Health Insurance for K1 AOS in WA!

[CarolynSian 5]

I moved here on a K1 and have applied for AOS. I’m looking into health insurance but find it all so confusing! Anyone else from Washington state got any tips on health insurance/what insurance are we not eligible for?

[Roel 7,192]

That's something your husband should be helping you with to be honest.  Cant he put you on his insurance? 

[JFH 12,190]

I'm from the U.K. and in WA too. Getting married is a "qualifying event" that enables your husband to add you to his insurance mid-way through the year. Normally you can only make changes or add and remove people during the open enrollment phase. But events such as getting married have an exception. If he works for a company with more than 50 FTE employees (full-time equivalent) then the company MUST offer some form of insurance deal by law. Some employers cover the cost of the premiums in full (mine does) and others offer group insurance with reduced rates and the premiums are deducted from your wages each week/month. 

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*moved from "AOS progress reports" to "moving to the USA" - question about health insurance for new immigrants*~*~*

[CarolynSian 5]

5 hours ago, JFH said:

I'm from the U.K. and in WA too. Getting married is a "qualifying event" that enables your husband to add you to his insurance mid-way through the year. Normally you can only make changes or add and remove people during the open enrollment phase. But events such as getting married have an exception. If he works for a company with more than 50 FTE employees (full-time equivalent) then the company MUST offer some form of insurance deal by law. Some employers cover the cost of the premiums in full (mine does) and others offer group insurance with reduced rates and the premiums are deducted from your wages each week/month. 

His work insurance is expensive, so we’re looking at other options. So just wanted guidance on how it all works for immigrants. That’s awesome that you’re from the UK and in WA too!

[JFH 12,190]

46 minutes ago, CarolynSian said:

His work insurance is expensive, so we’re looking at other options. So just wanted guidance on how it all works for immigrants. That’s awesome that you’re from the UK and in WA too!

Health insurance isn't cheap, that's for sure. Not having insurance is even more expensive. My husband has had two surgeries this year and will have the third one in November. Each one costs $100,000. We have had to pay the grand total of $5000. Insurance paid the rest. 

 

I suppose it depends what what you mean by expensive. I take into consideration how much tax I paid in the U.K. (40%) and look at taxation here and health insurance as a total deduction by adding them together. It's still less than 40%.

[CarolynSian 5]

25 minutes ago, JFH said:

Health insurance isn't cheap, that's for sure. Not having insurance is even more expensive. My husband has had two surgeries this year and will have the third one in November. Each one costs $100,000. We have had to pay the grand total of $5000. Insurance paid the rest. 

 

I suppose it depends what what you mean by expensive. I take into consideration how much tax I paid in the U.K. (40%) and look at taxation here and health insurance as a total deduction by adding them together. It's still less than 40%.

I basically want to find out what I’m not eligible for, I know I can’t get state handouts so I just want to avoid any health insurance I’m not allowed. I think I heard AOS applicants can’t get Medicaid, I was looking at WA Apple Health but it looks like it’s linked to Medicaid. So I’m confused as to what I can apply for and what I can’t as an AOS applicant.

[JFH 12,190]

You will need to go through the marketplace https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org

 

and select a plan you can afford. You are not eligible for Apple Health - that's our local version of Medicaid. You need to be a citizen for that. But you can go through the marketplace and compare the cost of plans. 

 

 

[CarolynSian 5]

23 minutes ago, JFH said:

You will need to go through the marketplace https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org

 

and select a plan you can afford. You are not eligible for Apple Health - that's our local version of Medicaid. You need to be a citizen for that. But you can go through the marketplace and compare the cost of plans. 

 

 

Okay thanks! So Apple Health is the only one I should avoid? My husband and I don’t really know anything about insurance hence all the questions (he only just got his own insurance as he was on his parents’ plan)

[CEE53147 559]

Options from employers are generally the best choice.  Medicaid policies are for very low income and asset individuals who qualify according to the rules of the different states.. Income would include your spouse's as well as yours.

 

Look not only at the monthly cost but also the deductible and copays.  Since you are young, especially look at pregnancy and costs including children.

 

If you work, you may have access to your employers plan.