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

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

1 hour ago, aaron2020 said:

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.
 

Yeah I know this but wouldn’t any quarantine in Mexico be a vacation so to speak? They wouldn’t be going there to stay as a resident... so that would at least cover them until they arrive in the US

[HRQX 4,145]

4 minutes ago, Duke & Marie said:

Yeah I know this but wouldn’t any quarantine in Mexico be a vacation so to speak? They wouldn’t be going there to stay as a resident...

Why would OP and wife go to Mexico?

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

1 minute ago, HRQX said:

Why would OP and wife go to Mexico?

Do they not need to quarantine in third country?

[Bill Hamze 89]

Quarantine rules are fluid and change every month, by the time we migrate we hopefully won’t have to especially since we’d be coming from a country with very low case counts. 

[HRQX 4,145]

Just now, Duke & Marie said:

Do they not need to quarantine in third country?

No. They only need "proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19" before boarding the flight: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/fr-proof-negative-test.html

 

Vietnam is not a country listed in the COVID proclamations and even if OP's wife transits through a restricted country she is still exempt:

Quote

Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:

(i) any lawful permanent resident of the United States;

(ii) any noncitizen national of the United States;

(iii) any noncitizen who is the spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;

(iv) any noncitizen who is the parent or legal guardian of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21;

(v) any noncitizen who is the sibling of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21;

(vi) any noncitizen who is the child, foster child, or ward of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or who is a prospective adoptee seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications;

(vii) any noncitizen traveling at the invitation of the United States Government for a purpose related to containment or mitigation of the virus;

(viii) any noncitizen traveling as a nonimmigrant pursuant to a C-1, D, or C-1/D nonimmigrant visa as a crewmember or any noncitizen otherwise traveling to the United States as air or sea crew;

(ix) any noncitizen

(A) seeking entry into or transiting the United States pursuant to one of the following visas: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (as a foreign government official or immediate family member of an official), E-1 (as an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee's immediate family members), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 (or seeking to enter as a nonimmigrant in one of those NATO categories); or

(B) whose travel falls within the scope of section 11 of the United Nations Headquarters Agreement;

(x) any noncitizen who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and any noncitizen who is a spouse or child of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces;

(xi) any noncitizen whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees, based on a recommendation of the Attorney General or his designee; or

(xii) any noncitizen whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees.

 

[Boiler 45,467]

1 hour ago, Bill Hamze said:

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. 

1 And is familiar with options wherever you are moving to.

2 As mentioned not needed, sounds like you are not currently eligible for vaccination,  some over 60's are now being done in my State.

3 Sounds unlikely as you will not be US State resident.

4.Nothing wrong with travel insurance but you asked about cover in the US.

 

[Loren Y 2,755]

Maybe I'm missing a simple solution... Get vaccinated in Vietnam. They have received doses of the astra zenica vaccine I believe, and have begun vaccinations earlier this month ( I saw them posting photos of the first persons to receive it on the news). Can you not get it done before you come to the US. If you are a few months out you should have time to get it done before you travel probably.

[HKS 169]

If you havent even gotten interview yet, then you have a ways to go and lots of things change. That being said you can get travel insurance with COVID coverage. Ive done it several times as places I went required it. Someone said in this thread that you cant get travel insurance if your immigrating. You can. Travel is travel. They never ask why you are traveling. Also, many of them state that you can extend the insurance if u need to up to x amt of days depending on the company. Also, if you already have insurance you can get travel insurance on top of it if your current insurance doesnt cover what you need. 
 

[Bill Hamze 89]

1 hour ago, Loren Y said:

Maybe I'm missing a simple solution... Get vaccinated in Vietnam. They have received doses of the astra zenica vaccine I believe, and have begun vaccinations earlier this month ( I saw them posting photos of the first persons to receive it on the news). Can you not get it done before you come to the US. If you are a few months out you should have time to get it done before you travel probably.

 

That's what I'm hoping for as well, and it would make things a lot simpler. But I believe we're a long way off from getting a vaccine in Vietnam. Unless supply ramps up, they probably won't be able to vaccinate half of the population until end of 2021, so I'm thinking maybe a year at least. My wife will probably get it sooner, though. 

[Southern_Belle07 146]

21 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). 

Yes. I'm originally from Philippines and I visited late last year, PH required a travel insurance in case of COVID-19. It was a 3 day insurance I got from an insurance agent. It only covered during my travel period but you can indicate how long you want it. Ask any local insurance firms.

[aaron2020 11,651]

3 hours ago, Loren Y said:

Maybe I'm missing a simple solution... Get vaccinated in Vietnam. They have received doses of the astra zenica vaccine I believe, and have begun vaccinations earlier this month ( I saw them posting photos of the first persons to receive it on the news). Can you not get it done before you come to the US. If you are a few months out you should have time to get it done before you travel probably.

 

2 hours ago, Bill Hamze said:

 

That's what I'm hoping for as well, and it would make things a lot simpler. But I believe we're a long way off from getting a vaccine in Vietnam. Unless supply ramps up, they probably won't be able to vaccinate half of the population until end of 2021, so I'm thinking maybe a year at least. My wife will probably get it sooner, though. 

Vietnam just delivered 8000 doses to Ho Chi Minh City which has a legal population of 9,000,000 and probably a real population of 11,000,000.  As Bill pointed out, Vietnam is expected to be able to vaccinate half of its population by end of 2021.  Children like the OP's child will not be vaccinated until the vaccines are approved for young children.  Expats like OP are probably at the bottom of the list if they are allowed to get the vaccine at all.

Rich countries made early and huge purchases of pre-approved vaccines.  More doses than they need for their entire populations.  This has left poorer countries out in the cold when it comes to getting vaccines.  

Bill.  Your wife's case is at the NVC and you haven't paid the fees yet.  You can pay it now and have the case processed.  Her interview will not happen for at least 2-3 months; May or July at the earliest.  Her visa will expire 6 months from her medical exam.  The US is expected to have enough vaccines for the entire US population by end of May.  Once you come back with your family, you and your wife can sign up to get the vaccine immediately.  Your child will have to wait for a vaccine to be approved for his age group - which is estimated to be at the end of 2021.  
 

Edited March 7, 2021 by aaron2020

[Chris & Lina 29]

Try Seven Corners. They offer COVID-19 coverage on their traveler's insurance policies. You can be covered whether or not you are in the US and for up to one year.

[jim_julian 26]

What state will you be coming to?  California has  extremely loose rules when it comes to state subsidized health insurance.  Citizenship is generally ignored in California.

[Bill Hamze 89]

1 hour ago, jim_julian said:

What state will you be coming to?  California has  extremely loose rules when it comes to state subsidized health insurance.  Citizenship is generally ignored in California.

Texas. Not sure that's a positive or a negative, but I shall find out!

[Bill Hamze 89]

I gotta say this thread was productive with lots of great responses and valuable information. I was surprised to see that even some travel insurance providers cover covid, so that's somewhat reassuring. To be sure, I'm not really worried about dying from it, only about the financial costs of medical care. 

 

So, having been armed with new information from this thread, I'll lay out all the options with my wife and see how she wants to play this. 

 

Thanks everyone! Cheers