Health insurance - where to start?

[Sofitalian 134]

Hello all,

 

I should be getting my IR1 visa soon (fingers crossed) and am planning to move to US this year. 

 

My husband is self-employed and doesn't have health insurance in US. ACA open enrollment period in his State will be Nov 1-Dec 15. We hope to make use of the open enrollment to get health insurance for both of us. 

 

- Should I aim for my POE before Nov 1, or does it matter? My current plan is to fly in around mid Nov but if there's any merit of going earlier, I will adjust my plan.

- I'm considering buying short-term medical insurance to cover the period from my POE to the ACA plan starts. How long does it take normally for ACA plan to be effective?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice or tips.

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

34 minutes ago, mave said:

Hello all,

 

I should be getting my IR1 visa soon (fingers crossed) and am planning to move to US this year. 

 

My husband is self-employed and doesn't have health insurance in US. ACA open enrollment period in his State will be Nov 1-Dec 15. We hope to make use of the open enrollment to get health insurance for both of us. 

 

- Should I aim for my POE before Nov 1, or does it matter? My current plan is to fly in around mid Nov but if there's any merit of going earlier, I will adjust my plan.

- I'm considering buying short-term medical insurance to cover the period from my POE to the ACA plan starts. How long does it take normally for ACA plan to be effective?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice or tips.

You can arrive at any time. Immigration is a qualifying life even that will enable you to enroll via the ACA. https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/ The plan will become effective the day you make your first premium payment. Please look into the details of the short term medical insurance before you purchase it because they may not cover immigrants. Husband will have to wait for open enrollment to obtain insurance for himself.

Edited July 25, 2020 by Luckycuds

[Sofitalian 134]

2 hours ago, Luckycuds said:

You can arrive at any time. Immigration is a qualifying life even that will enable you to enroll via the ACA. https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/ The plan will become effective the day you make your first premium payment. Please look into the details of the short term medical insurance before you purchase it because they may not cover immigrants. Husband will have to wait for open enrollment to obtain insurance for himself.

Thanks for the advice. 

If I move to US in early-mid Nov, should I enroll ACA together with my husband? Or should he go ahead by himself once the enrolment period starts on Nov 1?

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

42 minutes ago, mave said:

Thanks for the advice. 

If I move to US in early-mid Nov, should I enroll ACA together with my husband? Or should he go ahead by himself once the enrolment period starts on Nov 1?

You are welcome. As far as enrolling together or separate that is your choice; I don’t think you would save money by enrolling together (that would be the only benefit I see 🙂) I would suggest to both get insured ASAP- whether it’s the same day or if one qualifies for coverage earlier than the other.

[Sofitalian 134]

12 hours ago, Luckycuds said:

You are welcome. As far as enrolling together or separate that is your choice; I don’t think you would save money by enrolling together (that would be the only benefit I see 🙂) I would suggest to both get insured ASAP- whether it’s the same day or if one qualifies for coverage earlier than the other.

Awesome, thanks again.

[Sofitalian 134]

I wasn't asked about DS5540 at my interview. If they ask me at POE if I have any insurance within 30 days of entry, will it be ok to say that I'll enrol into the ACA? I have a health insurance in place in my hometown that should cover my medical expenses in the short period.

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*moved from “IR-1/CR-1 spouse visa process and procedures” to “moving to the USA” where similar topics are discussed”*~*~*

[millefleur 5,046]

On 7/25/2020 at 5:43 AM, mave said:

How long does it take normally for ACA plan to be effective?

The new plan you enroll in should start the following month I believe. I don't think it's retroactive so that short term interim plan is probably a good idea.

 

11 hours ago, mave said:

If they ask me at POE if I have any insurance within 30 days of entry, will it be ok to say that I'll enrol into the ACA?

That seems fair to me. As a green card holder (IR-1), you qualify to enroll in an ACA plan so I don't see why they'd object to that.