health insurance for k1

[Annlee21 24]

anyone have tips on health insurance for k1 in the usa?

[Umka36 781]

Get married ASAP and add immigrant spouse on one's employer based health insurance plan (does not need to have AOS filed to get coverage). That's what we did.

 

If that option is not available then you will need to first apply for AOS, and once you get the I-797c (NOA) you can look at the marketplace.

 

Applicants for any of these statuses qualify to use the Marketplace:

• Temporary Protected Status with Employment Authorization
• Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
• Victim of Trafficking Visa
• Adjustment to LPR Status

https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/immigration-status/

 

If you are trying to get coverage before marriage, filing the AOS, or not be included to the US spouse employer based health plan, then you could look for short term medical coverage but they tend to be crappy policies with many stipulations.

[Diana & Justin 108]

I came with a k1, my husband has Health insurance because of his dad so I couldn't have been added and he started looking for options in the marketplace, we found a really good option but my husband is gonna be with his dad's insurance till November so he got a temporary (3 months) health insurance for me. It's not that expensive, he's paying $58 monthly I think. I have never used it but we wanted to have it just in case. 

This is the name of the place, maybe you can ask there. I dont have AOS yet but I already applied. I don't really know if that's a problem but looks like it worked for us. 

[Crazy Cat 41,723]

1 minute ago, Diana & Justin said:

It's not that expensive, he's paying $58 monthly I think.

What does it cover?  What is the deductible?  What are the co-pays?

[Diana & Justin 108]

13 minutes ago, missileman said:

What does it cover?  What is the deductible?  What are the co-pays?

I'm not sure, I would have to ask my husband. 

But I found they have these 3 plans 

http://www.ilhealthagents.com/unitedhealthone/short-term-medical/

[Crazy Cat 41,723]

4 minutes ago, Diana & Justin said:

I'm not sure, I would have to ask my husband. 

But I found they have these 3 plans 

http://www.ilhealthagents.com/unitedhealthone/short-term-medical/

Thanks. 

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,090]

Probably worth mentioning here is that health insurance plans are regulated (and so offered) at the state level. Even from the same parent insurance company, the offerings will differ from state to state.

[britishandusa 446]

1 hour ago, Diana & Justin said:

I came with a k1, my husband has Health insurance because of his dad so I couldn't have been added and he started looking for options in the marketplace, we found a really good option but my husband is gonna be with his dad's insurance till November so he got a temporary (3 months) health insurance for me. It's not that expensive, he's paying $58 monthly I think. I have never used it but we wanted to have it just in case. 

This is the name of the place, maybe you can ask there. I dont have AOS yet but I already applied. I don't really know if that's a problem but looks like it worked for us. 

Wow, I've been looking insurance for my husband because we are in the exact same situation! thank you!

[Boiler 45,411]

Limited cover not OCare compliant may be better than nothing.

[Perfect two 💑 1,147]

After we got married, my husband put me in his existing health care plan (under his employer). But it is expensive (blue Cross health insurance). If I'm not mistaken from $60 per paycheck it become $180 per paycheck. Around $360 per month for health insurance for both of us. Together with that he added me to the Delta dental (dental insurance) and optical. 

[Boiler 45,411]

12 minutes ago, Perfect two 💑 said:

After we got married, my husband put me in his existing health care plan (under his employer). But it is expensive (blue Cross health insurance). If I'm not mistaken from $60 per paycheck it become $180 per paycheck. Around $360 per month for health insurance for both of us. Together with that he added me to the Delta dental (dental insurance) and optical. 

What is expensive? The dental?

[AshMarty 360]

Not all health insurance is equal.

 

Before you think you found a deal, you will want to get to look at the plan/deductibles and coverage. It can be confusing but it helps to read up a little. 

 

For Example: The link posted in this thread: A 10,000 dollar deductible would be a hefty bill for a lot of people to pay before any insurance benefits kicks in and " prescription drug coverage" is a very broad statement with no indications what is coverage and how much of it is covered. 

• Deductibles from $500 to $10,000 per term; after deductible is met we pay 80% of covered expenses up to $20,000, then we pay 100% of covered expenses after that.

 

We married in three weeks of my husband entering the country and I put him immediately on my health insurance through my work. That is typically the best way to do it, if you have the option. Now that he is employed with benefits, we get to choose which companies insurance plan better fits us. 

Edited July 13, 2018 by AshMarty

[Umka36 781]

52 minutes ago, Boiler said:

What is expensive? The dental?

My employer provides free dental coverage, but dental doesn't cover all that much. I'm guessing they think it's expense going from $120/month to adding a spouse that now costing $360/month?

 

I use to pay $50/month when single, now with a full family it's $200. Still cheaper than going without insurance.

[Umka36 781]

16 minutes ago, LizM said:

Just to add to this - I just recently applied for health insurance via the Marketplace before I had my NOA1 and before I had my SSN. You can do this by calling the Marketplace and asking for locations where you can do a manual verification of identity (you can't apply online without SSN at least). You will meet with a counselor for free and once they have checked your identity, you can pick your plan with them. You're covered pretty much immediately, and they will then give you three months to send in the documentation proving your legal status (AOS NOA1), your SSN, and you eligibility for tax credit, if any.

 

This made me realize I most likely could've applied the day I got here, before I had even applied for AOS, as I did not have to show any immediate proof of legal status in order to apply and be covered. Remember though that the cutoff date is the 15th every month (at least here in NY), so if you apply before the 15th you will be covered from the 1st of the following month. If you apply after the 15th, you will only have coverage from the 1st of the month after the following month.

Kind of dumb in my opinion if that's how it works. Anyone could basically scam the system for 90 days before being dropped when they don't have proof of legal status?

[Boiler 45,411]

A lot of people would jump at $360 for two, sounds like the Employer is heavily subsiding the employee and not so much the szpouse, which is more and more normal.

 

Free cover for 90 days and then only pay if you need to, welcome to America, screwed up system.