Health Insurace

[BananaButton5 175]

I'm sorry if this isn't the right forum for this, but it does have to do with finances somewhat. I'm the petitioner for K-1 Visa for my fiance coming from Canada. My question is, what do we do about health insurance for him on the interim of receiving a green card? Is he eligible to apply for Obamacare prior to getting a green card? I have health insurance through my employer and it would be an additional $350 per month to add him on, and I'm not even sure if I can add him if he's not technically a permanent resident right after getting married, additionally I'd prefer to find a cheaper option since he won't be able to work until EAD is approved (which seems like it's taking a really long time right now) and that would be a huge chunk out of my budget. Additionally, if he doesn't get health insurance at all in the interim would he be responsible for a potential tax penalty for not being insured? 

[Crazy Cat 41,844]

Most employers will allow adding new spouses immediately after marriage (or sooner).  Talk with your HR people.  The health care marketplace (or whatever it is called) might offer some options.

[BananaButton5 175]

1 minute ago, missileman said:

Most employers will allow adding new spouses immediately after marriage (or sooner).  Talk with your HR people.  The health care marketplace (or whatever it is called) might offer some options.

From what I've read the marketplace accepts some non-immigrants, but K1 doens't fall under that. I just read some of my policy and it seems like I can add him after marriage it's just outrageously expensive.  I read that starting 2019 there won't be a penalty for being uninsured, so I'm trying to weigh if it's worth risking him being uninsured until he can get it through an employer of his own. 

[geowrian 22,337]

Yes, he can use the ACA/Obamacare marketplace. I don't believe he will qualify for subsidies, though...so it's likely to be over $350/month (and probably for a lesser plan). Normally adding one via an employer-sponsored plan (once married - marriage is a qualifying enrollment event) is the simplest and most cost effective option. Whether your spouse can be added your employer sponsored is a discussion with your employer, but every one I've seen allows this fine. I suggest he applies for an SSN very shortly after entry to make it easier to enroll, although an SSN is not strictly required for insurance.

But feel free to look around at the marketplace and shop and compare plans.

 

I don't believe there would be any tax penalty for 2018 in their case for not having suitable coverage...although not having coverage can very easily and quickly become a nightmare.

https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/eligibility/

"If you’re considered a “resident” of the United States for tax purposes, you’re eligible to use the Marketplace."

An alien spouse in the US can elect to be treated as a resident alien for their federal tax return (you'll need him to make this choice if you want to file jointly next year).

[Lemonslice 4,836]

Does he have savings? He might be totally ok with the cost / it should be planned for before he comes to the USA.

[BananaButton5 175]

4 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

Does he have savings? He might be totally ok with the cost / it should be planned for before he comes to the USA.

Yes he has savings, the topic came up because we were sitting down to make a spread sheet of costs/expenses/budget. I was thrown off guard by how expensive a dependent is under my plan and also we were planning for him only to be unemployeed for maybe 4-5 months, and now I'm seeing processing times for EAD just getting longer and longer and it was really messing with my anxiety. As a Canadian he's trying to get his head around paying for health insurance at all, lol! I guess after reading comments here and researching it's easiest to just add him to mine until he can get some under an employer himself. 

[BananaButton5 175]

38 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Yes, he can use the ACA/Obamacare marketplace. I don't believe he will qualify for subsidies, though...so it's likely to be over $350/month (and probably for a lesser plan). Normally adding one via an employer-sponsored plan (once married - marriage is a qualifying enrollment event) is the simplest and most cost effective option. Whether your spouse can be added your employer sponsored is a discussion with your employer, but every one I've seen allows this fine. I suggest he applies for an SSN very shortly after entry to make it easier to enroll, although an SSN is not strictly required for insurance.

But feel free to look around at the marketplace and shop and compare plans.

 

I don't believe there would be any tax penalty for 2018 in their case for not having suitable coverage...although not having coverage can very easily and quickly become a nightmare.

https://www.healthcare.gov/quick-guide/eligibility/

"If you’re considered a “resident” of the United States for tax purposes, you’re eligible to use the Marketplace."

An alien spouse in the US can elect to be treated as a resident alien for their federal tax return (you'll need him to make this choice if you want to file jointly next year).

Thanks, very helpful! I'll explore both options. I sent HR an email with questions about adding him. 

[Boiler 45,482]

Marry quick and add him will usually be the best and cheapest option, especially when you have a relatively cheap option of being added to your employers plan.

[Umka36 781]

18 hours ago, Boiler said:

Marry quick and add him will usually be the best and cheapest option, especially when you have a relatively cheap option of being added to your employers plan.

That's what we did OP, and once he gets a job with his own health insurance plan you could always drop him from yours (I recommend asking your HR if this is allowable).

 

Personally not smart going without health insurance in my opinion.