Health Insurance

[smokeface 17]

So we filed in August and hoping she will be here in February. I'm worried about what to do about health insurance for her. She has hyperthyroidism and needs to go to the doctor once every 3 months the get checked out and get blood taken. She also has medication she takes regularly. What am I suppose to do to make sure she can keep this up without costing me an arm and a leg? Even after we are married the insurance at my work is outrageous for a spouse. It's only 100 a month for me but if I add a spouse it sky rockets to 460 a month. Honestly after looking at prices for health insurance outside of my work I don't see how people afford it. Any advice?

Edited September 28, 2017 by smokeface

[Springrain22 427]

Well, the only option here is to apply for health insurance. You can still use your insurance from work, and she can start with some basic plan which will be a few hundred bucks a month. Not a crazy money if you're employed. Try to talk to your HR or boss about it.

[Jmc1 13]

I wish our health insurance was that cheap, we pay $1,150pm between us as though we both work, neither of us get cover via our jobs.

 

I am also hypothyroid, so I bought over 6+ months supply of meds so I'd be safely covered until I had proper health insurance and had sorted out new doctor in US. I have blood tests every 6 months if feeling normal, or more regularity when have symptoms. We are relatively lucky it is a cheap long term disease to manage, my prescription costs $14p/m at CVS. Using my insurance plan, the regular blood test costs around $120 each time (which I pay and is out towards my yearly deductible). I really miss the NHS living here!

 

I find the cost of living substantially higher in NYC than my life back in London, but I consider this as part of the price of moving abroad and going through immigration.

 

You are wise to consider significant extra costs like this at this early stage for you. If will be 4+ months before someone on K1 visa can work, plus not all jobs have healthcare option anyway. Best of luck.

 

 

 

Edited September 28, 2017 by Jmc1

[Mrsjackson 300]

Does it skyrocket like that because she has a preexisting condition? I sympathize. My fiancé is self employed and we are looking into health insurance options. There isn't really any advice to give other than you'll just have to search for the most affordable one you can find which will cover her medical costs (sorry to state the obvious). I don't know what state you're in but do some research about the different insurance companies available to you and get in touch with them, explain your wife's medical needs and what kind of coverage you need and what you don't need, and have them give you a quote that is tailored to your family's needs. That's where we're going to start. I'll sure miss my free health care. Good luck! 

[smokeface 17]

Thanks guys.

26 minutes ago, Mrsjackson said:

Does it skyrocket like that because she has a preexisting condition? I sympathize. My fiancé is self employed and we are looking into health insurance options. There isn't really any advice to give other than you'll just have to search for the most affordable one you can find which will cover her medical costs (sorry to state the obvious). I don't know what state you're in but do some research about the different insurance companies available to you and get in touch with them, explain your wife's medical needs and what kind of coverage you need and what you don't need, and have them give you a quote that is tailored to your family's needs. That's where we're going to start. I'll sure miss my free health care. Good luck! 

No it doesn't go up because of her preexisting condition that's just the normal rate for adding a spouse. Adding a child is only 100 more, but a spouse is incredibly expensive. But that 460 is the family plan so it would cover the entire family no matter how many children which is nice. I just wish there were a cheaper plan for just me and a spouse. 

 

27 minutes ago, Jmc1 said:

You are wise to consider significant extra costs like this at this early stage for you. If will be 4+ months before someone on K1 visa can work, plus not all jobs have healthcare option anyway. Best of luck.

I don't know if it's wise as much as a curse, lol. I am constantly thinking about expenses, making money, and saving money. Hopefully it pays off in the long run, but it is stressful.

[Grant PDX 183]

Lucky for you that the employer subsidizes the health care.  My company uses a Blue Cross plan (not a bad plan, with 3000 members so a decent rate) and the cost for an individual is over $600 (fully paid for by the employer) with an extra $500 for a spouse or $1100 for a whole family but those aren't employer subsidized.  Welcome to the high costs of insurance and other medical expenses.  Until you see it, you don't really think about it, but at $1700 per month for a whole family on our plan, I still think we're about average for a slightly better than average plan.  Yes insurance and other medical expenses are extremely high.

As previously stated, have her bring a 6 month supply, then look for insurance options.  I have hypothyroidism and am on a 6 month visit schedule with my physician.  My meds are about $40 for a 3 month supply so it's not too bad.  If her condition is relatively under control with her meds she may be able to stretch to 12 months.

