New Healthcare Requirements for US Immigrants

[SalishSea 17,829]

Just now, azblk said:

So how much do you think is the cost of health insurance on the individual market and they are no banned from using Obamacare?  How much would it cost some to bring thier parent/s? This is just a round about way to reduce/eliminate green cards for the parents.

I would think the cost to bring parents would be prohibitive for some.  No one is owed a green card.  

[Unlockable 7,314]

35 minutes ago, implife said:

Oh yes, let the threats begin! 

First and foremost, I am doing my job as a moderator so it is not a threat, it is a warning. This thread has gone on for 20 pages and, for the most part, hasn't degenerated into a rash of posts filled with insults and bickering.. So I applaud everyone that has contributed to keeping this topic manageable.

 

There are people who are arguing points of both sides to this and, as you can see, they have been able to post their points freely. We are not restrictive of whatever view anybody here has. But we will not tolerate immature and negative behavior on this forum. This thread would not have lasted this long if bickering, name calling, and nonconstructive comments were rampant. There are people who are reading this thread who are genuinely interested in learning about this process and how it affects them. Not who gets the better of another member.

 

You are free to contribute, and I have not stopped you from doing so. But if you, or anyone else on this forum, can not abide by this site's TOS that you agreed to, and continue to make this forum as positively resourceful as it is, administrative action will be taken.

 

This message is to everyone here...

We know VJ is a valuable tool to people who are going through the process. And we don't want to have to restrict members from using this site. But those who continue to disregard warnings and violate TOS will be dealt with. Don't let a online forum debate with people you have never met in real life cause you to lose out on a great resource.

Edited October 6, 2019 by Unlockable

[Mrs Ryan Carreras 247]

3 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Health care and the cost to retire in the United States are HUGELY expensive.  So much so that it sometimes keeps me awake at night, 

Such a good point. 
A little story of a “friend” I know that I will share. 

She only wishes someone would have told her how important it would be to have healthcare in the US as she was young and in her twenties. 
This is what I wish my friend had been told.

that “everyone” should have healthcare. US citizen or immigrant. 

Plan ahead as you never know what the future holds. 
You don’t want to end up with your child in a hospital with a cyst found on his brain. 
5 years of testing and the “friend”  gave up everything she owned over medical bills because the “what if” happened. 
I don’t care anyone’s stance politically. 
I say this with good intentions and hope we all take healthcare seriously. 
It’s now 20 years later and lesson learned with healthy child and life rebuilt. 
I hate to hear so many talking points that my head spins. 
Policy did not do this ...My lack of my friends “planning” and thinking she could “save a few bucks” did. 
Healthcare is a sensitive subject so forgive me as there’s no political stance as my fiancé and I are “riding” this change with all of you too. 
I only wish my friend had read how important this was in the grand scheme of things. 
Good luck to all of you on your journey 🙏
 

[azblk 338]

49 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

I am still waiting on your supposed source of this quote because he NEVER said it. It was made up by either salon or Vox and people ran with it.

 

[JoannaV 174]

I haven't read this whole thread, so I don't know what has been said already.

 

This wouldn't have changed my situation, as my husband had Tricare so I was eligible for that.

 

However, one thing that springs to mind is all those returning families. Those US citizens who have been living abroad and now want to move with their family to the US. Some have assets, but others rely on a US-based joint sponsor if they want to avoid the USC spouse having to return before the rest of the family. Some of them might buy individual plans upon arrival (but how do you prove you're gonna do that?), whilst others rely on finding employment quickly. It's not yet clear what evidence they're going to require, so hard to make definitive statements. (Though my guess is that whatever the policy ends up being, it will be more heavily applied in some embassies than others.)
But I definitely don't like making it harder for nuclear families.
Moving my family to the UK is pretty much not an option for me, which I hate and disagree with. I don't want the US to go in a similar direction. (Meanwhile, the UK gets around the healthcare bit by requiring upfront payments.)

[wrath224 0]

25 minutes ago, JoannaV said:

I haven't read this whole thread, so I don't know what has been said already.

 

This wouldn't have changed my situation, as my husband had Tricare so I was eligible for that.

 

However, one thing that springs to mind is all those returning families. Those US citizens who have been living abroad and now want to move with their family to the US. Some have assets, but others rely on a US-based joint sponsor if they want to avoid the USC spouse having to return before the rest of the family. Some of them might buy individual plans upon arrival (but how do you prove you're gonna do that?), whilst others rely on finding employment quickly. It's not yet clear what evidence they're going to require, so hard to make definitive statements. (Though my guess is that whatever the policy ends up being, it will be more heavily applied in some embassies than others.)
But I definitely don't like making it harder for nuclear families.
Moving my family to the UK is pretty much not an option for me, which I hate and disagree with. I don't want the US to go in a similar direction. (Meanwhile, the UK gets around the healthcare bit by requiring upfront payments.)

This is currently my situation. I work remotely in Japan for a US based company and live in Japan with my spouse (the immigrant). I don’t have health insurance because I get that through Japan’s National system. I plan to move onto my healthcare my company provides when we get a visa approved but the question is “How do I prove we will get the health insurance upon arrival?” Is there a procedure / documents I can put into my NVC documentation so they don’t ask this question in 50 days while I’m waiting for another response ? 

[ahqs90 3]

Hi,

 

My wife's case is in Islamabad Embassy requesting additional joint sponsor, I provided all that documentation and now with this law I had a question.

