ACA insurance and social security card

[pm5k 129]

Can one apply for ACA medical insurance while waiting for their social security card in the mail?  Social security cards take a few weeks to arrive, and of you go to the office they don't tell you the number.  How can someone apply for insurance without a social security number?

 

This link says it's possible but doesn't give any details on how to do it

 

https://blog.bernardbenefits.com/bid/199561/need-healthcare-but-don-t-have-a-social-security-number

[yuna628 9,697]

An SSN is not required to obtain health insurance by law.

[Crazy Cat 42,032]

5 minutes ago, pm5k said:

Can one apply for ACA medical insurance while waiting for their social security card in the mail?  Social security cards take a few weeks to arrive, and of you go to the office they don't tell you the number.  How can someone apply for insurance without a social security number?

 

This link says it's possible but doesn't give any details on how to do it

 

https://blog.bernardbenefits.com/bid/199561/need-healthcare-but-don-t-have-a-social-security-number

A SSN is not required to obtain health insurance.......but it might take you a week to get through to someone who will enroll you without one....good luck.

[pm5k 129]

8 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

An SSN is not required to obtain health insurance by law.

Do you have any legal reference?  I'm trying to figure this out and everyone seems to think that it's required for ACA applications

 

I ask because I was only able to get a subsidy after I quoted IRS form 8962's instructions that talk about Medicaid ineligibility for new immigrants

Edited February 11, 2020 by pm5k
Detail

[Joyoussinger 1,427]

My husband enrolled before his SSN card arrived. We had to upload  his the ID page of his passport and a copy of his I-94. When his card arrived, we uploaded that, too, but he didn't need it to receive coverage.

[pm5k 129]

1 minute ago, Joyoussinger said:

My husband enrolled before his SSN card arrived. We had to upload  his the ID page of his passport and a copy of his I-94. When his card arrived, we uploaded that, too, but he didn't need it to receive coverage.

Via ACA?

[pm5k 129]

15 minutes ago, Joyoussinger said:

My husband enrolled before his SSN card arrived. We had to upload  his the ID page of his passport and a copy of his I-94. When his card arrived, we uploaded that, too, but he didn't need it to receive coverage.

Thanks, this helps a lot!

[Boiler 45,898]

I was given my number when I applied for a SSN, they wrote it down, card to follow.

[yuna628 9,697]

14 minutes ago, pm5k said:

Do you have any legal reference?  I'm trying to figure this out and everyone seems to think that it's required for ACA applications

 

I ask because I was only able to get a subsidy after I quoted IRS form 8962's instructions that talk about Medicaid ineligibility for new immigrants

It's amusing that people think it's required, but it's not. You can thank the ACA law itself for that.

 

Your SSN is a private number, while it may be demanded by certain institutions, a person reserves the right to keep that number confidential at all times. The only person who truly has a right to request the number is the IRS itself. Which brings me to rules the regulations via the IRS here: https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/questions-and-answers-about-reporting-social-security-numbers-to-your-health-insurance-company

 

Quote

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.

 

The ACA documentation handbook guides also instructs the individual helping you sign up in several ways if the individual does not have an SSN, just as any other insurance agency does. Whether via ignorance of the law or intentional obstruction I don't know, but what I do know is, it is a regular and common enough problem that insurance agents should know better. It's been covered on the news, where persons have been wrongfully denied coverage and when CEOs are confronted they will immediately apologize.

 

The problem is in the 1095-B, a document in which the SSNs must be reported to the IRS (of course if they'd only read the instructions they'd see other ways to honor it). Under the law the agency must make good faith attempts, to request the number from the individual at various times. At no point can the individual be coerced, threatened, or denied coverage for not providing it. If the individual still doesn't provide it, then the agency has honored their agreement. If the IRS for some reason wants to know the number directly (because they can't figure out who you are for some weird reason) they are the only ones who may ask you. It makes little difference if you are an immigrant that doesn't have the number yet, or you have it and just don't feel like giving it out.

 

There are hundreds of insurance polices out there. They all say more or less the same thing in the manual. As for the ACA, when you sign up, I admit that you are dealing with a government entity - therefore there is more red-tape for immigrant when applying. For instance you need to provide immigration documents as to your legality, whereas buying via an agency privately (the same ones on the ACA website no less) will ask little questions of you. Neveretheless the rules regarding an SSN are the same. It is not a requirement by law. It's a regular occurrence on this forum to hear stories of immigrants and their USC spouses having to fight this issue.

 

[pm5k 129]

5 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

It's amusing that people think it's required, but it's not. You can thank the ACA law itself for that.

 

Your SSN is a private number, while it may be demanded by certain institutions, a person reserves the right to keep that number confidential at all times. The only person who truly has a right to request the number is the IRS itself. Which brings me to rules the regulations via the IRS here: https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/questions-and-answers-about-reporting-social-security-numbers-to-your-health-insurance-company

 

 

The ACA documentation handbook guides also instructs the individual helping you sign up in several ways if the individual does not have an SSN, just as any other insurance agency does. Whether via ignorance of the law or intentional obstruction I don't know, but what I do know is, it is a regular and common enough problem that insurance agents should know better. It's been covered on the news, where persons have been wrongfully denied coverage and when CEOs are confronted they will immediately apologize.

 

The problem is in the 1095-B, a document in which the SSNs must be reported to the IRS (of course if they'd only read the instructions they'd see other ways to honor it). Under the law the agency must make good faith attempts, to request the number from the individual at various times. At no point can the individual be coerced, threatened, or denied coverage for not providing it. If the individual still doesn't provide it, then the agency has honored their agreement. If the IRS for some reason wants to know the number directly (because they can't figure out who you are for some weird reason) they are the only ones who may ask you. It makes little difference if you are an immigrant that doesn't have the number yet, or you have it and just don't feel like giving it out.

 

There are hundreds of insurance polices out there. They all say more or less the same thing in the manual. As for the ACA, when you sign up, I admit that you are dealing with a government entity - therefore there is more red-tape for immigrant when applying. For instance you need to provide immigration documents as to your legality, whereas buying via an agency privately (the same ones on the ACA website no less) will ask little questions of you. Neveretheless the rules regarding an SSN are the same. It is not a requirement by law. It's a regular occurrence on this forum to hear stories of immigrants and their USC spouses having to fight this issue.

 

Thanks SO MUCH for this information. This helps a LOT!

[pm5k 129]

Does anyone know if the immigrating person can start an ACA application before they enter the US?  This is to make sure that they will have insurance from day 1.  

[Lil bear 4,283]

3 minutes ago, pm5k said:

Does anyone know if the immigrating person can start an ACA application before they enter the US?  This is to make sure that they will have insurance from day 1.  

No it’s not is possible. You dont have a “ qualifying event “ until you have LPR status .. you don’t  have LPR status until you enter at POE. 

Sign up before the 15th of the month and you should be covered from the 1st of the following month. No way to do it quicker. 

Edited February 11, 2020 by Lil bear

[pm5k 129]

1 minute ago, Lil bear said:

No it’s not is possible. You dont have a “ qualifying event “ until you have LPR status .. you don’t  have LPR status until you enter at POE. 

Sign up before the 15th of the month and you should be covered from the 1st of the following month. No way to do it quicker. 

Thanks.  

[ProbeGT 47]

See my post that goes through this process in great detail.  And no, SSN is not required.