Heath Insurance after marriage - No Green Card - Missed enrollment period

[Lozalex 2]

Hey,

I'm wondering if anyone can give us some advice. Me and my wife have recenty got married in March. Due to losing track of time and her working long, long hours we have missed the 30 day open enrollment to add me onto her health insurance. Our own fault completely.

I'm currently about to start the AOS process and have no greencard (as of yet). So I'm now in limbo with no proof of permanent residency and no medical insurance. I'm worried that something might happen and we are going to be stung with a huge medical bill we cant afford, since now I can't be added until the next open enrollment in Janurary 2017. Can anyone advise me a place to get it? Or am I unable to without having proof of residency?

Thanks!

[yuna628 9,676]

There should be no reason why your spouse cannot add you to their health insurance policy. What's preventing you from doing so, is most likely the HR department of cluelessness.

That being said you can certainly obtain health insurance, it would be best to do so once you have at least filed for AOS and obtained your NOA1, if you want to wait longer an EAD can also be used as a qualifying document. Immigration and marriage puts you under a QLE in a period of special enrollment. Take a look in my signature regarding the federal exchange and the rules for immigrants. Since you are in California, you must go to the state exchange first, and you can also find rules regarding immigrants there (the same rules apply pretty much). http://www.coveredca.com/individuals-and-families/getting-covered/immigrants/

Being an immigrant also does not bar you from obtaining health insurance privately. If you have the money, you can do that at any time. You can search for any providers in your area that offer plans; many are similar to what you'd find on the exchange.

Other ways of obtaining health insurance, is obviously once you are able to legally work and an employer may offer you benefits.

By law everyone must obtain health insurance or pay a penalty, and immigrants are no exception to that rule. That doesn't mean however, you have to. The penalty is actually cheaper than the cost of a couple of health insurance premiums, so it's all in what someone wants to risk vs cost. Of course the penalty is unlikely to matter too much unless you go for a lengthy time without insurance.

Temporary insurances, insurances marketed toward immigrants, and short term insurances are considered substandard and do not qualify as a valid type of insurance to the federal government, so the penalty still applies.

Edited May 24, 2016 by yuna628

[Lozalex 2]

There should be no reason why your spouse cannot add you to their health insurance policy. What's preventing you from doing so, is most likely the HR department of cluelessness.

That being said you can certainly obtain health insurance, it would be best to do so once you have at least filed for AOS and obtained your NOA1, if you want to wait longer an EAD can also be used as a qualifying document. Immigration and marriage puts you under a QLE in a period of special enrollment. Take a look in my signature regarding the federal exchange and the rules for immigrants. Since you are in California, you must go to the state exchange first, and you can also find rules regarding immigrants there (the same rules apply pretty much). http://www.coveredca.com/individuals-and-families/getting-covered/immigrants/

Being an immigrant also does not bar you from obtaining health insurance privately. If you have the money, you can do that at any time. You can search for any providers in your area that offer plans; many are similar to what you'd find on the exchange.

Other ways of obtaining health insurance, is obviously once you are able to legally work and an employer may offer you benefits.

By law everyone must obtain health insurance or pay a penalty, and immigrants are no exception to that rule. That doesn't mean however, you have to. The penalty is actually cheaper than the cost of a couple of health insurance premiums, so it's all in what someone wants to risk vs cost. Of course the penalty is unlikely to matter too much unless you go for a lengthy time without insurance.

Temporary insurances, insurances marketed toward immigrants, and short term insurances are considered substandard and do not qualify as a valid type of insurance to the federal government, so the penalty still applies.

Apparently there is only a 30 day period in which she can add me to her policy after marriage. Its been 6 weeks. I dont know wether there is some loophole?

I'm currently 3 months 'out of status' as my i-194 has expired and I still havent processed the AOS due to struggling to save up for it. Getting private healthcare definitely isnt an option for me as it will cost too much.

[yuna628 9,676]

Apparently there is only a 30 day period in which she can add me to her policy after marriage. Its been 6 weeks. I dont know wether there is some loophole?

