Does an approved K1 fiancee holding a US Passorrt qualify for coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace

[Balamban 113]

The answer appears to be a simple "yes."  But then, it's not so simple.  Over the years I have property in NH and tend to be for years at a time in MA, the two states, though side-by-side are very different.   Thinking that we'd be in MA I checked their "Health Connector" and it seemed straight-forward.  I could plug in DOB and other stuff and get quotes.

NH which uses the government site Health Insurance Marketplace healthcare.gov, unlike MA demands a document which the immigrant does not get until arrival.  In other words a US K1 passport is not enough.  Why this should be the case does not make sense to me as a K1 immigrant coming to America (in our case within 2 weeks) gains nothing by being covered before entry since nobody in the rest of the world would participate. 

 

So in MA I can buy her a Marketplace insurance package starting June or July 1st (I don't know cut-off dates) but it now appears that in NH (and probably other states except Massachusetts (which is a stand-alone) until after arrival and then the healthcare.gov "opens up" so you can see plans/prices and enroll but I don't know the "delay to enrollment."  Note: Any new immigrant would be considered eligible for a special enrollment status meaning that if your standard corn-fed American simply did not enroll, but decided to, he/she must wait for "open enrollment" I think in January or February.

 

I'm a nurse, an RN and I've seen so many lives ruined by the way hospitals plunder anyone uninsured.  Here's an example: "you're in a vehicle accident and get a fractured pelvis."  Well person A with insurance might pay $4,000 out of pocket, but get this, the Insurance company will only pay,

as their share, (I'm guessing) $80,000.  Now Person B who is uninsured--they will pay non-negotiated prices, let's say $140,000--all for the same service.  In my opinion insurance here is not optional unless you believe that the medical machine cannot squeeze blood out of a stone.  And so many (but not all) of the discounts, really aren't--they all end up in the same place and that is: Be hounded for eternity (for the rest of your life, since when interest starts heaping you'd be lucky to pay it off ever).

 

It irks me that in MA I could have her covered on the day of arrival but with the Marketplace, not until one or two months later. 

 

Many will simply not worry, not bother... and so many simply never insure--their choice (either willingly or forced by economics). 

 

Does anyone have any more insight int this?  Perhaps some of our been-their-done-that couples might chime in?

 

And btw, no she has no medical issues that I know of, so it's likely not tragic if we have to wait a month or two.  Of course if she were "a battered person" immediate coverage...  Welcome to America.

Edited May 4, 2018 by Balamban
Everything needs to be edited, so it's edited (grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc).

[Balamban 113]

Sorry, I did edit it to remove errors and then the system would not take it.  So I apologize--it's hard to read.

[carla s 4]

Hi, I am italian I want to say something about the american health care: it very bad! I don't understan the reason why in a state USA there is not free health care for everybody! The prices for the health care in USA are insane. My american fiance came to Italy and he had all the medical check paying the right price: MRI at both his knees and backs for 120 euro each one (almost 130 US dollars), complete blood check for almost 80 US dollars, he got his teeth fixed for 1600 US dollars (in the USA they wanted 15,000 US dollars). I think that it is only a businsess! Many americans are fat, they don't eat healthy, they don't do sports, the state doesn't say how is a good health life style, so they become sick and they will give money to the doctors, hospitals and so on. That is bad

[yuna628 9,736]

Hi OP:

 

Let's see what's available brainstorm some potential options for you:

 

As you've discovered, when dealing with the federal marketplace things get a bit tricky for immigrants. Typically immigrants need to provide some sort of proof document and the soonest document you could provide would be after filing for adjustment of status and providing them with an NOA1. To qualify for that under special enrollment (her qualifying event being marriage) you'd need to be fast on that as there's only a limited window to apply. Barring that the soonest next document would be the EAD and of course a green card - both would be options far too much out of the window.

 

So how about looking at what you currently have for health insurance, assuming you have your own coverage either personally or via workplace? These don't involve government fiddly requirements.. and you could add her soon after marrying. This is provided you do have your own coverage. That's what I did for my husband, and we stayed on that until he obtained coverage via his employer. You may on occasion run into a stubborn HR that doesn't understand rules and such, but in general there is nothing to stop you from adding your wife to your coverage. Adding my husband was very easy and they asked virtually nothing about his status. I'd suggest following the VJ guide and get her SSN before marriage. It's not a requirement to obtain health coverage under the law, but you'll be headache free in dealing with HR/phone people in doing so. You could also shop private. Most of the plans you see on federal site, are the same ones you could buy privately, and depending on several factors, you could likely find them offered cheaper off-market. Search around and explore with different insurers.

 

Your other option, is well, a little more fussy and not as desired. You could purchase a temporary short term plan marketed towards immigrants. These do not cover pre-existing conditions, and are not ACA compliant. That means the penalty may still apply (however the administration intends to do away with the penalty next year). If the wife is healthy, you could use the short term to fill the gap if you find yourself without any other options (waiting on documents or even waiting on the next open enrollment).

