CR1/IR1 Health insurance - how? help?!

[DaisyJ 35]

Hi all! I've seen there's a K1 thread about health insurance but as visa situations are different I thought I would repost the same question. Apologies if this has already been answered elsewhere.

UK CR1/IR1 person here. Already got my visa in hand and planning to travel on 22nd Oct. Husband would be able to add me to his company provided health insurance, obviously - but the company needs an SSN from me. Now I know SSN is supposed to take 2 weeks after arrival. But, I also know/have seen that it can take A LOT longer, sometimes and that there is no guarantee, just like the greencard I believe the official line is that it can be 120 days+ in arriving.

 

So, how do I cover myself for 2 weeks-3 months or longer? From visa fb groups and other posts elsewhere on this forum I've seen a lot of companies are not longer providing new immigrant coverage, or if they do it's for a day or so. I have very few to no health worries and will be able to look after myself for all the things I need (in terms of prescriptions/contact lenses etc) for a good 3 months+ anyway because of how things have fallen just before I leave the UK. But what if I have an accident, or fall seriously ill with a random illness etc, etc. I realise it might come in 2 weeks and then there's nothing to worry about, but lots can happen even in that short period!

Thanks in advance for any advice you guys can give me.

[Crazy Cat 42,198]

A SSN is not needed to be added to your spouse's coverage.  You might have to go up the chain of command to find someone who knows this.  

[DaisyJ 35]

10 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

A SSN is not needed to be added to your spouse's coverage.  You might have to go up the chain of command to find someone who knows this.  

Do you know what they need instead? And how do I find out about this, if its different for different companies?

[Wuozopo 4,293]

32 minutes ago, DaisyJ said:

Do you know what they need instead? And how do I find out about this, if its different for different companies?

Tell them to use your passport number. Ask for a supervisor, and then her supervisor until somebody knows they can do this without your SSN.

[DaisyJ 35]

16 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

Tell them to use your passport number. Ask for a supervisor, and then her supervisor until somebody knows they can do this without your SSN.

Hmm ok. It's just the forms for enrollment require an SSN. I couldn't find anything on their website about new immigrants unfortunately. Is this definitely a thing across all companies?

[DaisyJ 35]

Also, guessing we can only do this once I've arrived in the country, right? So I'll still need some coverage before I can get this sorted after I land in the US. What did others here do for that time? 

[Crazy Cat 42,198]

5 minutes ago, DaisyJ said:

Also, guessing we can only do this once I've arrived in the country, right? So I'll still need some coverage before I can get this sorted after I land in the US. What did others here do for that time? 

Depends on your policy and HR requirements. 

[Adventine 3,209]

Does your husband's employer have some sort of online HR portal? If yes, your husband may be able to add you as a dependent on his health insurance, without needing to fill out paper forms and hand them to HR.

 

My husband did this for me and added me in a few minutes to his health insurance, without needing an SSN. We're insured through Cigna, if that helps.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, DaisyJ said:

Hmm ok. It's just the forms for enrollment require an SSN. I couldn't find anything on their website about new immigrants unfortunately. Is this definitely a thing across all companies?

You’re not going to find this exception on a website created for the usual applicants. Your husband needs to call his HR department and speak to a live person about enrolling in benefits. Make sure they understand you will be a permanent resident and have applied for a SSN that could be delayed 3months. That separates you from an undocumented, illegal immigrant who has no chance of a SSN. He can suggest they assign you a number or use your passport number until your SSN is issued. 

Edited October 1, 2021 by Wuozopo

[carmel34 3,654]

4 hours ago, DaisyJ said:

Also, guessing we can only do this once I've arrived in the country, right? So I'll still need some coverage before I can get this sorted after I land in the US. What did others here do for that time? 

I added my husband to my employer's health insurance a week after our marriage in Brazil.  I came back to the US, to start the I-130 petition to bring him here, and also sent HR a copy of our marriage certificate with an English translation and they added him to my insurance with no SSN.  All they needed was his name and date of birth.  So he was already covered on my insurance for a year before he actually arrived in the US with his CR-1 visa.  Your spouse should speak with an HR supervisor or call the insurance carrier.  It can be done.  Good luck!!

Edited October 1, 2021 by carmel34

[SalishSea 18,123]

9 hours ago, DaisyJ said:

Also, guessing we can only do this once I've arrived in the country, right? So I'll still need some coverage before I can get this sorted after I land in the US. What did others here do for that time? 

This is a reason to get married straight away.  Marriage is a qualifying event to be added to an employer based plan.

 

When my fiancé arrived,  we applied for his SSN the next day,  married 5 days later, and his coverage on my insurance kicked in the first day of the next month (which was 9 days later).

 

He obviously did not have his SSN yet, but when he did get it, we updated HR.

 

He had an existing travel insurance plan from NZ, which he never needed, but at least it was there.  Since the K-1 is technically a non-immigrant visa, we figured it was adequate for that brief gap.

[Boiler 46,012]

10 hours ago, DaisyJ said:

Hmm ok. It's just the forms for enrollment require an SSN. I couldn't find anything on their website about new immigrants unfortunately. Is this definitely a thing across all companies?

Yes 

[HRQX 4,145]

11 hours ago, DaisyJ said:

Do you know what they need instead?

https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/questions-and-answers-about-reporting-social-security-numbers-to-your-health-insurance-company

Q5: If I do not have a social security number (SSN) or other tax identifying number (TIN) for myself or other covered individuals, such as my spouse or dependents, should I contact the IRS to obtain a social security number or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) so that I can give it to my health coverage provider?

 

A5: No, it is not necessary for you to contact the IRS if you do not have an SSN or a TIN. You should advise your coverage provider that you do not have an SSN or TIN and give them the date of birth for each covered individual.

Edited October 1, 2021 by HRQX

[DaisyJ 35]

Thank you all so much, this is so helpful! He's not enrolled yet on his company's insurance as he's just signed a next contract with work that gives him more hours and these benefits, so he still needs to enrol. I'll tell him to do so this week and then contact his HR. Assuming you all mean his work HR and not the health company? 
 

[Crazy Cat 42,198]

Just now, DaisyJ said:

Assuming you all mean his work HR and not the health company

Correct.