Green Card Interview

[K + M 47]

Our green card interview is March 10th, we are working on putting our paperwork together, all req'd documents, and evidence of legit marriage.

 

This post is specifically about Health Insurance. 

 

Our situation is that neither me or my wife have Health Insurance atm

 

Going along our situation, we are actively looking in the market for a Health Insurance plan for us both, and researching all our options, financially and everything else.  

 

While we are actively looking in the open market for a Health Insurance plan, my question here for this post is in regards to not having any concerns in regards from the officer if this may come up in the interview for public charge possibilities should a medical emergency come up, would short term health insurance from the open market do justice to not raise concerns for the possibility of public charge, while we are looking and deciding on the open market for full term health insurance.

 

Our application for I-485 was filed pre final rule for public charge, I am working full time, and we have a joint-sponsor who is also working full time, along with a household member(I-864a).

 

Can we go with the short term health insurance for now while we look on the open market, then later down the road once we find a plan me and my wife are both happy with swap to that?

 

 

Thank you in advance!  

 

[Joyoussinger 1,425]

8 hours ago, Kerri and Myles said:

Our green card interview is March 10th, we are working on putting our paperwork together, all req'd documents, and evidence of legit marriage.

 

This post is specifically about Health Insurance. 

 

Our situation is that neither me or my wife have Health Insurance atm

 

Going along our situation, we are actively looking in the market for a Health Insurance plan for us both, and researching all our options, financially and everything else.  

 

While we are actively looking in the open market for a Health Insurance plan, my question here for this post is in regards to not having any concerns in regards from the officer if this may come up in the interview for public charge possibilities should a medical emergency come up, would short term health insurance from the open market do justice to not raise concerns for the possibility of public charge, while we are looking and deciding on the open market for full term health insurance.

 

Our application for I-485 was filed pre final rule for public charge, I am working full time, and we have a joint-sponsor who is also working full time, along with a household member(I-864a).

 

Can we go with the short term health insurance for now while we look on the open market, then later down the road once we find a plan me and my wife are both happy with swap to that?

 

 

Thank you in advance!  

 

My husband and I both have subsidized Marketplace insurance. It's not a problem 

[K + M 47]

2 hours ago, Joyoussinger said:

My husband and I both have subsidized Marketplace insurance. It's not a problem 

what exactly is a subsidized marketplace insurance?

[yuna628 9,671]

12 hours ago, Kerri and Myles said:

Our green card interview is March 10th, we are working on putting our paperwork together, all req'd documents, and evidence of legit marriage.

 

This post is specifically about Health Insurance. 

 

Our situation is that neither me or my wife have Health Insurance atm

 

Going along our situation, we are actively looking in the market for a Health Insurance plan for us both, and researching all our options, financially and everything else.  

 

While we are actively looking in the open market for a Health Insurance plan, my question here for this post is in regards to not having any concerns in regards from the officer if this may come up in the interview for public charge possibilities should a medical emergency come up, would short term health insurance from the open market do justice to not raise concerns for the possibility of public charge, while we are looking and deciding on the open market for full term health insurance.

 

Our application for I-485 was filed pre final rule for public charge, I am working full time, and we have a joint-sponsor who is also working full time, along with a household member(I-864a).

 

Can we go with the short term health insurance for now while we look on the open market, then later down the road once we find a plan me and my wife are both happy with swap to that?

 

 

Thank you in advance!  

 

Things you need to know: open enrollment is over, and you likely have waited too long to qualify under an SQLE for special enrollment. So the exchange is out for you right now. I'd strongly consider both of you find a plan over there when the time comes. It's good co-mingling evidence and helps protect you in the future.

 

Do you have the ability to work yet? If so try and seek out a job that offers insurance, would be the next best bet.

 

If you don't have any of these options yet, I'd suggest buying privately if there is any insurer in your area that has access to a full ACA plan if available. Your last option is going to be short term or term insurance. But you're going to find that your coverage will likely do nothing for prescriptions, have limited coverage with high copays and high deductibles, no OBGYN or baby care.

