Health Insurance: My Wife employer is asking a proof I dont have insurance in my home country

[TBoneTX 46,067]

There are other threads in which to discuss the coronavirus, and that subordinate point of the OP's concern has been discussed here, so please return to the chief point of the topic.

[m747 7]

Thank you so much to all of you who were empathic with the question and gave me advices and told me their experiences.

Here is what we are gonna do, based on the suggestions you guys gave us: I will write a letter explaining briefly whats my current condition, that my "Heathcare" is only valid in argentina and sign it. I'll add some links that explain how the universal health care here works, and then my wife will send another email explaining the situation.

 

Thanks a lot again to everyone!

 

10 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

OP, you might want to get a travel insurance plan as well.  Most people aren't covered the minute they set foot in the US.

Thanks for the suggestion! Is there any travel insurance company you recommend ? In the past I used to have travel insurance every time i visited the US to visit my wife. Back in that time, I used to pay like 50 dollars per week for a 1 Million coverage policy with no deductibles. Now, with the covid situation, the same company is chargin $120 per week with only 150.000 coverage.

 

 

9 hours ago, user555 said:

It depends on what her insurance provider's policy is. You should be able to look it up online to see if that's a fair question for them to ask. As far as your claim that "in Argentina, health insurance is universal and free," it is is not universal and it is not free. It is a domestic policy that only applies to within your country's borders, and your tax rate is much higher than the US, so you're paying for it through taxes. Welcome to the US where your tax rate will be much lower! As far as your fear of getting the coranavirus, 92% of the USA has not had a confirmed case, and of the 8% that did have it, 95% of people recovered. According to the CDC, at this time,  you are more likely to die from unintentional injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, poisoning, and falls, than the coronavirus. 

You should check your information, my friend.

While taxes in Argentina are way higher than in the US, that is because of massive social security programs here.

Regarding to the healthcare system, in 2017 the US spent 17.06% of its GDP in Health Care, while in the same year Argentina spent 9.12% of it GDP.

 

I know that it's not "free", as its sustained by tax payers, but it indeed is Universal. Universal does not mean that it covers you anywhere in the universe. It means It covers any person that is in the countrie's territory. It doesnt matter if you are citizen, legal immigrant, illegal immigrant or a tourist. Just as an example, I know a guy who had cancer traveled from the US to argentina, and purposedly overstayed his tourist permit to got diagnosed, treated and cured for cancer. He then returned to the US after more than a year. He didnt pay a cent of a dollar.

 

And, finally, regarding the chances of getting coronavirus in the US, I'm not "panicking" about it. The reason I'm afraid is because to get to my wife's city, i have to take 3 planes, 2 of which arrive/depart in Florida and Texas, the current covid "hotspots". I agree with you that the chances of getting it are pretty low, but I never asked "how can i NOT get covid". I know its a risk I have to face, and if I end having the virus, it would be more than awesome if I'm covered.

 

Thanks.

[SETETA 204]

20 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

You can enroll in any health insurance plan, on two periods: open enrollment -which is at the end of each year- or after a qualifying life event -such as marriage-.

 

My guess is that, as you're already married, in order to add you immediately after you arrive, so you don't have to wait for the open enrollment period, they require a "loss of coverage" letter -which is a qualifying life event-.

 

Whether or not my speculation is right, you can submit a letter explaining the type of coverage/healthcare you had in Argentina, why and when you lost it or will lose it, and the reason why you can't provide "official" documents.

Immigrating to the USA counts as a qualifying life event according to my insurance company. Please check with yours first.

[geowrian 22,338]

12 minutes ago, SETETA said:

Immigrating to the USA counts as a qualifying life event according to my insurance company. Please check with yours first.

It must be a QLE for any ACA-compliant plan. including employer-sponsored plans.

https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/

Quote

Changes in residence

Household moves that qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period:

• Moving to the U.S. from a foreign country or United States territory

 

[SalishSea 18,125]

11 hours ago, m747 said:

Thank you so much to all of you who were empathic with the question and gave me advices and told me their experiences.

Here is what we are gonna do, based on the suggestions you guys gave us: I will write a letter explaining briefly whats my current condition, that my "Heathcare" is only valid in argentina and sign it. I'll add some links that explain how the universal health care here works, and then my wife will send another email explaining the situation.

 

Thanks a lot again to everyone!

 

Thanks for the suggestion! Is there any travel insurance company you recommend ? In the past I used to have travel insurance every time i visited the US to visit my wife. Back in that time, I used to pay like 50 dollars per week for a 1 Million coverage policy with no deductibles. Now, with the covid situation, the same company is chargin $120 per week with only 150.000 coverage.

 

 

You should check your information, my friend.

While taxes in Argentina are way higher than in the US, that is because of massive social security programs here.

Regarding to the healthcare system, in 2017 the US spent 17.06% of its GDP in Health Care, while in the same year Argentina spent 9.12% of it GDP.

 

I know that it's not "free", as its sustained by tax payers, but it indeed is Universal. Universal does not mean that it covers you anywhere in the universe. It means It covers any person that is in the countrie's territory. It doesnt matter if you are citizen, legal immigrant, illegal immigrant or a tourist. Just as an example, I know a guy who had cancer traveled from the US to argentina, and purposedly overstayed his tourist permit to got diagnosed, treated and cured for cancer. He then returned to the US after more than a year. He didnt pay a cent of a dollar.

 

And, finally, regarding the chances of getting coronavirus in the US, I'm not "panicking" about it. The reason I'm afraid is because to get to my wife's city, i have to take 3 planes, 2 of which arrive/depart in Florida and Texas, the current covid "hotspots". I agree with you that the chances of getting it are pretty low, but I never asked "how can i NOT get covid". I know its a risk I have to face, and if I end having the virus, it would be more than awesome if I'm covered.

 

Thanks.

Hi OP,

 

My husband used travel insurance from NZ when he visited the US.  He purchased a plan that covered him for multiple trips, over like a year.  It did not cover pre-existing conditions (common for travel insurance plans).  Once we got married, I added him to my workplace plan. 

 

Btw, sorry to hear that Covid has screwed over the travel insurance industry!  I guess it is not surprising.  I would just do what you can - after all, it is only to cover unexpected illness or injury.  Any chronic conditions can be addressed when you have a US-based insurance plan.

Edited July 6, 2020 by Jorgedig

[m747 7]

Quick update for anyone in the same situation as me, regarding a Travel Insurance or "New Immigrants" insurance:

 

I have contacted a US Insurance Broker that specializes in travel and New Immigrants short-Term Health Insurance. Their answer is that while they do offer insurance for new immigrants, none of their plans (and they work with a lot of different health care providers) do include COVID-19 coverage.

They also told me that purchasing a Travel Insurance is not an option for a new immigrant as its against the terms and conditions, and not only it would be considered fraud but also the insurance wont pay any medical bill.

 

 

Hopefully, my wife's job will add me to her plan retroactively to July 1st. We sent a letter explaining my "non-loss of coverage situation". Otherwise I think ill postpone my immigration to the US until its safer. 

[TBoneTX 46,067]

Thanks for the update and your reasoning.  All the best to you.

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[Ban Hammer 13,512]

thread closed per op request