Health insurance during AOS

[Jmc1 13]

Hello,

 

I wonder if anyone can please help me regarding eligibility for full US health insurance? I currently have a new immigrant temporary insurance (via Patriot Platinum America), but am keen to switch to a proper regular insurance asap, primarily as the temp insurance does not cover pre-exisiting conditions and I think is primarily for emergencies. I came to USA on a K1 visa, married and now have received my NOA1 for AOS. I am several months from getting EAD etc.

 

1. at what stage of my immigration status will I be qualified to buy regular healthcare plan? I called a provider in my state, but they didn't understand my immigration status, therefore I don't feel confident they were able to give me correct information. My husband is about to switch to a job that doesn't offer healthcare through work, so that is not an option.

 

2. at what stage am I considered a permanent resident? I have read it's taking around 8 months to 1 year from AOS to receive green card, but surely it doesn't take that long to become a PR?

 

3. at what stage do I need to have full healthcare to avoid getting fined by tax for not having qualifying insurance?

 

Thank you very much!

[Georgia16 2,858]

7 minutes ago, Jmc1 said:

Hello,

 

I wonder if anyone can please help me regarding eligibility for full US health insurance? I currently have a new immigrant temporary insurance (via Patriot Platinum America), but am keen to switch to a proper regular insurance asap, primarily as the temp insurance does not cover pre-exisiting conditions and I think is primarily for emergencies. I came to USA on a K1 visa, married and now have received my NOA1 for AOS. I am several months from getting EAD etc.

 

1. at what stage of my immigration status will I be qualified to buy regular healthcare plan? I called a provider in my state, but they didn't understand my immigration status, therefore I don't feel confident they were able to give me correct information. My husband is about to switch to a job that doesn't offer healthcare through work, so that is not an option.

 

2. at what stage am I considered a permanent resident? I have read it's taking around 8 months to 1 year from AOS to receive green card, but surely it doesn't take that long to become a PR?

 

3. at what stage do I need to have full healthcare to avoid getting fined by tax for not having qualifying insurance?

 

Thank you very much!

You are not a permanent resident until Yours AOS status says approved so yes it can take that long.

 

Me and my son got full health insurance before we even send off AOS so I'm kind of confused to why you shouldn't be able too?

 

[Chardon Ne' 71]

Actually it is not until you actually receive your green card that you are considered a legal permanent resident (LPR) so if it takes 8 months then that is how long it will take. In order to qualify for medicaid you need to be an LPR for at least 5 years however you are free to go the marketplace to purchase health insurance if you would like. I am assuming as you are adjusting that you do not have an income at this time I am not sure how they will determine your eligibility as the amount you will pay will be based on your income. You may also have to wait until your spouse changes jobs as if the job he is currently in offers comprehensive health insurance you will be required to go with that. Now since the insurance companies are private they may require you to have a social as they are allowed to make their own rules in that regard. Good Luck. 

Edited March 6, 2017 by Chardon Ne'

[Jmc1 13]

Wonderful thank you. I thought I'd read that I couldn't get full insurance for a while unless go on USC husband's work plan (which isn't possible for us), but glad to hear that is incorrect.

[Georgia16 2,858]

Just now, Jmc1 said:

Wonderful thank you. I thought I'd read that I couldn't get full insurance for a while unless go on USC husband's work plan (which isn't possible for us), but glad to hear that is incorrect.

We are on my husbands plan so maybe thats why..... Hope somebody else will answer your question! Good luck.

[talile 6]

13 minutes ago, Jmc1 said:

1. at what stage of my immigration status will I be qualified to buy regular healthcare plan? I called a provider in my state, but they didn't understand my immigration status, therefore I don't feel confident they were able to give me correct information. My husband is about to switch to a job that doesn't offer healthcare through work, so that is not an option.

You can buy health insurance at any stage. You can't get ACA (Affordable care act / obamacare) benefits until you are a resident but that can work for alien resident and just doesn't count for NRA. I originally joined blue anthem when I was a F-1 NRA, but I couldn't do it online because I had no SSN so I went to an office and they had the option of using my passport instead.

