Health Insurance SSN/ITIN

[My Bee & Me 0]

Hi Everyone - So it looks like we messed up !!!BIG TIME!!!!, didn't know until it's seemingly too late, and are in desperate need of help on how to fix it!!!

 

My Husband arrived on the K1 March 29, 2019, and we married on June 22, 2019. I attempted to add him to my Health Coverage through my employer and they asked for his SSN. I explained he did not have one and why, so they asked for his ITIN. Nope, doesn't have that either! They tell me there may be problems with the IRS for not supplying the information and continue to enroll him on the plan due to the qualifying event. I check back with my benefits after waiting 5 business days, he hasn't been added, so I call HR back and they open a new case three separate times before they tell me his application is being cancelled because I've not supplied the SSN/ITIN and it's been more than 30 days since the marriage. I fought tooth and nail explaining the situation and the time line, and they've reluctantly added him temporarily for 60 days while the ITIN comes in. Or so we thought...

 

The problem we are facing now, is we did not file for an SSN the two weeks prior to his I-94 expiring because we didn't know we should or needed to. I'm having the worst time dealing with getting a Certified Acceptance Agent to agree to schedule an appointment to certify his passport because we don't have taxes to file right now. I have spoken to the IRS a few times and was previously told I could mail a 2018 1040 with page one filled out along with the W7 and supporting docs, and the ITIN would be completed in approximately 7 weeks. I called again today to ask about an appointment at a Taxpayer Assistance Center, and they won't schedule an appointment because we are not filing any taxes right now, and said to send the W7 along with the 2019 filing in 2020.

 

I've googled so much I'm not sure what else to Google. It seems we can't get an SSN, we can't get an ITIN, his benefits are getting cancelled if we don't have one of them in 60 days, and we won't have them in time for open enrollment in October either. Having not known what we didn't know is killing us here.

 

What do we do?!?! Please send help!!!

Edited August 6, 2019 by My Bee & Me

[Crazy Cat 41,858]

A SSN is not required by any law......I would start escalating the issue with the HR supervisor.......and I would suggest that they assign him a customer number until he receives a SSN.

[ADW & JOP 146]

I was added on my wife's health insurance without an ITIN and even before we started the IR1 process.

 

I've even used the health insurance before the process. At no point have I been in trouble with the IRS nor was this an issue that was brought up by our health insurance.

[zanzala 47]

I added my husband with a random number. SSN is not required for the health insurance. And our HR are aware of it, so it was actually their suggestion to just make up some 900 number. 

[My Bee & Me 0]

This is exactly what I have been fighting with them about, and probably why they finally enrolled him at least temporarily. I had asked for them to provide the documentation stating either an SSN or an ITIN was required for enrollment, and a written statement that coverage for him was being declined. That's the point where it was escalated the final time and he was temporarily enrolled. I had even questioned one of the Reps, if I tell you his SSN is 999-88-9999 you'll go ahead and accept that? They responded they would, but they had to remind me that line was being recorded and that providing a false number was fraud.

 

The funny-no-so-funny part is I work for the Health Insurer, we are a MAJOR carrier across the U.S.. I even went as far as to call the California Department of Insurance yesterday, but as soon as they found out I work for the health insurance company, they referred me to the US Department of Labor stating it was an employer issue.

 

As if the rest of this process wasn't complicated enough! Does anyone actually get to relax and enjoy finally being with their other half?

 

Thanks for the responses, though I'm not happy to know I'm in a boat all alone on this one.

[zanzala 47]

3 minutes ago, My Bee & Me said:

This is exactly what I have been fighting with them about, and probably why they finally enrolled him at least temporarily. I had asked for them to provide the documentation stating either an SSN or an ITIN was required for enrollment, and a written statement that coverage for him was being declined. That's the point where it was escalated the final time and he was temporarily enrolled. I had even questioned one of the Reps, if I tell you his SSN is 999-88-9999 you'll go ahead and accept that? They responded they would, but they had to remind me that line was being recorded and that providing a false number was fraud.

 

The funny-no-so-funny part is I work for the Health Insurer, we are a MAJOR carrier across the U.S.. I even went as far as to call the California Department of Insurance yesterday, but as soon as they found out I work for the health insurance company, they referred me to the US Department of Labor stating it was an employer issue.

 

As if the rest of this process wasn't complicated enough! Does anyone actually get to relax and enjoy finally being with their other half?

 

Thanks for the responses, though I'm not happy to know I'm in a boat all alone on this one.

well, in our case the enrollment window to add my husband to the health insurance was just 30 days after the life event. He couldnt get the SSN that fast, so if we didnt make up the number, he would have been without the insurance till next year. I think this is one of the gray areas, where HR doesnt know enough of legal requirements. Fraud of making up SSN would be if he applied for federal benefits, filed taxes etc. In this case it is just a number for tracking, like an employee number. I am the main person on the insurance and obviously am willing to cover whatever expenses he encounters for medical care.

[yuna628 9,676]

SSN is not required to obtain health insurance. That is the law. They can request until blue in the face, but unless the IRS comes to you directly, technically an insurance company is not authorized or required to have it.

