Getting health insurance while AOS is pending

[umikoikaze 12]

Hi, I have a question in regards to getting health insurance.
My husband (USC) is on a health insurance plan with his parents which is free and a very good plan. I'm not eligible to be added to that plan, so I'm looking for an option to get my own plan through marketplace.

Here's what happened:

We got married in January 2015
May 2015 I became out of status, so I couldn't apply during open enrollment period since I wasn't lawfully present in the country.
05/18/2015 I filed AOS and I have NOA1 dated 05/26/2015. Am I correct in thinking that I am now lawfully present in the states as my AOS is pending?

Covered CA website says that I'm eligible to apply for insurance during closed enrollment if I have a special qualifying life event within 60 days of the event. One of the events listed is this:

• Becoming citizens, national or lawfully present individuals. This event applies only to people who were not previously citizens, nationals or lawfully present.

Am I right in assuming that I qualify now to apply for health insurance? Could I show NOA-1 as a document proving me being lawfully present? Or do I need to wait for EAD to arrive? I'm just confused which one is qualifying life event: NOA-1 or EAD and don't want to miss enrollment period and have to pay the fee when filing taxes.
I'm also wondering whether NOA1 is sufficient for renewing my driver's license or if I have to wait for EAD.

I live in California, and this is what I'd be using: http://www.coveredca.com/individuals-and-families/getting-covered/special-enrollment/

Thanks!

[Ischnura 285]

I was talking to WA health plan finder yesterday about the same thing. What they told me, and I'm not certain if it's state specific, is that it's not considered a qualifying event until you actually have the green card. She also went on to add me to our plan to see if it accepted my passport - it did - and I'm on our insurance but with 90 days to provide them with a SSN.

I was also told by the tax office that until you have LPR status you don't incur the penalty for the health insurance requirements. This was two years ago though and we always had Tricare so please don't quote me.

Give your states health care plan finder a call and ask them for reassurance.