[smokeface 17]

6 hours ago, Grant PDX said:

Lucky for you that the employer subsidizes the health care.  My company uses a Blue Cross plan (not a bad plan, with 3000 members so a decent rate) and the cost for an individual is over $600 (fully paid for by the employer) with an extra $500 for a spouse or $1100 for a whole family but those aren't employer subsidized.  Welcome to the high costs of insurance and other medical expenses.  Until you see it, you don't really think about it, but at $1700 per month for a whole family on our plan, I still think we're about average for a slightly better than average plan.  Yes insurance and other medical expenses are extremely high.

As previously stated, have her bring a 6 month supply, then look for insurance options.  I have hypothyroidism and am on a 6 month visit schedule with my physician.  My meds are about $40 for a 3 month supply so it's not too bad.  If her condition is relatively under control with her meds she may be able to stretch to 12 months.

It's nice to know the meds are cheap, but that's after insurance pays part of it right? I feel silly not knowing more about this stuff, I have never had any medical issues, and never had to think about insurance before. I always just had it. Then after I started working it has always been affordable for me. It was only after looking into it for a spouse that I realized how expensive it was.

[SennaBrigante 92]

My husband's work covers his basic insurance, then an extra $60 or so if he adds me and $90 if it's a family. That's per paycheck (he gets paid weekly). We did the buy-up plan but took me off because I get insurance through work, so we're saving maybe $30 per paycheck? 

 

It doesn't seem like much but it adds up. Then you'll still need to worry about copays and deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Health care is ridiculously expensive here! 

[Umka36 781]

I had to also worry about my wife's medical needs prior to her coming to the US. Unfortunately it all depends on the work place on pricing/service. It did cost more to add my wife than our children, but I'm lucky that my workplace highly subsidizes the cost. I think I'm currently paying about $200/month for the family for a very good plan. I'm also using a flexible spending account to lower my taxes, and the funds are used to pay for the medical/dental out of pocket expenses.

 

My wife has hypothyroidism, and her thyroid was removed. The medication was not too expensive, about $20 or so for 3 month supply (I don't think the insurance covered much), and she sees the doctor twice a year at most. She also has to get lab test done every 3-4 months, and an annual neck ultrasound. I'm not sure what the out of pocket cost would be without insurance.

Edited September 28, 2017 by Umka36

[smokeface 17]

4 hours ago, Umka36 said:

I had to also worry about my wife's medical needs prior to her coming to the US. Unfortunately it all depends on the work place on pricing/service. It did cost more to add my wife than our children, but I'm lucky that my workplace highly subsidizes the cost. I think I'm currently paying about $200/month for the family for a very good plan. I'm also using a flexible spending account to lower my taxes, and the funds are used to pay for the medical/dental out of pocket expenses.

 

My wife has hypothyroidism, and her thyroid was removed. The medication was not too expensive, about $20 or so for 3 month supply (I don't think the insurance covered much), and she sees the doctor twice a year at most. She also has to get lab test done every 3-4 months, and an annual neck ultrasound. I'm not sure what the out of pocket cost would be without insurance.

Wow you have a good set up. I wish mine would only end up being $200 for a family plan.

[Umka36 781]

1 minute ago, smokeface said:

Wow you have a good set up. I wish mine would only end up being $200 for a family plan.

It became a big factor when I was job searching, especially now with little kids. I wish I had a solution, what about checking the health care exchange portal for rates? FWIW, having to pay over $1k/month for childcare isn't fun and that's considered cheap.

[smokeface 17]

2 hours ago, Umka36 said:

It became a big factor when I was job searching, especially now with little kids. I wish I had a solution, what about checking the health care exchange portal for rates? FWIW, having to pay over $1k/month for childcare isn't fun and that's considered cheap.

Yeah that being considered cheap blows my mind. I guess it's because I live in an area where you just can't find that kind of income. Here 50k a year means you are doing really well. Cost of living is really cheap here compared to most places. I feel like my income puts me right in the middle of making too much for government assistance, but too little to support a family. Especially considering I have student loan payments. My job just doesn't pay enough to cover it all. When she starts bringing in income we will be fine, but at first I feel like it's going to be a little rough. I know I can afford to support her, it's just going to be rough not being able to save for future unexpected expenses if and when they arise. Being in debt truly is the American way...

Edited September 29, 2017 by smokeface