New Healthcare Requirements for US Immigrants

[designguy 1,179]

3 minutes ago, Flowerkira said:

My sponsor who is my spouse doesnt have any kind of insurance, can anyone please suggest  what to do?

Were you intending to immigrate to the US and not attain any type of insurance?

[Hemutian 68]

On 10/6/2019 at 1:27 PM, missileman said:

Adjustment of Status applicants will be required to complete an I-944 (part of which I have attached).  It addresses health care as well as public benefits.....Tricare is sufficient coverage...

 

Just to be sure,

Only AOS filers filing after October 15, 2019 are required to submit I-944, right?

My wife entered the US on a K1 10 days ago. We got married 4 days ago, and are planning to mail her I-485 and other AOS documents this week, i.e. before the new rules go into effect on October 15, so I'm assuming we do NOT need the I-944. Is that correct?

[Flowerkira 3]

18 minutes ago, designguy said:

Were you intending to immigrate to the US and not attain any type of insurance?

I plan to buy myself an insurance once i reach there i am waiting for interview right now.

[Justus Forever 85]

Hello all I belong to this group on facebook and someone just asked about this topic not this one but you know lol. So the guy that is helping eveyone and other people mentioned visitor health insurance this is for those that didn't know because i didn't i was just playing around with it on my lunch break and the pricing is not bad for me for a minium of 71 days for my husband and 2 daughters was like 353 a month not bad now i didn't have time to read or get into it but just to have insurance for me until enrollment this would be cool. but like i said i did not read all just brushed thru it and thought i would share. https://www.visitorscoverage.com/green-card-insurance/quotes/ please please read if you don't know anything about it i just typed in visitor health.

[Crazy Cat 41,888]

6 minutes ago, Hemutian said:

Just to be sure,

Only AOS filers filing after October 15, 2019 are required to submit I-944, right?

My wife entered the US on a K1 10 days ago. We got married 4 days ago, and are planning to mail her I-485 and other AOS documents this week, i.e. before the new rules go into effect on October 15, so I'm assuming we do NOT need the I-944. Is that correct?

That is my understanding.....yes.

[artcodex 28]

19 minutes ago, Justus Forever said:

Hello all I belong to this group on facebook and someone just asked about this topic not this one but you know lol. So the guy that is helping eveyone and other people mentioned visitor health insurance this is for those that didn't know because i didn't i was just playing around with it on my lunch break and the pricing is not bad for me for a minium of 71 days for my husband and 2 daughters was like 353 a month not bad now i didn't have time to read or get into it but just to have insurance for me until enrollment this would be cool. but like i said i did not read all just brushed thru it and thought i would share. https://www.visitorscoverage.com/green-card-insurance/quotes/ please please read if you don't know anything about it i just typed in visitor health.

 

yeah I'm hoping with time there is clarification about whether plans like this are acceptable for proof of medical insurance. The actual wording in the executive action does mention plans that cover 364 days which some of these do. These are pretty reasonable for the purpose they serve.

[BrentV 0]

I am waiting for my mothers interview to be scheduled in the Philippines.  She is coming over on an IR5.  My mother is 65.  My mother is a housewife with no assets in the Philippines.  My husband and I make 150k a year with only one son.  We can afford to pay her health insurance for her.  Does anyone know how to go about proving to them that we will have insurance for her in 30 days.  We can buy unsubsidized health insurance on the marketplace for her, but they said they would need a social security number.  Also, does my mom have to show she can pay for the insurance, or can we use my husband and I's finances to prove we can pay for the health insurance?

[geowrian 22,337]

40 minutes ago, Hemutian said:

Only AOS filers filing after October 15, 2019 are required to submit I-944, right?

My wife entered the US on a K1 10 days ago. We got married 4 days ago, and are planning to mail her I-485 and other AOS documents this week, i.e. before the new rules go into effect on October 15, so I'm assuming we do NOT need the I-944. Is that correct?

The (final) I-944 isn't even available yet, so it would be impossible to provide it.

