Health insurance planning for CR1 spouse

[ar & rk 3]

Hi folks, my spouse is a Canadian citizen who currently has health insurance through her employer in Canada. I have health insurance here in the US from my employer. We got married last year and I submitted our I-130 application back in January. I am now looking into adding her to my health insurance plan from work. I probably should have tried this within the 30 days after getting married but that's obviously a missed boat. We did not think about this since we were both covered with our respective employers. We are now waiting for our I-130 approval and I am not expecting her to arrive here until some time next year. That gives me the opportunity to try to add her to my health plan during the open enrollment period (when she will still be in Canada). Has anyone else added their spouses during the open enrollment period when the spouse was not physically in the US and waiting for immigration? I was very curious to see how you were able to add your foreign spouses to your US based employer's healthcare plan. Thank you in advance!

[Ontarkie 14,225]

~~MOved to Moving Here and Your New Life, from IR1/CR1 P&P - as Health Insurance has been discussed here~~

[bakphx1 789]

If she has a SS# or ITIN  it should be no problem.  I added mine before arrival with an ITIN.  I wasn’t asked for anything else.  You may have other benefits you can add her to as well-401k beneficiary, work sponsored life insurance, etc.   

[ar & rk 3]

14 minutes ago, bakphx1 said:

If she has a SS# or ITIN  it should be no problem.  I added mine before arrival with an ITIN.  I wasn’t asked for anything else.  You may have other benefits you can add her to as well-401k beneficiary, work sponsored life insurance, etc.   

Hi and thank you for your response. She does not have an ITIN but it looks like I should apply for one asap. We filed our taxes as MFS this year so I did not need her ITIN, but for health insurance I definitely think this would be needed. Its good to know that someone else got this done using an ITIN. Thanks!

[Loren Y 2,755]

Add her during open enrollment, they will be happy to begin taking the extra money out of your paycheck right away. Technically you don't need a SS number to add her to your insurance ( You may have to be firm about this as most insurance people are ignorant to this fact). Tell them to use a placeholder SS Number until she has hers. They may ask for proof of marriage ( All I had to do was send in a scanned copy of my marriage certificate), and you should be good to go.

[ar & rk 3]

15 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

Add her during open enrollment, they will be happy to begin taking the extra money out of your paycheck right away. Technically you don't need a SS number to add her to your insurance ( You may have to be firm about this as most insurance people are ignorant to this fact). Tell them to use a placeholder SS Number until she has hers. They may ask for proof of marriage ( All I had to do was send in a scanned copy of my marriage certificate), and you should be good to go.

Excellent feedback. Thank you! 

[bakphx1 789]

4 hours ago, Loren Y said:

Add her during open enrollment, they will be happy to begin taking the extra money out of your paycheck right away. Technically you don't need a SS number to add her to your insurance ( You may have to be firm about this as most insurance people are ignorant to this fact). Tell them to use a placeholder SS Number until she has hers. They may ask for proof of marriage ( All I had to do was send in a scanned copy of my marriage certificate), and you should be good to go.

I didn’t have that option.  It was online and a number there was a hard stop.  It’s also worth amending the tax return for the second tax exemption.  Well-maybe if she’s working-I don’t know if her income counts or not.  If you’re able-it makes things easier.

[carmel34 3,633]

8 hours ago, ar & rk said:

Has anyone else added their spouses during the open enrollment period when the spouse was not physically in the US and waiting for immigration? I was very curious to see how you were able to add your foreign spouses to your US based employer's healthcare plan.

I added my Brazilian husband to my US health insurance shortly after our marriage in Brazil.  All I needed was his name, date of birth, and a copy of our marriage certificate.

[Bob in Boston 710]

Apply and secure an ITIN. Easiest way. I did it with my wife before she got her papers, not a question asked. Marriage Cert and ITIN will get her on your Policy.

[iwannaplay54 985]

12 hours ago, ar & rk said:

Hi folks, my spouse is a Canadian citizen who currently has health insurance through her employer in Canada. I have health insurance here in the US from my employer. We got married last year and I submitted our I-130 application back in January. I am now looking into adding her to my health insurance plan from work. I probably should have tried this within the 30 days after getting married but that's obviously a missed boat. We did not think about this since we were both covered with our respective employers. We are now waiting for our I-130 approval and I am not expecting her to arrive here until some time next year. That gives me the opportunity to try to add her to my health plan during the open enrollment period (when she will still be in Canada). Has anyone else added their spouses during the open enrollment period when the spouse was not physically in the US and waiting for immigration? I was very curious to see how you were able to add your foreign spouses to your US based employer's healthcare plan. Thank you in advance!

The missed boat is what we did, that’s what I would have advised. Wastes money for sure until spouse arrived but a spouse arrives fully covered.

Employers usually push back over a SS card but when it is politely pointed out that newborns are enrolled pending a card they get reminded that a qualified family member does not, in fact, need a SS number to enroll in health insurance benefits and it is not OK or legal to fail to open a new enrollment window when circumstances change.  It’s “pending SS” exactly like any new addition to the family.

Advised to add spouse as soon as a window opens (end of the year usually)

[JeanneAdil 6,508]

U do not have to wait for open enrollment 

her move to the US is a Life changing event and she can be added thru that/ most plans say to add the person within 30 days of a life changing event

[iwannaplay54 985]

12 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

U do not have to wait for open enrollment 

her move to the US is a Life changing event and she can be added thru that/ most plans say to add the person within 30 days of a life changing event

Quiet note I was given two choices:

 

Marriage date window

End of year window

The “arrival” is a gray area not specifically protected under law however it is often defined as “loss of previous coverage”.  It may be risky.

 

 

 

[randy32 165]

I don't see the benefit to you of adding your spouse before the arrive in the US.

Insurance company would not mind the extra income though.

 

Day one after your spouse gets her, contact HR and add your spouse.

Their arrival into the country is a life changing event.

Your spouse leaving their job (losing insurance in their home country or even in the US) is a life changing event.

So yes you missed using the "marriage" life changing event so now use the "job loss" and the "arrival into the country" life changing event.

[randy32 165]

4 minutes ago, iwannaplay54 said:

Quiet note I was given two choices:

 

Marriage date window

End of year window

The “arrival” is a gray area not specifically protected under law however it is often defined as “loss of previous coverage”.  It may be risky.

 

 

 

You might have to ask someone else for assistance in HR or better yet read the handbook if it is available

 

I googled "life changing event examples" and the top results are the links below

 

https://www.uhc.com/understanding-health-insurance/open-enrollment/qualifying-life-events

https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/qualifying-life-event/

https://www.anthem.com/individual-and-family/insurance-basics/health-insurance/qualifying-life-event

Edited July 4, 2022 by randy32

[iwannaplay54 985]

31 minutes ago, randy32 said:

You might have to ask someone else for assistance in HR or better yet read the handbook if it is available

 

I googled "life changing event examples" and the top results are the links below

 

https://www.uhc.com/understanding-health-insurance/open-enrollment/qualifying-life-events

https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/qualifying-life-event/

https://www.anthem.com/individual-and-family/insurance-basics/health-insurance/qualifying-life-event

(I) actually don’t, as we are done with all things immigration related for all time.

 

*Sharing experience only* 

US Citizenship is listed, LPR spouse arriving is not (specifically) listed anywhere.  Appears to be subject to interpretation, which is what I experienced.

 

I (also) didnt see the benefit of paying premiums for nothing however as it turned out the UnitedHealthcare card was nice interview window dressing.

Edited July 4, 2022 by iwannaplay54