New Healthcare Requirements for US Immigrants

[90DayFinancier 910]

2 hours ago, Keem12 said:

That's my plan. I talk to HR because I saw that open enrollment started at the 25th of this month. And they told me to wait for the package(health insurance)  to be sent to my address and then I can sign up for it. So I'm hoping I receive it in the mail soon, so that I can sign for it and then email my wife with the confirmation so that she can print it out.

That sounds like a plan. One item your benefits desk may need to help you with is that she will not have a ss number until you complete the immigration. She is entitled to the insurance regardless.

[Keem12 9]

They told me that I can add her without SS because of the length of our marriage. My main problem is just getting the package in mail in time to sign up and email it to her. Thanks for answering my all questions 👏 

[Keem12 9]

3 hours ago, Keem12 said:

They told me that I can add her without SS because of the length of our marriage. My main problem is just getting the package in mail in time to sign up and email it to her. Thanks for answering my questions 👏 

 

[artcodex 28]

On 10/25/2019 at 5:53 PM, geowrian said:

True. My bet is actual policies were not even in discussion at the time it was made.

Maybe I should have said concepts instead of just policies. I'm personally for requiring the insurance (unless possibly there are very, very significant assets), but there's too few details at this time so it invites chaos and confusion. A better approach, IMO, would have been to work with the healthcare exchanges to first put in a process so new immigrants would at least have that as an option available for a sort of "pre-enroll" - to go into effect upon entry on the visa. Then there would be no issue other than costs (which is a big issue still, but it at least leaves an option available for those who can't join the petitioner's plan and would be verifiable before the visa is issued).

 

Anyway, the point is there were options to do this much better but it appears to have been pushed through instead of planned with other agencies on how to implement it.

Most of it is political. Supporters see this as a win regardless if/how it is implemented same as public charge changes it doesn't matter that it was blocked it's still political capital. So it's hard to say for certain if the administration really want to enforce these policies or cares that much about them being a reality vs just a political talking point. Sometimes it is not results but just good PR that wins favor.

[artcodex 28]

I will say though these are major political games that have huge effects on everyone involved!

[Karim2018 100]

You can stop your debate about implementing or not implementing the new healthcare rule! Peeps who are getting the "Interview Letter" (with the interview date after Nov 3rd) are now also getting an email asking them to bring along a proof of applicant's insurance stating that he/she will be insured after 30 days in the States! Failure to do so (the email says), may result in a VISA DENIAL. I know of two instances already who posted the email they got on a FB group! For those who cannot add their spouse to their employer's insurance (such as yours truly) are left with the option to purchase a private insurance for the applicant which could vary between $4,500+ to $7,500+ per year!

Edited October 29, 2019 by Karim2018

[Karim2018 100]

19 minutes ago, Karim2018 said:

You can stop your debate about implementing or not implementing the new healthcare rule! Peeps who are getting the "Interview Letter" (with the interview date after Nov 3rd) are now also getting an email asking them to bring along a proof of applicant's insurance stating that he/she will be insured after 30 days in the States! Failure to do so (the email says), may result in a VISA DENIAL. I know of two instances already who posted the email they got on a FB group! For those who cannot add their spouse to their employer's insurance (such as yours truly) are left with the option to purchase a private insurance for the applicant which could vary between $4,500+ to $7,500+ per year!

See an excerpt of the email in question! Obviously a lot of details remain to be hashed out such as "approved health insurance" and "reasonably foreseeable medical cost". What's approved and not approved and what constitute reasonable and not reasonable. ZERO GUIDANCE was provided on that!

Edited October 29, 2019 by Karim2018

[geowrian 22,337]

$4,500+ to $7,500 a year is a steal. I'm still fairly young and it's more than 4 digits.

Edited October 29, 2019 by geowrian

[Karim2018 100]

 

3 minutes ago, geowrian said:

$4,500+ to $7,500 a year is a steal. I'm still fairly young and it's more than 4 digits.

You're probably right! That was just a rough estimate. I remember shopping for insurance (to avoid the penalty) a coupe of years back and I was quoted $450/mo and up to 650+/mo for a basic plan.

[90DayFinancier 910]

52 minutes ago, Karim2018 said:

See an excerpt of the email in question! Obviously a lot of details remain to be hashed out such as "approved health insurance" and "reasonably foreseeable medical cost". What's approved and not approved and what constitute reasonable and not reasonable. ZERO GUIDANCE was provided on that!

When you go to .../healthcare do you get complete requirements?

[Karim2018 100]

16 minutes ago, 90DayFinancier said:

When you go to .../healthcare do you get complete requirements?

Thank you, but that still doesn't address the question of "how much is enough"? What's the minimum acceptable coverage? We need guidelines i.e. actual numbers not flowery sentences. Content on that page is very "high-level" at best. COs will be looking at specifics and thresholds and that's what's missing! Things like "have the financial resources to pay for reasonably foreseeable medical costs" What number would you put on that? That's NOT defined at all!

Edited October 29, 2019 by Karim2018

[Keem12 9]

32 minutes ago, Karim2018 said:

Thank you, but that still doesn't address the question of "how much is enough"? What's the minimum acceptable coverage? We need guidelines i.e. actual numbers not flowery sentences. Content on that page is very "high-level" at best. COs will be looking at specifics and thresholds and that's what's missing! Things like "have the financial resources to pay for reasonably foreseeable medical costs" What number would you put on that? That's NOT defined at all!

For persons that can't straight up for insurance, I think at this point they will be checking the affidavit and medical result to help them determine if the persons can get health insurance with the 30days mark.

Edited October 29, 2019 by Keem12

[Keem12 9]

29 minutes ago, Karim2018 said:

Thank you, but that still doesn't address the question of "how much is enough"? What's the minimum acceptable coverage? We need guidelines i.e. actual numbers not flowery sentences. Content on that page is very "high-level" at best. COs will be looking at specifics and thresholds and that's what's missing! Things like "have the financial resources to pay for reasonably foreseeable medical costs" What number would you put on that? That's NOT defined at all!

 

[90DayFinancier 910]

37 minutes ago, Karim2018 said:

Thank you, but that still doesn't address the question of "how much is enough"? What's the minimum acceptable coverage? We need guidelines i.e. actual numbers not flowery sentences. Content on that page is very "high-level" at best. COs will be looking at specifics and thresholds and that's what's missing! Things like "have the financial resources to pay for reasonably foreseeable medical costs" What number would you put on that? That's NOT defined at all!

These people are insane, and cruel. 

One should not play with the emotions in this manner. The state department needs to get their act together. A very sad day for Americans.

 

[SalishSea 17,836]

2 hours ago, Karim2018 said:

You can stop your debate about implementing or not implementing the new healthcare rule! Peeps who are getting the "Interview Letter" (with the interview date after Nov 3rd) are now also getting an email asking them to bring along a proof of applicant's insurance stating that he/she will be insured after 30 days in the States! Failure to do so (the email says), may result in a VISA DENIAL. I know of two instances already who posted the email they got on a FB group! For those who cannot add their spouse to their employer's insurance (such as yours truly) are left with the option to purchase a private insurance for the applicant which could vary between $4,500+ to $7,500+ per year!

Yup, this is just part of the cost of living in the United States.   It is irresponsible for anyone living here (USC, LPR, whatever) not to plan for that.