 

You are aware that living in the state of NJ without comprehensive coverage does give you a tax penalty ever year? While there is no federal mandate tax penalty anymore, states are allowed to do so if they want - and NJ is one of them.

 

Ehealthinsurance may be able to help you sort through options. Or you can speak to a certified health insurance assistant.

 

You filed before the rule of the 24th, so while you may not be asked for in-depth info, they have always considered health insurance as a positive factor (why wouldn't they?) So they may ask what you intend to do with yourselves. You have a long way to go for open enrollment, I'd try and find something sooner than later.

 

By subsidized marketplace insurance, the other poster means they obtained their insurance via the exchange and I will assume qualified to have their insurance with a tax credit at a reduced rate. This is not the norm for most people using it.

Edited February 26, 2020 by yuna628

[K + M 47]

1 minute ago, yuna628 said:

Things you need to know: open enrollment is over, and you likely have waited too long to qualify under an SQLE for special enrollment. So the exchange is out for you right now. I'd strongly consider both of you find a plan over there when the time comes. It's good co-mingling evidence and helps protect you in the future.

 

Do you have the ability to work yet? If so try and seek out a job that offers insurance, would be the next best bet.

 

If you don't have any of these options yet, I'd suggest buying privately if there is any insurer in your area that has access to a full ACA plan if available. Your last option is going to be short term or term insurance. But you're going to find that your coverage will likely do nothing for prescriptions, have limited coverage with high copays and high deductibles, no OBGYN or baby care.

 

You are aware that living in the state of NJ without comprehensive coverage does give you a tax penalty ever year? While there is no federal mandate tax penalty anymore, states are allowed to do so if they want - and NJ is one of them.

 

Ehealthinsurance may be able to help you sort through options. Or you can speak to a certified health insurance assistant.

 

You filed before the rule of the 24th, so while you may not be asked for in-depth info, they have always considered health insurance as a positive factor (why wouldn't they?) So they may ask what you intend to do with yourselves. You have a long way to go for open enrollment, I'd try and find something sooner than later.

We absolutely agree with everything you are stating, although that is not what this post is about.  The state we live in does not have a mandate tax, the reason for this post is to simply ask this question - would short term health insurance from the open market do justice to not raise concerns for the possibility of public charge, while we are looking and deciding on the open market for full term health insurance. 

 

We are actively looking on the open market, and trying to find a plan that best suits our needs and everything else, but our interview is close, and that is why we asked that question.

[yuna628 9,671]

7 minutes ago, Kerri and Myles said:

We absolutely agree with everything you are stating, although that is not what this post is about.  The state we live in does not have a mandate tax, the reason for this post is to simply ask this question - would short term health insurance from the open market do justice to not raise concerns for the possibility of public charge, while we are looking and deciding on the open market for full term health insurance. 

 

We are actively looking on the open market, and trying to find a plan that best suits our needs and everything else, but our interview is close, and that is why we asked that question.

Sure, I just wanted to make sure that you weren't in one of those few states like the other poster that has a mandate fee. I don't think anyone can tell you what the IO is going to ask or what you can do to satisfy them about public charge stuff. Not having insurance vs having something no matter how crappy it is has got to be some sort of a positive, because you're showing you're at least taking some steps for coverage. They are going to look at the totality of your evidence.

[K + M 47]

1 minute ago, yuna628 said:

Sure, I just wanted to make sure that you weren't in one of those few states like the other poster that has a mandate fee. I don't think anyone can tell you what the IO is going to ask or what you can do to satisfy them about public charge stuff. Not having insurance vs having something no matter how crappy it is has got to be some sort of a positive, because you're showing you're at least taking some steps for coverage. They are going to look at the totality of your evidence.

That's exactly what we were thinking, we are looking into premium tax credits towards health insurance, is the only way to figure out how much of a premium tax credit one can get is to see if qualify after enrolling/applying on healthcare.gov and seeing the prices of the plans?  Would the premium tax credit (if eligible) be automatically applied to the monthly premium?  

