – Approval was pending due to late arrival of medical result.
• Second Interview
• (If Required): If your case gets an AP or RFE (request for evidence) you can send an inquiry at https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/under Provide Feedback section.
• Second Interview Result: Approved
• Visa Received : 2014-08-29 . Note: CFO Seminar is required before leaving the country.
• US Entry : 2014-09-24 . Passport was stamped with a condition of marrying within 88 days. ( Not 90 days)
• Marriage : 2014-11-03
• SSN : 2014-11-03
• Filed i864: 2014-11-14
• Biometics: February 10,2015
• Recieved EAD: February 25,2015
• USICS Appointment: November 5, 2015
• Conditional Green Card Received: November 12, 2015

Here are some alternatives:

• https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/
• She can probably get insurance withOUT an SSN http://forums.immigration.com/threads/health-insurance-without-ssn.197576/

So it will take 2 months minimum to both get married and get an SSN? Can I confirm, as if it will take that long then it might be cutting it a bit too close for me.

[lueds 6]

So it will take 2 months minimum to both get married and get an SSN? Can I confirm, as if it will take that long then it might be cutting it a bit too close for me.

Hello JL,

We had the same concern right before the interview. Things go pretty fast after the interview. Between the Interview and getting the SSN was three months. But it could have been two months. Here is our timeline:

Service Center :

California Service Center

• Consulate : Manila, Philippines
• I-129F Sent : 2014-04-22 – The date when the package was sent to USCIS.
• I-129F NOA1 : 2014-04-27 – Received the first Notice of Action Receipt (only the US petitioner receives NOA1)
• I-129F NOA2 : 2014-05-31 – Received the second Notice of Action Approval Notice Valid from 5/28/2014 to 09/27/2014
• NVC Received : 2014-06-10 – National Visa Center received the Approval Notice. (only US petitioner receives NVC letter)
• Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : 2014-06-12 – Case Number created. Case # is used to track your visa status @ https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/
• NVC Left : 2014-06-13 – Case sent to US Embassy Manila.
• Consulate Received : 2014-06-16 – US Embassy Manila received my visa case mail from NVC.
• Packet 3 Received : 2014-06-30 – Beneficiary received a letter from the US Embassy Manila
• Packet 3 Sent : 2014-07-07
• Packet 4 Received : 2014-07-14
• Interview Date : 2014-08-07 – Interview questions here. Interview experience here.
• Interview Result : Administrative Review – Approval was pending due to late arrival of medical result.
• Second Interview
• (If Required): If your case gets an AP or RFE (request for evidence) you can send an inquiry at https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/under Provide Feedback section.
• Second Interview Result: Approved
• Visa Received : 2014-08-29 . Note: CFO Seminar is required before leaving the country.
• US Entry : 2014-09-24 . Passport was stamped with a condition of marrying within 88 days. ( Not 90 days)
• Marriage : 2014-11-03
• SSN : 2014-11-03
• Filed i864: 2014-11-14
• Biometics: February 10,2015
• Recieved EAD: February 25,2015
• USICS Appointment: November 5, 2015
• Conditional Green Card Received: November 12, 2015

Here are some alternatives:

• https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/
• She can probably get insurance withOUT an SSN http://forums.immigration.com/threads/health-insurance-without-ssn.197576/

Jason,

From my reading of Yuri's case yes it can take 2 months to get your SSN,

BUT... If you get your interview mid Jan (Can't try to schedule it earlier?), you should receive your visa, usually within 1-2 weeks, (Yuri was on AR until health report came through, so be sure to be organised in that dept prior to interview).

You need to schedule your fiance's CFO Seminar asap.

As soon as the above are sorted, with Visa in hand, she can enter USA.

I can't find any requirement in CA for notification of pending marriage (Where I am going to we have to notify County Clerk 72hrs prior to marrying), so you could get married within a day or so and file immediately for SSN... So if you can get interview over mid Jan, immediately do CFO whilst waiting for Visa to arrive, you could be married Mid Feb at latest and SSN should be approved before baby is due.

Now, I am not sure if I have the process for Philippines correct or not (please correct me if I am wrong), BUT you need to make sure you have absolutely EVERY detail checked and double checked before you go to interview so you don't get any delays. Use the guides in the VJ forum, look at what other Philippino's are saying has happened to them and prepare, prepare, prepare.

All the best mate

[thairath 4]

You should get the specifics from the benefits administrator at your job or the insurance company. My husband was covered (as my fiancee since he came on a K1) from the minute his plane landed in the U.S. and before he had a SSN. We also got married a week after he came here and applied for a SSN a couple of days later. Also, have you asked them specifically:

- Would your pregnant fiancee/wife (depending on how soon you get married) be covered under your insurance

- How soon could she get coverage after arriving and/or getting married (depending on what they cover)

- Does she need even need a SSN to get coverage? (We didn't)

Depending on the state you live in, the insurance company, and the plans your employer offers, you may have different options. We were able to get my fiance (now husband) coverage because my job offered plans same sex partner/committed relationship plans that were for both heterosexual and homosexual couples and didn't make a distinction between the two.