 

33 minutes ago, Justus Forever said:

Hello all I belong to this group on facebook and someone just asked about this topic not this one but you know lol. So the guy that is helping eveyone and other people mentioned visitor health insurance this is for those that didn't know because i didn't i was just playing around with it on my lunch break and the pricing is not bad for me for a minium of 71 days for my husband and 2 daughters was like 353 a month not bad now i didn't have time to read or get into it but just to have insurance for me until enrollment this would be cool. but like i said i did not read all just brushed thru it and thought i would share. https://www.visitorscoverage.com/green-card-insurance/quotes/ please please read if you don't know anything about it i just typed in visitor health.

The 2 types of possibly relevant  plans I see on there are for either visitors or green card holders.

The former is unlikely to actually provide coverage as they are not a visitor. Looking through the FAQs for the plans on the first page, they all have lines along the following

"Q1:Am I eligible for the Inbound Guest plan?
If you are a non-United States citizen traveling to the U.S. for a short trip, you are eligible for this plan."

"Q1: Am I eligible for the Safe Travels for Visitors to the USA plan?

If you are a non-United States citizen traveling to the U.S. for business, pleasure, to study, you are eligible for this plan."

"Q1. Am I eligible for the CoverAmerica - Gold?

The CoverAmerica - Gold plan is available for: Any non-US citizen or resident, visiting the USA, for a short period of time. ... It is not available for US citizens, US Green Card Holders or long term visa holders, who stay in the USA permanently, and pay taxes in the USA."

"Q1: Am I eligible for the Patriot America Plus Plan?

The Patriot America Plus Plan is available for any non-US Resident, visiting the USA for a short period of time. It is available for US citizens, and Non US citizens who live outside USA permanently, and are traveling to the USA for a short time."

 

The rest of the plans use less definitive language, which I would presume an insurer would argue in their behalf to not payout a claim.

 

The latter requires a green card first.

[geowrian 22,337]

Just now, BrentV said:

I am waiting for my mothers interview to be scheduled in the Philippines.  She is coming over on an IR5.  My mother is 65.  My mother is a housewife with no assets in the Philippines.  My husband and I make 150k a year with only one son.  We can afford to pay her health insurance for her.  Does anyone know how to go about proving to them that we will have insurance for her in 30 days.  We can buy unsubsidized health insurance on the marketplace for her, but they said they would need a social security number.  Also, does my mom have to show she can pay for the insurance, or can we use my husband and I's finances to prove we can pay for the health insurance?

IR-5 is exempt from actual coverage requirements so long as they have a suitable sponsor. That said, it's not uncommon to get and provide some quotes of plans that they intend to obtain.

[Boiler 45,525]

3 minutes ago, BrentV said:

I am waiting for my mothers interview to be scheduled in the Philippines.  She is coming over on an IR5.  My mother is 65.  My mother is a housewife with no assets in the Philippines.  My husband and I make 150k a year with only one son.  We can afford to pay her health insurance for her.  Does anyone know how to go about proving to them that we will have insurance for her in 30 days.  We can buy unsubsidized health insurance on the marketplace for her, but they said they would need a social security number.  Also, does my mom have to show she can pay for the insurance, or can we use my husband and I's finances to prove we can pay for the health insurance?

I assume you have worked out how you are going to pay for her future medical needs as it will fall upon you, obviously the details vary but 5 years through the Exchange and then buy into Medicare?

 

I guess that is in current money $15,000 a year?

 

So show whatever the costs are and that you have the savings/income to cover it.

[SalishSea 17,836]

32 minutes ago, geowrian said:

The (final) I-944 isn't even available yet, so it would be impossible to provide it.

 

The 2 types of possibly relevant  plans I see on there are for either visitors or green card holders.

The former is unlikely to actually provide coverage as they are not a visitor. Looking through the FAQs for the plans on the first page, they all have lines along the following

"Q1:Am I eligible for the Inbound Guest plan?
If you are a non-United States citizen traveling to the U.S. for a short trip, you are eligible for this plan."

"Q1: Am I eligible for the Safe Travels for Visitors to the USA plan?

If you are a non-United States citizen traveling to the U.S. for business, pleasure, to study, you are eligible for this plan."

"Q1. Am I eligible for the CoverAmerica - Gold?

The CoverAmerica - Gold plan is available for: Any non-US citizen or resident, visiting the USA, for a short period of time. ... It is not available for US citizens, US Green Card Holders or long term visa holders, who stay in the USA permanently, and pay taxes in the USA."

"Q1: Am I eligible for the Patriot America Plus Plan?