[K + M 47]

7 hours ago, Kerri and Myles said:

That's exactly what we were thinking, we are looking into premium tax credits towards health insurance, is the only way to figure out how much of a premium tax credit one can get is to see if qualify after enrolling/applying on healthcare.gov and seeing the prices of the plans?  Would the premium tax credit (if eligible) be automatically applied to the monthly premium?  

Including this post we have found out that premium tax credits are based upon ones income 100%-400% of FPL, and that demonstrates along with one's household size how much of a premium tax credit they would get towards their healthcare premium every month.  Working on getting the application done, if you purchase healthcare through healthcare.gov does it go into affect immediately like travelers insurance or is there a wait time before one's health insurance is active?

[K + M 47]

Also wanted to ask during the application for healthcare.gov they ask to input Social Security Number, and if the name matches the name on Social Security Card.

 

She still has her maiden name on her Social Security Card, would it cause any issues putting this that her name appears differently than her married name on her social, I'm guessing would just tell healthcare.gov after we have it changed on her social with EAD that her social security card now has her married name on it?

[Lil bear 4,189]

2 hours ago, Kerri and Myles said:

Including this post we have found out that premium tax credits are based upon ones income 100%-400% of FPL, and that demonstrates along with one's household size how much of a premium tax credit they would get towards their healthcare premium every month.  Working on getting the application done, if you purchase healthcare through healthcare.gov does it go into affect immediately like travelers insurance or is there a wait time before one's health insurance is active?

Usually if you complete the application before the 15th of a month, it becomes effective the 1st of the next month. Miss that and you may be waiting until the 1st of the month after that 

[K + M 47]

2 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Usually if you complete the application before the 15th of a month, it becomes effective the 1st of the next month. Miss that and you may be waiting until the 1st of the month after that 

Went through the application and figured it all out, after everything doesn't seem like we will be able to get premium tax credits, figuring out all the best options, and seeing exactly what we can do.

 

Looks like the best bet for the near future is going to be to get some form of short term healthcare insurance to atleast have something while we figure out exactly what we are going to be doing for the long term.  

 

Not the best, but better than nothing.

Edited February 27, 2020 by Kerri and Myles

[Lil bear 4,189]

9 hours ago, Kerri and Myles said:

That's exactly what we were thinking, we are looking into premium tax credits towards health insurance, is the only way to figure out how much of a premium tax credit one can get is to see if qualify after enrolling/applying on healthcare.gov and seeing the prices of the plans?  Would the premium tax credit (if eligible) be automatically applied to the monthly premium?  

Yes. The PTC is applied to each monthly premium , reducing what you pay for each month. Be aware that , if your income at tax filing time , exceeds the estimated income upon which the amount of PTC was calculated, that you will

face paying that gap back

with  your taxes 

Edited February 27, 2020 by Lil bear

[Lil bear 4,189]

1 minute ago, Kerri and Myles said:

Went through the application and figured it all out, after everything doesn't seem like we will be able to get premium tax credits, figuring out all the best options, and seeing exactly what we can do.

 

Looks like the best bet for the near future is going to be to get some form of short term healthcare insurance to atleast have something while we figure out exactly what we are going to be doing for the long term.  

 

Not the best, but better than nothing.

Catastrophic coverage .. as the short term insurance is , is better than nothing and should be adequate for demonstrating ability to not become public charge .. should !!! 

[K + M 47]

Just now, Lil bear said:

Catastrophic coverage .. as the short term insurance is , is better than nothing and should be adequate for demonstrating ability to not become public charge .. should !!! 

That's exactly what we were thinking with the GC interview coming up on the 10th, our application was dated prior to 2/24 so that is a plus while we get this insurance all figured out.

[K + M 47]

5 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Catastrophic coverage .. as the short term insurance is , is better than nothing and should be adequate for demonstrating ability to not become public charge .. should !!! 

curious on where exactly to find good short term insurance, any suggestions?  we are finding for wife+spouse to be $66/month

Edited February 27, 2020 by Kerri and Myles