K1 Medical Insurance when unable to join spouse's employer plan

[TTmeadows 1]

VisaJourney has been a wonderful resource in for me (USC) and my fiancé, who will arrive to the US soon on a K1 visa. 

 

I myself only recently located to the US and am not working yet, so I am unable to add my fiancé to an employer health plan. 

 

I am covered through a short-term plan that I bought on the private market through a broker. Originally I intended to buy a similar plan for my fiancé, but the broker notified me such plans are available for US citizens and residents only.

 

Clearly I need to get job with employer-provided healthcare ASAP (working on it!), but for now I have found these two alternatives:

 

1) Travelers insurance targeted at K1 holders: Simple Googling turns up several sites that sell travelers insurance and specifically market it as an option for K1 visa holders. There are many plans but Patriot America Plus seems to appear most often. I've read independent reviews for Patriot  America Plus that indicate 1) people most commonly buy it for parents visiting the US, and 2) it's a bare bones plan that often brands sudden medical issues as "pre-existing conditions" to avoid paying out.  TLDR, seems a little sketchy but could be fine as temporary coverage for a young, healthy person like my fiancé?

 

2) ACA Plans: This helpful stickied thread on VJ indicates a K1 holder can buy a plan off the ACA marketplace.  But are the ACA plans available to K1 holders who just arrived but are not yet married or applied for AOS? Also, given she can't work and will have no income, she's guaranteed to qualify for subsidies on ACA - but will this factor into 'public charge' issues or green card considerations down the road? I'm leery of taking any public assistance at this stage. 

 

If you have experience with either of these options (or others), it would be great to hear your thoughts about which one is preferable. And naturally I hope to get a job soon to end this mess for good. Thank you!

 

 

 

[Kel_H 42]

I bought a plan for my fiance through this site right before he came last year. I felt that it was very affordable. https://americanvisitorinsurance.com/

[millefleur 5,046]

3 hours ago, TTmeadows said:

But are the ACA plans available to K1 holders who just arrived but are not yet married or applied for AOS? Also, given she can't work and will have no income, she's guaranteed to qualify for subsidies on ACA - but will this factor into 'public charge' issues or green card considerations down the road? I'm leery of taking any public assistance at this stage. 

Best to call the Marketplace customer service line and ask regarding if K-1's qualify before filing for AOS. The ACA tax credits do not count as a means tested benefit so there's no public charge issue.

 

[Candice & Pierre 4]

On 4/20/2022 at 10:19 AM, TTmeadows said:

VisaJourney has been a wonderful resource in for me (USC) and my fiancé, who will arrive to the US soon on a K1 visa. 

 

I myself only recently located to the US and am not working yet, so I am unable to add my fiancé to an employer health plan. 

 

I am covered through a short-term plan that I bought on the private market through a broker. Originally I intended to buy a similar plan for my fiancé, but the broker notified me such plans are available for US citizens and residents only.

 

Clearly I need to get job with employer-provided healthcare ASAP (working on it!), but for now I have found these two alternatives:

 

1) Travelers insurance targeted at K1 holders: Simple Googling turns up several sites that sell travelers insurance and specifically market it as an option for K1 visa holders. There are many plans but Patriot America Plus seems to appear most often. I've read independent reviews for Patriot  America Plus that indicate 1) people most commonly buy it for parents visiting the US, and 2) it's a bare bones plan that often brands sudden medical issues as "pre-existing conditions" to avoid paying out.  TLDR, seems a little sketchy but could be fine as temporary coverage for a young, healthy person like my fiancé?

 

2) ACA Plans: This helpful stickied thread on VJ indicates a K1 holder can buy a plan off the ACA marketplace.  But are the ACA plans available to K1 holders who just arrived but are not yet married or applied for AOS? Also, given she can't work and will have no income, she's guaranteed to qualify for subsidies on ACA - but will this factor into 'public charge' issues or green card considerations down the road? I'm leery of taking any public assistance at this stage. 

 

If you have experience with either of these options (or others), it would be great to hear your thoughts about which one is preferable. And naturally I hope to get a job soon to end this mess for good. Thank you!

 

 

 

Currently in the same situation but a word of warning to you - my husband (US citizen) has an employer health plan but they have not allowed me to be on his health insurance as they require a social security number from me (which I won't get until my green card is approved)...it might be different for every employer health insurance plan but definitely check the minute you get one

 

Thank you for sharing the travelers insurance - I hadnt even thought of that!

[TTmeadows 1]

Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts. I will give ACA a call to see if a K1 can buy on the marketplace before filing for AOS, and consider one of the travelers insurance options as a backup. 

 

Naturally if anyone has other experiences to share with (non-employer provided) healthcare options for new arrivals, it would be great to see as well. 

[Lemonslice 4,838]

18 hours ago, Candice & Pierre said:

Currently in the same situation but a word of warning to you - my husband (US citizen) has an employer health plan but they have not allowed me to be on his health insurance as they require a social security number from me (which I won't get until my green card is approved)...it might be different for every employer health insurance plan but definitely check the minute you get one

 

Thank you for sharing the travelers insurance - I hadnt even thought of that!

Social security number is never compulsory.  You should escalate this with HR, or with trying insurance company directly, if the employer isn't responsive.