 

13 minutes ago, Jmc1 said:

 

2. at what stage am I considered a permanent resident? I have read it's taking around 8 months to 1 year from AOS to receive green card, but surely it doesn't take that long to become a PR?

As people told you, residency is the green card so it's a long wait

 

13 minutes ago, Jmc1 said:

3. at what stage do I need to have full healthcare to avoid getting fined by tax for not having qualifying insurance?

Do k-1 visa holders register as NRA or RA?

[Chardon Ne' 71]

https://www.uscis.gov/tools/settling-us/health-care-and-families

[yuna628 9,677]

33 minutes ago, Jmc1 said:

Hello,

 

I wonder if anyone can please help me regarding eligibility for full US health insurance? I currently have a new immigrant temporary insurance (via Patriot Platinum America), but am keen to switch to a proper regular insurance asap, primarily as the temp insurance does not cover pre-exisiting conditions and I think is primarily for emergencies. I came to USA on a K1 visa, married and now have received my NOA1 for AOS. I am several months from getting EAD etc.

 

1. at what stage of my immigration status will I be qualified to buy regular healthcare plan? I called a provider in my state, but they didn't understand my immigration status, therefore I don't feel confident they were able to give me correct information. My husband is about to switch to a job that doesn't offer healthcare through work, so that is not an option.

 

2. at what stage am I considered a permanent resident? I have read it's taking around 8 months to 1 year from AOS to receive green card, but surely it doesn't take that long to become a PR?

 

3. at what stage do I need to have full healthcare to avoid getting fined by tax for not having qualifying insurance?

 

Thank you very much!

Hi there,

The good news is you can get health insurance and could have obtained health insurance nearly within days of landing in the US.

The bad news is you have waited.

 

Your immigrant status is fairly irrelevant to purchasing insurance from an insurance company directly. Our insurer asked virtually no questions about his status. When your status does matter though when it involves being added to a spouse's plan based upon marriage, and especially when dealing with the state or federal exchange.

 

The options as always are: buy your own insurance via any insurer that offers in he state.

Be added to a spouse's insurance plan based upon marriage (do this quickly or you may have to wait)

Sign up to the state or federal exchange - most of the plans will be the same as you can find privately. But in going through the government you will have to provide them evidence of you status. The earliest status proof you can offer is an NOA1 for your AOS, but its a lot easier if you have your EAD, and of course at the latest your green card. Open enrollment is over, so you've missed that deadline, so depending on how long it's been since you entered the US you could qualify under special enrollment.

 

The penalty will still apply even if you have temporary insurances like the one you have. You have a very limited window of opportunity once you arrive in the US to get your health insurance set up. There are exemptions and grace periods but often immigrants and their spouses don't realize, think they are fully exempt, or are told the wrong information by brokers, HR, or even worse are told they are ineligible due to not obtaining an SSN straight away. Not having an SSN is not a disqualifier for obtaining health insurance, but a good many people are often confused and upset after being told otherwise - leading them to go for months without taking action. The IRS has information and ways of calculating the penalty for an immigrant, and while the exemption does apply in a good deal of cases, there are some situations where it may apply.

 

In essence you've unfortunately waited, and you're still waiting. You need to explore the options above and see what works for you. It's not cheap. The longer you wait the larger the penalty.

 

 

[Jmc1 13]

Thanks for he info all, it's certainly a minefield and an awry of very different information. My spouse has just changed to a job without healthcare, therefore we have just applied for private on the basis that he has lost his healthcare and for me tagging on  as married under 60 days. It's $1,200 per month for us both, this sounds horrific for me as a British person, never appreciated the NHS so much! Especially whilst I'm not earning, but guess that is a temp situation and one of the things gat come with moving country. Hope everyone else gets sorted ok too.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Nevermind, question has been answered.

Edited March 7, 2017 by Teddy B