[Balamban 113]

53 minutes ago, carla s said:

Hi, I am italian I want to say something about the american health care: it very bad! I don't understan the reason why in a state USA there is not free health care for everybody! The prices for the health care in USA are insane. My american fiance came to Italy and he had all the medical check paying the right price: MRI at both his knees and backs for 120 euro each one (almost 130 US dollars), complete blood check for almost 80 US dollars, he got his teeth fixed for 1600 US dollars (in the USA they wanted 15,000 US dollars). I think that it is only a businsess! Many americans are fat, they don't eat healthy, they don't do sports, the state doesn't say how is a good health life style, so they become sick and they will give money to the doctors, hospitals and so on. That is bad

Carla, I'm so sorry that you are so miserable here.  This thread is not  about comparing Italy verus USA, if it were, I might point out that Italy has the highest total tax of any country.  I'm American my wife to be is Filipino, so if you have something to add other than complaints, please do so.  (and I am not saying that what you say is incorrect--it's just not what the discussion is about, I suggest that you start a thread of your own.

[Balamban 113]

Yuna, the moment a legal immigrant lands they get an I-94 number, and then application can be made on the website.  Perhaps your information is outdated?  Before I wrote my post, I had sat down at healthcare.gov and tried to enroll her—but dead-ended because the only document that they seemed to accept was the I-94 number.  Her USA visa number does not work.

An immigrant arriving to America for the first time creates a special enrollment period; she would not have to wait for the “annual” enrollment period that I think is in February.  She could literally get I-94 number and we could sit at the computer and enroll.  But I do not know, and was hoping that someone did—in such a case would she, if she arrived on May 15th, obtain a  start coverage date of June1st or July 1st—I do not think it’s later than that.  I was hoping that someone could answer that question specifically.

I have Medicare—at my age, I am NOT allowed to buy on the Health Insurance Marketplace, period—end of story, I am too old.  Nor can anyone on Medicare cover another.  If I were working full-time (I am not, I am attending college full time working on a third college degree), then your idea of company coverage (if the coverage were decent) would be a good one.  I would not want employer medical insurance for myself, since I am very happy with my Medicare coverage/costs, but that might be an option and a good idea for others.  .  Most employers allow single person as spouse when the other is on Medicare.

“Short term plans.”  I will pass thank you.  For from everything that have seen (and heard) they are garbage. 

By the way, the ACA penalty does not apply to non-citizens.  It did some years back, it no longer does.

I was hoping that someone actually had done this  (recently) and had some insight and who could offer some facts based upon actual experience.

[Boiler 46,232]

K1 is non immigrant.

 

You need to you resident in whichever State to buy OCare so buying somebody coming to the US has to arrive and become resident.

 

Generally the first  document the new K1 will have is the NOA from applying to adjust.

[chi6488 94]

Do you have a group health plan or individual??  I called about my group plan and the day I marry my fiance is the day coverage starts as a life changing qualifying event.

 

I plan to marry within the first week or two.

[Diane and Chris 651]

14 hours ago, Balamban said:

Carla, I'm so sorry that you are so miserable here.  This thread is not  about comparing Italy verus USA, if it were, I might point out that Italy has the highest total tax of any country.  I'm American my wife to be is Filipino, so if you have something to add other than complaints, please do so.  (and I am not saying that what you say is incorrect--it's just not what the discussion is about, I suggest that you start a thread of your own.

Carla never said she was miserable. Just pointing out the not so favorable choices we have in America as far as healthcare is concerned. I think she was just trying to help.  

[Balamban 113]

Thank you Chi.  I am insured by Medicare, which is the insurance that is normal for "old" people (I'm 68 though most do not guess my age correctly) and Medicare "Advantage" is a stand-alone, you can never have kids, a spouse or anyone else on it.  Medicare is a completely different category that nobody pays attention to until they reach age 62--before that you cannot get Medicare.  After that you can do Medicare or if working, you might choose to be on an employer plan if you like the price/benefits of that plan.  If a person has Medicare they cannot buy insurance for anyone else--ever.  Nor can they buy at healthcare.gov, it is forbidden.  For most here, what you say Chi is correct, but for me that does not matter.

 

Boiler, here are the actual facts and if anyone goes to healthcare.gov you will see this is correct.    I put this here because it is fact and may help others.  I advise any US Citizen bringing an immigrant or even non-immigrant Visa holders such as H1-B to use healthcare.gov and at least buy the cheapest plan, which will cover you in a catastrophe such as hospitalization.  As a nurse I have seen entire families without healthcare insurance go from zero debt to over $100,000 in debt over two months--and it is deady as that debt often never decreases, but increases year after year because of added interest--until you die.  And even if you die, if you have a spouse that spouse will be hounded even though that is technically illegal.  As Carla pointed out--our health care system is broken.  The Italian healthcare system is not broken (yet) but will be for Italy is in such debt that (like America) within a few years it will break there too.

 

Here are the ONLY thing that is necessary for an immigrant (other than having the funds to pay):

 

1) The legal immigrant lands at his/her first place in America--they are given an I-94 number.

