Returning to USA, catch covid, not yet covered by insurance

[Bill Hamze 89]

If a USC has been living abroad with spouse and the spouse gets a IR1/CR1 visa - and assuming neither has gotten vaccinated yet - what steps do they need to take to protect themselves financially in case either one or both catch covid on the way to the US or immediately upon entry, and has not yet had a chance to obtain health insurance coverage? 
 

Is there a way they can buy insurance that does cover treatment/hospitalization for covid just right before they enter the US?

For context, our case is at NVC and haven’t paid the fees yet. When we do move forward with the fees and IV application depends on whether we can get covered in case of infection upon entering the US (or if we can get a vaccine before going there). Lots of moving parts and unknowns, so I’ve been sitting on the case until things clear up.
 

Last thing I want is to bring my family to the US, get infected before buying insurance, and rack up a huge medical bill. 
 

Thanks in advance (and please no covid-related politics). 

Edited March 6, 2021 by Bill Hamze

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

PLEASE do not travel if you have COVID you risk getting others on the plane seriously ill. As far as health insurance, I assume you have already established domicile and will come back w your spouse based on your post. If that is correct and you have no job I’m not sure how you would qualify for insurance unless it’s an open enrollment period. The  immigrant qualifies to buy insurance from the health exchange as immigration is a qualifying life event and she can purchase it the day she arrives. I would play around with your states health exchange website to get familiar with it.  I don’t think you will find travel insurance that covers covid related expenses FYI . It’s good to be aware but personally I would let the fear of covid be the only thing preventing me from moving forward in the immigration process- it’s possible your interview won’t be until many months down the road and anything can change by then (for better or worse).

[Bill Hamze 89]

1 hour ago, Luckycuds said:

PLEASE do not travel if you have COVID you risk getting others on the plane seriously ill. As far as health insurance, I assume you have already established domicile and will come back w your spouse based on your post. If that is correct and you have no job I’m not sure how you would qualify for insurance unless it’s an open enrollment period. The  immigrant qualifies to buy insurance from the health exchange as immigration is a qualifying life event and she can purchase it the day she arrives. I would play around with your states health exchange website to get familiar with it.  I don’t think you will find travel insurance that covers covid related expenses FYI . It’s good to be aware but personally I would let the fear of covid be the only thing preventing me from moving forward in the immigration process- it’s possible your interview won’t be until many months down the road and anything can change by then (for better or worse).

Regarding domicile, yes I’ve maintained all of that and will come back with the spouse (and our newborn baby). 
 

As far as employment, I have my own business, and my company is based in the U.S. - so I am self-employed. Curious how that changes the health insurance picture?

Edited March 6, 2021 by Bill Hamze

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

3 hours ago, Bill Hamze said:

Regarding domicile, yes I’ve maintained all of that and will come back with the spouse (and our newborn baby). 
 

As far as employment, I have my own business, and my company is based in the U.S. - so I am self-employed. Curious how that changes the health insurance picture?

If you had an employer you could have added your wife and baby to your plan. For self employment I assume you would normally buy insurance through your states health exchange. I would look at your states health exchange and see if you are able to sign them up before they immigrate.

[milimelo 4,508]

Before you’re allowed on a plane you need to present negative test regardless if you’re a USC or foreigner (I think exceptions for kids under 5). On the plane you have to keep a mask on (some airlines require N95 or equivalent mask without a valve). 
Depends which state you’re going into - some require isolation period or test one day then another one a week later. 

[Boiler 45,733]

Talk to your Insurance Broker

 

Have something ready to sign as soon as you get back, pretty sure all require residency to sign up for.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Unfortunately, I don't think there is a way to buy health insurance in the US while being a non-citizen and non-resident of the US.  Your wife will need to immigrate to the US and establish a US domicile before she can qualify for health insurance.  

 

[JFH 12,190]

CARES Act covers Coronavirus treatment costs for the insured. 
 

If you have a newborn I’m assuming you’re relatively young. Assuming also that you are in good health otherwise, your risk of needing hospital treatment in the event you were to contract coronavirus is so slim I’m surprised you’re concerned about it but seemingly not concerned about other conditions that are statistically far more likely. In any event, good health insurance is essential to your family’s physical and financial well-being and it should always be the priority of any immigrant or returning citizen, coronavirus or no coronavirus. 

[Kaemouzy 16]

3 hours ago, JFH said:

CARES Act covers Coronavirus treatment costs for the insured. 
 

