Health Insurance: how are you approaching it?

[lurdino 9]

I was wondering about everyone's experiences with health insurance and how you've all decided to approach it.

Thanks to this forum I now know that most short term inbound immigrant insurance isn't federally compliant. And I imagine that most people will be signing up to their future spouses' insurance (if they have it). But what about the interim? I'm not willing to be uninsured while in the US, not only because of the potential penalties, but because I have a pre-existing condition -- and because you never know when you'll break your leg or have an accident.

Have people gotten insurance through the marketplace? Can you even do that for a short amount of time? Is it possible to register onto your fiancée's insurance before entering the country? What's worked for people and what hasn't?

[Boiler 45,516]

If those are key points the K1 is not the best option.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Yuna628 is super on this topic. To read her previous posts--

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[Jack2107 46]

Yuna628 is super on this topic. To read her previous posts--

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Ditto I have already been reading Yuna628 posts and so far we have managed to save around $240 per month following her advice

[yuna628 9,676]

Aww shucks guys!

I was wondering about everyone's experiences with health insurance and how you've all decided to approach it.

Thanks to this forum I now know that most short term inbound immigrant insurance isn't federally compliant. And I imagine that most people will be signing up to their future spouses' insurance (if they have it). But what about the interim? I'm not willing to be uninsured while in the US, not only because of the potential penalties, but because I have a pre-existing condition -- and because you never know when you'll break your leg or have an accident.

Have people gotten insurance through the marketplace? Can you even do that for a short amount of time? Is it possible to register onto your fiancée's insurance before entering the country? What's worked for people and what hasn't?

Whether the spouse can get onto the USC's insurance before their POE would really probably be up to the private insurer's policy on the matter. I think I've heard of a few cases, but I'd probably go with a no for fiancés. You need to get married first.

Personally, we decided to wait a few months before I dropped my single plan and moved to a joint spousal plan. He's healthy and a safe driver, so he didn't think it mattered too much for him at the time (though I did tell him no zipline or bungie jumping or else!). If the penalty ever applies it wouldn't be the full cost. We have an urgent clinic close by and he felt the cost to go there, should he become ill was about the same as a premium anyway. Our new insurance is worse and costs more, but that's life I guess. I've made good use of it being sick ever since we married and he's still healthy as always.

I look at the ACA like a glorified health google search bar. Most of the plans will be the same ones you can buy from the insurer directly. In some cases there will be savings but for a lot of average persons not really. I don't have any doubt that you can remain on an ACA plan for any length of time you want and cancel when you want, there is some info about that on the federal website. So my advice, especially if you have medical issues or concerns is to marry as soon as possible (and go for your SSN - while it's not required to be given out to an insurer by law, it may be a requirement by the feds), and get the best plan as you can afford. Call around to everyone. See what your state or federal exchange can offer - or get on your spouse's plan via work (which are also going to have their own rules). I like plans that are open access and don't restrict you on what doctor to choose. Be advised even if you go to a hospital, the doctor you see (even during a surgery) may not participate with your plan anyway (and no they won't tell you that up front). Penalties are penalties.. if it's only a few months it's not so bad, and it is actually more cost effective to go without insurance and pay the penalty. Notice I didn't say it was the wisest thing to do.

[DaveNot 55]

i went with ***removed*** before during my k1 and when married used the marketplace. Tax subsidies aren't considered to be a public charge

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I have shopped the ACA marketplace to browse policies to see which companies were offering coverage in my state. Then I went to the insurers website and found better/different plans than they offered on the marketplace. Since we don't qualify for government subsidy, I registered directly with the insurer in the end. My husband has to get a private policy due to being self-employed.