 

2) They are now eligible, immediately!  With that number (if they had a credit card) the immigrant could walk to a bench, sit down, go onto healthcare.gov and choose a healthcare policy.  That is it

 

They have their VISA # and they now have the I-94.  NO OTHER Documents are required, not NOA, not green card, NOT social security card....nothing else.  They do not need to prove residency, but they must enter where they will be living (where they will be resident).  If the immigrant or spouse has a valid credit card they could leave the airport, go home and in one hour--be enrolled.  It is that simple.  My original question which remains unanswered man: If my fiancee receives here I-94 and we apply for insurance that same day--when does insurance take effect?  It is not the same day....but it is either the 1st day of the next month, or the 1st day of the following month.  That question remains unanswered and if it stay unanswered I'll answer it on the 16th, the day after arrival.

 

Whether the couple can "afford" any insurance is a whole different question, and lately, in some areas of the county, I cannot believe what some prices are.  But that is another issue.

[Boiler 46,232]

I 94 is not what you think it is, every visitor gets one, does not make them eligible.

[milimelo 4,571]

Immigrants do NOT get I-94. 

 

K-1 is a non-immigrant visa category (it may be processed under immigrant visa section but it’s certainly not immigrant). 

 

Get SSN ASAP after fiancée’s arrival. Get married right away (don’t forget to change will, life insurance beneficiary and similar). Send off right away for AOS and then have wife start looking for a job with benefits. In the meantime I’m sure you can find some new immigrant health coverage plans. 

[Balamban 113]

30 minutes ago, Diane and Chris said:

Carla never said she was miserable. Just pointing out the not so favorable choices we have in America as far as healthcare is concerned. I think she was just trying to help.  

Nowadays it's very unpopular, even politically incorrect to point out the obvious.  You may read Carla's post and if you have read other posts she has made, you may make whatever decision you care to about Carla.  That is your right.  However, the post was not pertinent to the discussion and was very negative.  Did it help the question?  No, not at all.  Was it intended to be helpful?  I'm not sure, ask Carla.

 

Is Carla correct?  About Italy's healthcare system, absolutely, Italy has the 2nd best healthcare system in the WORLD as defined by WHO (World Healthcare Organization)

 

We are here to talk about matters that affect immigrants and I agree that comparing healthcare systems may be a whole lot more interesting that my original question and so I am very happy to have a Mod break this as a stand-alone and let's all look at healthcare systems.

 

I'm an RN.  I have been an Adult Intensive Care nurse, a Medical/Surgical nurse and now am an Occupational Health Nurse Specialist and I will say: America's health system is absolutely broken in a thousand ways.  Unfortunately, one cannot look at "Italy is good, America is bad."  There may be the urge to country bash or America bash but for one to do that a person must look at the big picture.  So when Carla compares America's health system (broken) to Italy's wonderful health system (no cynicism here-- it is very good, then one must also look at the big picture.  For it may just be that Italy is near to breaking totally  and America might not be so close to that point.

 

For the big picture enter into any search engine these two questions:

 

1)  What is the economic future of Italy?

 

2) What is the economic future of America?

 

Try it.  We can look at current healthcare systems but to look at healthcare systems ten years down the road--I am happy to remain in America and out of Italy.  America's debt load is huge--Italy's debt and worse, culture, in my opinion only says to me that in a dozen years, Italy is in big trouble--huge trouble and if I'm correct, then their healthcare system will not stay #2.

 

Attached are three headlines to question #1 and please notice one is from the UK, these are not American only opinion.

 

And if you really, really want to "understand" healthcare watch this: http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_at_state?language=en   That TED talk is the most amazing thing I have ever seen as related to health.  I highly recommend it.

[Balamban 113]

18 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Immigrants do NOT get I-94. 

 

K-1 is a non-immigrant visa category (it may be processed under immigrant visa section but it’s certainly not immigrant). 

 

Get SSN ASAP after fiancée’s arrival. Get married right away (don’t forget to change will, life insurance beneficiary and similar). Send off right away for AOS and then have wife start looking for a job with benefits. In the meantime I’m sure you can find some new immigrant health coverage plans. 

Thanks milimelo.  Really, Ouch!  So an H1-B can be on healthcare immediately but a K-1 cannot.  Ouch!   That is a good answer.  Though I wonder why an H1-B can apply right after getting an I-94 but a K-1 cannot.  Remember I just did this a few days ago.  I went on healthcare.gov and it dead-ended with an H1-B.  It is very clear however that no social security card is required.  However it does (once you do not enter it, give a pop-up telling how to get one and advising how to get one.

 

I think there should be a work-around as what is fair for an H1-B is fair for a K-1.

 

I'll try to call them or if not, I'll ask my State Rep. 

 

Thanks for the "non-immigrant" versus immigrant status explanation.  A non-immigrant, immigrant, that's sort of normal for governments....

[Lemonslice 4,987]

You can purchase insurance outside of the marketplace - call BCBS, CIGNA, etc. and ask them to provide you quotes to cover your wife.  Might be more expensive for a few months, but she will have proper coverage.