If you have a newborn I’m assuming you’re relatively young. Assuming also that you are in good health otherwise, your risk of needing hospital treatment in the event you were to contract coronavirus is so slim I’m surprised you’re concerned about it but seemingly not concerned about other conditions that are statistically far more likely. In any event, good health insurance is essential to your family’s physical and financial well-being and it should always be the priority of any immigrant or returning citizen, coronavirus or no coronavirus.

Why would you assume he's young because he has a newborn. Regardless of his age, covid can affect people differently, so there is a reason for concern.

[JFH 12,190]

1 hour ago, Kaemouzy said:

Why would you assume he's young because he has a newborn. Regardless of his age, covid can affect people differently, so there is a reason for concern.

Actually I didn’t even need to assume. OP gave his age in a previous post. They are both young. 
 

If he was at high risk of serious complications from COVID, even at his young age, he’d be at high risk of all manner of things already and healthcare would be something he’d have thought about first, not last. 

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

If he has domicile he can purchase it now and arrange for his wife and child to be added to the policy in date of landing..

 

wouldn’t travel insurance cover them whilst on route or undertaking quarantine in third country if needed? Or have they now made covid an exclusion? 

[aaron2020 11,651]

40 minutes ago, Duke & Marie said:

If he has domicile he can purchase it now and arrange for his wife and child to be added to the policy in date of landing..

 

wouldn’t travel insurance cover them whilst on route or undertaking quarantine in third country if needed? Or have they now made covid an exclusion? 

Travel insurance is for tourists.  Immigrants will not be covered by travel insurance.  They aren't going on a trip.  As soon as they land in America, immigrants are establishing a new domicile and will not be returning to their home country.
 

[retheem 568]

15 hours ago, Bill Hamze said:

If a USC has been living abroad with spouse and the spouse gets a IR1/CR1 visa - and assuming neither has gotten vaccinated yet - what steps do they need to take to protect themselves financially in case either one or both catch covid on the way to the US or immediately upon entry, and has not yet had a chance to obtain health insurance coverage? 
 

Is there a way they can buy insurance that does cover treatment/hospitalization for covid just right before they enter the US?

For context, our case is at NVC and haven’t paid the fees yet. When we do move forward with the fees and IV application depends on whether we can get covered in case of infection upon entering the US (or if we can get a vaccine before going there). Lots of moving parts and unknowns, so I’ve been sitting on the case until things clear up.
 

Last thing I want is to bring my family to the US, get infected before buying insurance, and rack up a huge medical bill. 
 

Thanks in advance (and please no covid-related politics). 

Travel in an  airline which has  such insurance. Emirates has it.

Edited March 6, 2021 by retheem

[Bill Hamze 89]

Based on the replies above, my takeaways are:

 

1. I need to reach out to a broker to get some inside knowledge of how things work for this specific situation. 
 

2. One option is to wait until open enrollment to migrate, then buy a family plan together as soon as we land. (then get a vaccine at the nearest location immediately)

 

3. Another option, given my domicile, is to buy my own health insurance plan BEFORE we migrate. So then I’d be covered myself and then I can add my wife and child to the plan once we arrive. Not ideal because I’d be paying for a plan that I won’t use for potentially months, but it’s a way to get peace of mind, and extra flexibility as to when we migrate.

 

4. I’ll have to check the Emirates travel insurance. I’m not typically too keen on travel insurance because of flimsy coverage. 
 

Yes I’m technically young and heathy and shouldn’t be high risk for covid complications, but I’ve had pneumonia before and it knocked me out for a few months. Plus I’m probably going to be the sole earner in our family for a good period of time, so with young people even getting long covid, I’m trying to approach this as responsibly as possible. 

Edited March 7, 2021 by Bill Hamze

[HRQX 4,145]

6 minutes ago, Bill Hamze said:

One option is to wait until open enrollment to migrate

You don't need to wait. The move opens up Special enrollment: https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/

Changes in residence

Household moves that qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period:

• Moving to a new home in a new ZIP code or county
• Moving to the U.S. from a foreign country or United States territory
• If you're a student, moving to or from the place you attend school
• If you're a seasonal worker, moving to or from the place you both live and work
• Moving to or from a shelter or other transitional housing

Important: You must prove you had qualifying health coverage for one or more days during the 60 days before your move. You don't need to provide proof if you’re moving from a foreign country or United States territory.