Health insurance in the first few months?

[canadavisa22 202]

For those that were living abroad with their USC spouse, what did you do/are planning to do for health insurance when you first arrive back in the US?

 

Can the US citizen spouse apply for medicaid and use that until they find a job that provides benefits? I understand the beneficiary cannot use medicaid, so private route would be the only temporary solution. 

Would love to hear what some people have done/are planning to do and costs involved. We'd be landing and living in Illinois at first. 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

buy private insurance.

[canadavisa22 202]

1 minute ago, debbiedoo said:

buy private insurance.

I understand that the beneficiary will need private insurance. Any particular companies you can suggest? 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

shop around. every area and state will be different.

 

i have employer insurance. anthem which i think is blue cross blue shield, in some form. i dont pay much attention to it honestly lol

[canadavisa22 202]

1 minute ago, debbiedoo said:

shop around. every area and state will be different.

 

i have employer insurance. anthem which i think is blue cross blue shield, in some form. i dont pay much attention to it honestly lol

Slightly off topic, but do you pay anything out of pocket monthly for your insurance? One of things I'm trying to understand is how much Americans pay out of pocket for their health insurance.

I understand that every employer plan will vary based on the job, but generally speaking, do most professional jobs come with a standard benefits package where you might have some co-pays and that's it? Or is paying some kind of monthly premium part of it? 

[AFTex70 10]

The petitioner have to provide everything... Remember that the affidavit of support include health insurance. as soon the beneficiary get to USA, can apply to Social Security card, that allow him/her to be include in the health insurance of the petitioner. ...

[AFTex70 10]

12 minutes ago, canadavisa22 said:

Slightly off topic, but do you pay anything out of pocket monthly for your insurance? One of things I'm trying to understand is how much Americans pay out of pocket for their health insurance.

I understand that every employer plan will vary based on the job, but generally speaking, do most professional jobs come with a standard benefits package where you might have some co-pays and that's it? Or is paying some kind of monthly premium part of it? 

If you are coming to USA, forget how the things is done at your country.. Here is different , is what it is... Maybe we do the thing wrong but, if you coming here, you have to accept it..

 

[canadavisa22 202]

2 minutes ago, AFTex70 said:

If you are coming to USA, forget how the things is done at your country.. Here is different , is what it is... Maybe we do the thing wrong but, if you coming here, you have to accept it..

 

Right, I get that. I'm asking how it's done...

[canadavisa22 202]

5 minutes ago, AFTex70 said:

The petitioner have to provide everything... Remember that the affidavit of support include health insurance. as soon the beneficiary get to USA, can apply to Social Security card, that allow him/her to be include in the health insurance of the petitioner. ...

We both live abroad in Canada. The petitioner would not have health insurance when they moved back to the US. That's why I asked about them applying for medicaid. I understand that the beneficiary, as an immigrant, cannot use medicaid for the first five years which is why they would have to buy private insurance.

 

[Boiler 46,058]

The Petitioner will need to be able to sponsor you.

[AstroCanada 206]

There are always private options available under the ACA.  It can be somewhat expensive.  If at all possible, I presume the USC will be securing a job to meet the support requirements anyway.  Many jobs in the US provide benefits of one quality or another.  It's hard to give general answers about costs/benefits because the premiums and policies vary so widely.  My cost was $0 when I first moved here and is now around $50 a month, but that's because my company is generous with benefits.  Premiums of $300 could also be expected for some companies.

[SalishSea 18,125]

26 minutes ago, canadavisa22 said:

We both live abroad in Canada. The petitioner would not have health insurance when they moved back to the US. That's why I asked about them applying for medicaid. I understand that the beneficiary, as an immigrant, cannot use medicaid for the first five years which is why they would have to buy private insurance.

 

Both should have health insurance.  If the petitioner is so low-income as to qualify for medicaid, how in the world will he/she be able to sponsor and support an immigrant?

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

30 minutes ago, canadavisa22 said:

We both live abroad in Canada. The petitioner would not have health insurance when they moved back to the US. That's why I asked about them applying for medicaid. I understand that the beneficiary, as an immigrant, cannot use medicaid for the first five years which is why they would have to buy private insurance.

 

Basically  meaning the USC will also have to be able to support both of you with private insurance

 

[canadavisa22 202]

38 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Both should have health insurance.  If the petitioner is so low-income as to qualify for medicaid, how in the world will he/she be able to sponsor and support an immigrant?

We will qualify through our assets. We both have jobs here. The USC would move back to the US first to set up domicile but would be jobless when they get back. During that short period of time where they don't have a job, they would need health insurance. We can either purchase private insurance or apply for medicaid (for the USC and our child). 

I know most people here don't/didn't live abroad with their spouse, but this is a common situation. 

[canadavisa22 202]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

The Petitioner will need to be able to sponsor you.

The petitioner doesn't need to be the sponsor. We can qualify through our assets OR failing that (though we pass the test comfortably) there is an option of a joint sponsor.

 

When the USC moves back to the US they will be jobless at first. This is why I'm asking about health insurance via either medicaid or through private insurance, to see which route families like ours have taken.

 

On the topic of domicile, we've studied the requirements quite thoroughly so far and it's not mandatory for the USC to have a job to prove that. 

Edited July 4, 2019 by canadavisa22