 

Have you filed for AOS? The soonest you can obtain an SSN with no issues at this point is to wait for the EAD. From a personal standpoint I signed my husband up for health insurance and did not provide them with an SSN for either of us. They didn't have an issue with that. Later on, somewhere around 6 months they sent out a letter asking us to add them for IRS reporting purposes. Even in this letter they admitted that it was technically not needed.

[carmel34 3,633]

My husband, who lives in Brazil, was added to my employer's health insurance plan a few days after our wedding in Brazil more than a year ago.  All they needed was our marriage certificate, his name and date of birth, no SSN was needed.

[My Bee & Me 0]

Email Received:

 

Thank you for your HR service inquiry. This message contains updated information for your to review.

Customer Communication from Benefits:
Good Morning Jennifer!
We have reviewed the information and will allow you to enroll your spouse for coverage under the following condition - you will need to supply the social security number or ITIN within sixty (60) days. If the numbers either one are not supplied by that time we will discontinue coverage for your spouse.
We have notified the BenefitConnect enrollment system - so make sure you give them the numbers when you receive them.
Sincerely,
Benefits Department

My reply:

Hi,

 

I have spoken to the IRS and have been referred to the below page which states that neither an SSN nor an ITIN are required by them. I also have been advised the Health Plan may enroll and continue coverage under an internal identification number such as the R# we are provided.

 

As such, please supply or advise where the documentation is located that states my spouse is required (by law) to provide either an SSN or an ITIN in order to enroll in coverage or in the current case, to continue coverage. Otherwise, please confirm in writing that benefits for my spouse will remain intact regardless of whether an SSN/ITIN is supplied within the 60 day period, as this is not possible at this time due to his adjustment of immigration status.

  

Thanks!

 

I included an insert of the IRS webpage that shows the below question and answer. Now to wait for a reply!

 

https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/questions-and-answers-about-reporting-social-security-numbers-to-your-health-insurance-company

 

Q5: If I do not have a social security number (SSN) or other tax identifying number (TIN) for myself or other covered individuals, such as my spouse or dependents, should I contact the IRS to obtain  a social security number or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) so that I can give it to my health coverage provider?

A5: No, it is not necessary for you to contact the IRS if you do not have an SSN or a TIN.  You should advise your coverage provider that you do not have an SSN or TIN and give them the date of birth for each covered individual.

[WaterLeaf 200]

Healthcare.gov doesn't ask for one. 

[OlayemiLoray 172]

A social security wasn't required for my husband when I added him to my insurance and he had a social at that time...Not mandatory or required, so keep fighting!

[bamse 15]

On 8/7/2019 at 1:56 PM, yuna628 said:

SSN is not required to obtain health insurance. That is the law. They can request until blue in the face, but unless the IRS comes to you directly, technically an insurance company is not authorized or required to have it.

 

Have you filed for AOS? The soonest you can obtain an SSN with no issues at this point is to wait for the EAD. From a personal standpoint I signed my husband up for health insurance and did not provide them with an SSN for either of us. They didn't have an issue with that. Later on, somewhere around 6 months they sent out a letter asking us to add them for IRS reporting purposes. Even in this letter they admitted that it was technically not needed.

Is there a fee for not listing the SSN/TIN because of IRS reporting? My husband was added but with a 6 month grace period.

 

Here is what it says on the health insurance account page:

 

Update your Tax Identification Number:

Please provide and/or update Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), generally your Social Security Number for you and your dependents.

 

Failure to supply the SSN/TIN may subject the member to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 6723.

 

Here is what I found on the IRS website:

https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/questions-and-answers-about-reporting-social-security-numbers-to-your-health-insurance-company

Q4: What if I refuse to provide this information to my health insurance company?

A4: The information received by the Internal Revenue Service will be used to verify information on your individual income tax return.  If the information you provide on your tax return cannot be verified, you may receive an inquiry from the Internal Revenue Service.  You also may receive a notice from the Internal Revenue Service indicating that you are liable for an individual shared responsibility payment.

[onek 306]

2 hours ago, GAD505 said:

Is there a fee for not listing the SSN/TIN because of IRS reporting? My husband was added but with a 6 month grace period.

 

Here is what it says on the health insurance account page:

 

Update your Tax Identification Number:

Please provide and/or update Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), generally your Social Security Number for you and your dependents.

 

Failure to supply the SSN/TIN may subject the member to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 6723.

 

Here is what I found on the IRS website:

https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/questions-and-answers-about-reporting-social-security-numbers-to-your-health-insurance-company

Q4: What if I refuse to provide this information to my health insurance company?

A4: The information received by the Internal Revenue Service will be used to verify information on your individual income tax return.  If the information you provide on your tax return cannot be verified, you may receive an inquiry from the Internal Revenue Service.  You also may receive a notice from the Internal Revenue Service indicating that you are liable for an individual shared responsibility payment.

This is a forum with no activity for a year. Would suggest starting a new forum

[TBoneTX 45,292]

Starting a new thread, I think is what's meant.