K1 Healthcare dilemma

[floriferous 2]

Hi,

 

After coming over to US and getting married at the end of January I am currently waiting for my AOS interview.

 

In regard to health insurance I bought a 3 month short term plan before leaving for the US that was recommended by a thread on visajourney. I think my mistake was in not applying for full insurance immediately after getting married (a month after being here). I waited for my temporary insurance to run out and then started looking for full insurance only to find I was now out of the enrollment period. So I took another 3 months short term insurance. Now I'm seeing there are tax issues with this kind of insurance because it doesn't cover you properly.

 

On top of this, we are moving from California to North Carolina at the end of this month so I guess when I get there that qualifies me to get special enrollment into a full coverage plan but I'm worried about not being covered as I traverse America (we are doing a ten day road trip). My short term plan only covers CA.

 

Does anyone have any advice? Special types of insurance? Because Im waiting for AOS it seems to be a hazy period where my immigration status is unknown. Could I apply for something like holiday insurance as I would if I was a visitor to the US as a temporary fix as I make my way across the different states? I find the US healthcare system baffling.

 

Thanks in advance.

[f f 725]

you are not a visitor so holiday insurance would not apply.

you can officially move your residence by signing a lease and taking possession before you leave then file for health insurance before you head up. just be careful to look at your effective dates on the insurance coverage.

[floriferous 2]

okay good advice. Problem is we are doing things the old fashioned way - loading up the car and heading off and finding a place when we arrive so we can't pre-arrange coverage

[f f 725]

os a new job or change of job involved? since gaining or losing employment also qualfies I believe.

[floriferous 2]

sadly not. we run a home business. But I guess simply moving states is my golden ticket to special enrollment

[f f 725]

make sure the auto insurance covers you if your medical if your in a car accident at least then

[yuna628 9,713]

On ‎9‎/‎7‎/‎2017 at 5:48 PM, floriferous said:

Hi,

 

After coming over to US and getting married at the end of January I am currently waiting for my AOS interview.

 

In regard to health insurance I bought a 3 month short term plan before leaving for the US that was recommended by a thread on visajourney. I think my mistake was in not applying for full insurance immediately after getting married (a month after being here). I waited for my temporary insurance to run out and then started looking for full insurance only to find I was now out of the enrollment period. So I took another 3 months short term insurance. Now I'm seeing there are tax issues with this kind of insurance because it doesn't cover you properly.

 

On top of this, we are moving from California to North Carolina at the end of this month so I guess when I get there that qualifies me to get special enrollment into a full coverage plan but I'm worried about not being covered as I traverse America (we are doing a ten day road trip). My short term plan only covers CA.

 

Does anyone have any advice? Special types of insurance? Because Im waiting for AOS it seems to be a hazy period where my immigration status is unknown. Could I apply for something like holiday insurance as I would if I was a visitor to the US as a temporary fix as I make my way across the different states? I find the US healthcare system baffling.

 

Thanks in advance.

As I've mentioned in a bunch of other threads before, short term and visitors insurances might sound great to prospective immigrants, but fail to really hit home the point (on purpose I might add) that it does nothing to absolve you of the individual responsibility mandate (i.e. the tax penalty). I sympathize with the problem you now find yourself in so here are some thoughts:

 

Likely, you will eventually find yourself having to pay the tax penalty. That will be based on a few factors: such as when you became a resident according to IRS standards. It will be unlikely to be the full penalty, but you should expect to pay something when you go to file taxes. That being said, this lump sum for a year will be far cheaper than any monthly insurance premium would be.

 

To absolve yourself of the penalty, you would have had to: 1) get on your spouse's insurance fairly immediately after marriage within the grace period

2) purchase your own insurance plan as soon as possible after marriage (not a temporary one but a real one via any insurer in your state - no immigrant proof is typically needed, and you'll have even less of a fuss if you already have an SSN.

3) sign up to Ocare (federal) or Covered California (the state exchange) - you'd need immigration proof such as an NOA1 for your AOS or an EAD or GC.

4) get insurance via a job.

 

Temporary insurances do not meet the federal standard of care and the coverage offered is dubious at best if something should happen to you. Some immigrants do choose to use it to fill in the temporary gap between marriage or in some circumstances, but nothing for the long term. You waiting for AOS to finish doesn't prevent you from obtaining insurance, but if you have waited to long, your window will be gone.

 

Remember that obtaining insurance is not a requirement. Plenty of people go without insurance for many reasons - the big one being they cannot afford it and the penalty is far cheaper than anything you have to pay. There are plenty of clinics that will accept persons without insurance and the fee can also be cheaper than a monthly premium. Open enrollment usually arrives around November so there is that option too.