I'm currently 3 months 'out of status' as my i-194 has expired and I still havent processed the AOS due to struggling to save up for it. Getting private healthcare definitely isnt an option for me as it will cost too much.

Unfortunately, it's going to cost you either way, whether you had private insurance or went on the exchange. Sticker shock is a thing that is never avoidable when it comes to insurance. Is this a plan she has through work? Or is it a private plan she holds? If private she could obtain a new joint plan, but that's got a cost.

If lack of funds are this much of an issue as a barrier to obtain health insurance, it is unlikely any of these options will work for you. Short term insurance, while far cheaper, will still open up the issue of the penalty. You could go without for a while until you have an EAD and are able to work with employer benefits, and use a local clinic if you should become ill, but that costs as well. The AOS has to come first at the moment, before you can go further, but funds will be the biggest barrier.

Edited May 24, 2016 by yuna628

[KimberlyAhmed 28]

Outside of open enrollment, change of life status to add/delete dependents a have time period for adding to the policy. For my husband to be added, I had to submit his name with a copy of our marriage certificate within 30 days of us getting married. They allowed us to submit his SSN# at later date, as we didn't have it yet.

[Lozalex 2]

Unfortunately, it's going to cost you either way, whether you had private insurance or went on the exchange. Sticker shock is a thing that is never avoidable when it comes to insurance. Is this a plan she has through work? Or is it a private plan she holds? If private she could obtain a new joint plan, but that's got a cost.

If lack of funds are this much of an issue as a barrier to obtain health insurance, it is unlikely any of these options will work for you. Short term insurance, while far cheaper, will still open up the issue of the penalty. You could go without for a while until you have an EAD and are able to work with employer benefits, and use a local clinic if you should become ill, but that costs as well. The AOS has to come first at the moment, before you can go further, but funds will be the biggest barrier.

It a policy through her work. She has really good health insurance. I know it will cost either way, it's not that we are broke, its just we have had a lot to pay out over the last few months unexpectedly, which is what caused the delay with filling my AOS. I definitely dont think I could afford private insurance, although I'm not entirely sure how much that costs

Outside of open enrollment, change of life status to add/delete dependents a have time period for adding to the policy. For my husband to be added, I had to submit his name with a copy of our marriage certificate within 30 days of us getting married. They allowed us to submit his SSN# at later date, as we didn't have it yet.

Yes, that's what I missed. We didnt do it within the 30 days. And now I cant enroll until January with her current policy.

[yuna628 9,676]

It a policy through her work. She has really good health insurance. I know it will cost either way, it's not that we are broke, its just we have had a lot to pay out over the last few months unexpectedly, which is what caused the delay with filling my AOS. I definitely dont think I could afford private insurance, although I'm not entirely sure how much that costs

That all depends on the plan of course. No plans in every state are alike. My old single plan was $200 ish per month, but after the ACA that quickly rose to nearly $400 a month. My new joint plan with my husband roughly costs the same as it did on my single plan, the benefits are worse (unless we have kids), the copays are higher, and the deductible is ridiculous. Exchange plans were not that much different, and since I like to cut out bureaucracy as much as possible we stayed private. The real savings is going to be if your state exhcange actually offers lower cost plans or if there is a way to take advantage of reductions (which most likely won't apply). That being said, every state is different. Shop around, you never know. You can cancel at any time, to bridge a gap until you can get on your wife's plan or find a work plan.

I know it's difficult.

[Lozalex 2]

That all depends on the plan of course. No plans in every state are alike. My old single plan was $200 ish per month, but after the ACA that quickly rose to nearly $400 a month. My new joint plan with my husband roughly costs the same as it did on my single plan, the benefits are worse (unless we have kids), the copays are higher, and the deductible is ridiculous. Exchange plans were not that much different, and since I like to cut out bureaucracy as much as possible we stayed private. The real savings is going to be if your state exhcange actually offers lower cost plans or if there is a way to take advantage of reductions (which most likely won't apply). That being said, every state is different. Shop around, you never know. You can cancel at any time, to bridge a gap until you can get on your wife's plan or find a work plan.

I know it's difficult.

I'm sure we can figure something out from your advice. Thanks so much for all your help!