The Patriot America Plus Plan is available for any non-US Resident, visiting the USA for a short period of time. It is available for US citizens, and Non US citizens who live outside USA permanently, and are traveling to the USA for a short time."

 

The rest of the plans use less definitive language, which I would presume an insurer would argue in their behalf to not payout a claim.

 

The latter requires a green card first.

Makes it tricky for the K-1s, since they are NIVs that can result in a green card.  

[Boiler 45,525]

2 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Makes it tricky for the K-1s, since they are NIVs that can result in a green card.  

From an Insurance perspective a K 1 is migrating.

[artcodex 28]

42 minutes ago, BrentV said:

I am waiting for my mothers interview to be scheduled in the Philippines.  She is coming over on an IR5.  My mother is 65.  My mother is a housewife with no assets in the Philippines.  My husband and I make 150k a year with only one son.  We can afford to pay her health insurance for her.  Does anyone know how to go about proving to them that we will have insurance for her in 30 days.  We can buy unsubsidized health insurance on the marketplace for her, but they said they would need a social security number.  Also, does my mom have to show she can pay for the insurance, or can we use my husband and I's finances to prove we can pay for the health insurance?

You'll need to wait for guidance but the new proclamation doesn't require IR-5 applicants to have or proof health insurance it requires them though to prove that health issues won't become a burden (as per the wording). We all need to wait for further guidance and lawyers to catch up and write articles on this.

 

This is section where IR-5 is not included in proclamation but stipulates IR-5 requirements:

 

(iv)    any alien seeking to enter the United States pursuant to an IR-5 visa, provided that the alien or the alien’s sponsor demonstrates to the satisfaction of the consular officer that the alien’s healthcare will not impose a substantial burden on the United States healthcare system;

[yuna628 9,676]

1 hour ago, Flowerkira said:

My sponsor who is my spouse doesnt have any kind of insurance, can anyone please suggest  what to do?

 

What are their reasons for not being insured? And as for what to do? Ideally, it would for your spouse to obtain coverage and then add you to their coverage as their spouse.

1 hour ago, Flowerkira said:

I plan to buy myself an insurance once i reach there i am waiting for interview right now.

You can certainly do that, just be aware it will be very expensive, and you will not be taking advantage of important comingling. You may also terminate any plan you purchase if you are offered a plan via a workplace or your spouse finally decides to get joint coverage.

1 hour ago, Justus Forever said:

Hello all I belong to this group on facebook and someone just asked about this topic not this one but you know lol. So the guy that is helping eveyone and other people mentioned visitor health insurance this is for those that didn't know because i didn't i was just playing around with it on my lunch break and the pricing is not bad for me for a minium of 71 days for my husband and 2 daughters was like 353 a month not bad now i didn't have time to read or get into it but just to have insurance for me until enrollment this would be cool. but like i said i did not read all just brushed thru it and thought i would share. https://www.visitorscoverage.com/green-card-insurance/quotes/ please please read if you don't know anything about it i just typed in visitor health.

These type of insurances really do not cover LPRs. They tend to cover visitors. That's the big key in the website title as you can see. There are a few different types of insurances that offer short term coverage to immigrants and visitors, but you have to sort through them. Keep in mind these are still all short term coverage, are not ACA compliant, they DO NOT cover pre-existing conditions either. Coverage offered is dubious and if you are going to shell out $353 a month you'd be wiser to invest that amount in a real health insurance plan.

[artcodex 28]

47 minutes ago, BrentV said:

I am waiting for my mothers interview to be scheduled in the Philippines.  She is coming over on an IR5.  My mother is 65.  My mother is a housewife with no assets in the Philippines.  My husband and I make 150k a year with only one son.  We can afford to pay her health insurance for her.  Does anyone know how to go about proving to them that we will have insurance for her in 30 days.  We can buy unsubsidized health insurance on the marketplace for her, but they said they would need a social security number.  Also, does my mom have to show she can pay for the insurance, or can we use my husband and I's finances to prove we can pay for the health insurance?

Just to add further you and your husband have to prove the funds for insurance as you are her sponsor. I'm pretty sure vast majority of IR-5 cases are individuals who won't be in U.S. working or earning high salaries and rely on sponsor as proof of income to afford things.

Edited October 8, 2019 by artcodex