Health Insurance on K1 Visa

[Cat23 0]

I've got my embassy appointment in London next week so am hoping I'll be coming out to the USA early January.

My Fiance currently works part time as he is a student and he is covered for health insurance on his family policy. His father has enquired and said its not possible for me to be added to their health insurance once I'm in the country.

I've searched the forums and found a site "visitor insurance.com" which has a page dedicated to K1 and seems is a comparison site for suitable "travel insurance/health"

Am I correct that I will just need cover for say 5 or 6 months, to give time to get married and get an adjustment of status and then hopefully I'll be able to work and get health insurance with the job?

Just wondered about this and what others do in the same situation, where their fiance doesn't have his own separate cover to add me too?

[yuna628 9,716]

I've got my embassy appointment in London next week so am hoping I'll be coming out to the USA early January.

My Fiance currently works part time as he is a student and he is covered for health insurance on his family policy. His father has enquired and said its not possible for me to be added to their health insurance once I'm in the country.

I've searched the forums and found a site "visitor insurance.com" which has a page dedicated to K1 and seems is a comparison site for suitable "travel insurance/health"

Am I correct that I will just need cover for say 5 or 6 months, to give time to get married and get an adjustment of status and then hopefully I'll be able to work and get health insurance with the job?

Just wondered about this and what others do in the same situation, where their fiance doesn't have his own separate cover to add me too?

By law all persons living in the US must have health insurance or pay a penalty in taxes. This applies to immigrants as well. The federal law, however accounts for the numerous types of visas and statuses an individual has as an immigrant in the US, and you are more than eligible to obtain health insurance... for a price of course.

The options you have available to you are to obtain health insurance through a private insurer.

Obtain health insurance by using the federal or state exchange (not every state has one, in this case you should rely on federal alone).

Have the spouse leave his parent's insurance and buy their own - adding you to a spouse plan.

Go without insurance until you are legally able to seek employment and obtain insurance through work, or your spouse obtains insurance through another job that offers insurance (being without insurance though means there is a penalty to be paid).

Keep in mind once you arrive you'll have 90 days to get married in the US. You could get married the very day you arrive and apply for AOS shortly thereafter. The federal laws gives you an eligibility for those ''adjusting to an LPR''. Once you receive notification that the government has your case is evidence of this. You also qualify by being newly married and newly immigrated. The shorter period of time you go without insurance the less penalty you have to pay and offers you better protection obviously should you become unwell.

Your last option: should you plan on waiting a little later to get married and start the adjustment process -- keep the following in mind:

Temporary insurances, such as visitor insurances and those insurances specifically marketed towards immigrants for short term insurance - DO NOT exclude you from paying a penalty. These insurances are not compliant with federal law and do not offer the same protections as standard federally compliant insurance offers to you. This means regardless of if you choose to use such insurances as a temporary solution or 'peace of mind' the penalty will still apply.

If you do choose to find health insurance through the federal exchange, see the link in my signature regarding how you qualify as an immigrant and what documentation you might need.

As for what I did for my husband, we married not too long after he arrived here, so I believe the penalty to pay won't be as much as a full penalty. He is healthy and wasn't too concerned about going without insurance for a little while. I purchased a new plan through a private insurer during open enrollment for both me and my spouse with no problem.

Edited December 12, 2015 by yuna628

[tarzan31 27]

Prior to the marriage, you do not fall under the requirement of having insurance. Not sure what state you will be going to, but because of Obamacare, all states have state funded insurances that you can file for once you are married and have the NOA

[Cat23 0]

Thanks for the very helpful information and links, I've got a a clearer view now on how it works! thanks again!