[baron555 934]

How long would it probably take for us to get married,

Depends on the County where you live. Usually about a week or two between receiving the Marriage License from the County Clerk and when the County Judge conducts public marriages. Then the certified Marriage Certificate is received about a week later.

get her a SSN,

As soon as she lands. This also takes about a week to receive once you go to the nearest SSA office.

and get her under my health care plan?

The day of or day after your marriage date. Contact your HR Dept for details.

[Boiler 46,122]

Not sure why SSN keeps on getting mentioned, not need for Health Insurance.

[Hank_ 9,174]

My fiancee is pregnant and I am trying to have her come to the US so that she can deliver here. We are currently waiting for a few documents to schedule the interview, which will hopefully some time in mid January. The expected due date is May. In addition, I want to get married and meet all the requirements so that she can be under my company's health insurance plan prior to the due date, or I will go broke from the medical expenses.

Given the above, I expect that the timing will be pretty tight, and I am trying to make sure I have all my bases covered. How long would it probably take for us to get married, get her a SSN, and get her under my health care plan? Are there any other considerations other than getting married and getting the SSN that I need to plan for?

Thanks!

What documents are you waiting for that you can't complete the interview in December?

Details for the K-1 process in Manila are in the link below in my signature.

Pop over to the Philippines forum for answers related to the process at USEM: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/129-philippines/

[yuna628 9,717]

My fiancee is pregnant and I am trying to have her come to the US so that she can deliver here. We are currently waiting for a few documents to schedule the interview, which will hopefully some time in mid January. The expected due date is May. In addition, I want to get married and meet all the requirements so that she can be under my company's health insurance plan prior to the due date, or I will go broke from the medical expenses.

Given the above, I expect that the timing will be pretty tight, and I am trying to make sure I have all my bases covered. How long would it probably take for us to get married, get her a SSN, and get her under my health care plan? Are there any other considerations other than getting married and getting the SSN that I need to plan for?

Thanks!

As you know, all persons residing in the US must have health insurance or pay a penalty. You are free to obtain health insurance when your wife arrives from your work plan, from purchasing a private plan, or from buying from the federal (or state, if you have one) exchange. Under federal guidelines, your wife will qualify to obtain a plan outside of open enrollment, due to special circumstances.

Generally, you are not legally required to provide a SSN to obtain health insurance. However, a SSN can be obtained quickly, so long as everything is in order.

She will not be denied due to pregnancy. Some plans also offer a blanket of coverage to the newborn baby for a grace period of time, before they are registered officially.

You also typically do not need a SSN to obtain a marriage license or to marry. Speak with your local clerk to know for sure.

Within a few days after my husband arrived we obtained our marriage license. We waited a week or two and then obtained his SSN, which arrived in the mail a few days later. Unless there is a problem that is specifically related to not being found in a database, an SSA employee that has no clue what they are doing, or a name hiccup... those are reasons for delays.

[Amhara 460]

Not sure why SSN keeps on getting mentioned, not need for Health Insurance.

My health insurance will cover spouses up to 30 days before the marriage, so I contacted my HR benefits specialist and she told me that he's required to have an SSN. After reading this post, I think I will call my heath insurance provider directly - and today - to find out.

Btw, we were married in less than a week (including our 72 hour wait in Texas because I scheduled the JOP before he arrived) and we expect to get his SSN started this week. I really am hoping we can get everything done within a month too, but I know family coverage for my health insurance provider comes rather fast.

[Amhara 460]

Btw, I am looking at the form that I will fill out to add my husband and it says, "Provide the SSN for this family member if he/she has one. If your family member does not have a SSN, leave blank; benefits will not be withheld." FYI: I have Blue Cross Blue Shield for federal employees.

Looks like your time frame may be okay?

[JL818 18]

Thank you all for your responses. I am following up with my benefits manager at my company to see whether the pregnancy will be covered even though it is pre-existing. In addition, I am checking if only the marriage is required or if I will also need a SSN.

[JL818 18]

What documents are you waiting for that you can't complete the interview in December?

Details for the K-1 process in Manila are in the link below in my signature.

Pop over to the Philippines forum for answers related to the process at USEM: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/129-philippines/

My fiancee and I met in Singapore while we were both working abroad. Because she worked in Singapore, she is required to obtain a police clearance from them. Due to the painful process obtaining a Singapore police clearance (sending snail mail back and forth), we are estimating that the process will take about 8 weeks alone. I do not want her to go out to the interview until the clearance is in hand or else we will receive a notice for additional documentation, which in itself could take some time to clear.

If it weren't for this stupid Singapore clearance, we could have had the K1 visa issued in 2-3 months time from the moment I submitted the I-129F.