 

I have health insurance through my employer and my wife will automatically be able to add once she arrives, Do I need a letter from my employer stating I have coverage available for a spouse, or do I need to change my health insurance and add her and pay even though she isn't here yet? (It's open enrollment for my company but am unsure of the requirements needed to add a spouse if she isn't here yet) 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2019 by ahqs90

[Sarah G 170]

1 hour ago, Jorgedig said:

 I just don't understand not having health insurance.  Would you drive without having auto insurance?  What would you do if you needed an appendectomy tonight?  Even without insurance, you would still be responsible for the cost.

Tbh I didn't research it enough. I hadn't planned to stay, and when I couldn't be added to his insurance after my travel insurance expired I assumed I just couldn't get it until open enrollment. Having read this thread I see that I was mistaken. I will be making arrangements on Monday when I can make some phone calls. 

[Nitas_man 3,100]

46 minutes ago, ahqs90 said:

Hi,

 

My wife's case is in Islamabad Embassy requesting additional joint sponsor, I provided all that documentation and now with this law I had a question.

 

I have health insurance through my employer and my wife will automatically be able to add once she arrives, Do I need a letter from my employer stating I have coverage available for a spouse, or do I need to change my health insurance and add her and pay even though she isn't here yet? (It's open enrollment for my company but am unsure of the requirements needed to add a spouse if she isn't here yet) 

 

 

She was able to be added after you got married, or she will be able to be added during annual open enrollment, but health insurance does not have “open enrollment for those who want to save a few bucks by not taking advantage of the open enrollment period for qualifying life event of marriage”.

You need to enroll her NOW or you’ll miss a year on your employer plan and have to pay extra for her to have her own separate plan.

 

 

[ahqs90 3]

Just now, Nitas_man said:

She was able to be added after you got married, or she will be able to be added during annual open enrollment, but health insurance does not have “open enrollment for those who want to save a few bucks by not taking advantage of the open enrollment period for qualifying life event of marriage”.

You need to enroll her NOW or you’ll miss a year on your employer plan and have to pay extra for her to have her own separate plan.

 

 

I just started working and haven’t picked my health plan yet but have the option now during my open enrollment to enroll both of us, Before the end of the month.

 If there is a qualifying life event I’m able to enroll her which would be her obtaining official legal status when arriving here by producing a SSN. 

 

so your recommending me to add her right now? And send that proof to the embassy?

[Nitas_man 3,100]

4 minutes ago, ahqs90 said:

I just started working and haven’t picked my health plan yet but have the option now during my open enrollment to enroll both of us, Before the end of the month.

 If there is a qualifying life event I’m able to enroll her which would be her obtaining official legal status when arriving here by producing a SSN. 

 

so your recommending me to add her right now? And send that proof to the embassy?

I added my wife the month after we got married and sent that health insurance card to her to show at her visa interview.

She did not have a SS number and did not live in the US for the first 8 months she was enrolled but she was on the plan.

She was added as “spouse pending SS number” and there is NOT a law requiring a SS number to enroll a spouse or child in your health insurance plan.

Marriage is a qualifying life event.  “Arrival in the US” is not.  They can make you wait until next year’s open enrollment if you don’t take advantage of it now.

Edited October 6, 2019 by Nitas_man

[Boiler 45,516]

2 hours ago, azblk said:

So how much do you think is the cost of health insurance on the individual market and they are no banned from using Obamacare?  How much would it cost some to bring thier parent/s? This is just a round about way to reduce/eliminate green cards for the parents.

They are not banned from the exchange and impossible to say.

Edited October 6, 2019 by Boiler

[ahqs90 3]

1 minute ago, Nitas_man said:

I added my wife the month after we got married and sent that health insurance card to her to show at her visa interview.

She did not have a SS number and did not live in the US for the first 8 months she was enrolled but she was on the plan.

She was added as “spouse pending SS number” and there is NOT a law requiring a SS number to enroll a spouse or child in your health insurance plan.

Marriage is a qualifying life event.  “Arrival in the US” is not.  They can make you wait until next year’s open enrollment if you don’t take advantage of it now.

THANK YOU!! I’ll do that this week! 

[SalishSea 17,829]

1 hour ago, trucphong said:

All,

 

I have tried to add my wife to my health care plan last few days and HR said that they cant do it without SSN or ITN. Company has to provide to IRS the form 1095-B and the law requires SSNs to be reported on Form 1095-B which means they could not add her to my plan. Note that our I-130 petition is still waiting to process and she is not currently in US. Can you guys explain how you guys added your spouse successful? Thanks.

They definitely can.  They can add her pending SSN.  That is how we were able to do it.

[Nitas_man 3,100]

2 hours ago, allanr said:

Does anyone know if this will affect people who already have the visa the approved, but have not yet moved back to the USA?  I'm planning on moving back around mid-November with my wife, who recently got her Immigrant Visa approved.   Will she be asked by immigration officials in the USA for proof of insurance?  She doesn't at this time.

 

Our plan all along was for her to start work a month or two after she arrived in the USA and get insurance in that fashion.   I could also pay for it, but have no plans in place for that yet of course.  I've been more-or-less blindsided by this.

 

 

 

Blindsided by having to cover your healthcare costs

 

2 hours ago, azblk said:

So how much do you think is the cost of health insurance on the individual market and they are no banned from using Obamacare?  How much would it cost some to bring thier parent/s? This is just a round about way to reduce/eliminate green cards for the parents.

Parents who have planned to pay for their own healthcare costs should have no problem.

 

There is otherwise nothing roundabout with directly explaining that US taxpayers are not responsible for any, not one cent, of immigrant parents healthcare costs and if there is an expectation of that then they need to stay home.