Health insurance during immigration

[lovinglive 24]

Hello all, 

 

My wife (green card holder) is in the US now, and we don't know how long she will be there.  Previously she was on a kind of health insurance for visitors, but I think that is not an option now as she is a green card holder.  At the same time, we don't know how long she will be staying in the US as she applied for naturalization under 319b.  She and our child need to have health insurance but a non-permanent option would be better.  I am employed outside the country and my employer doesn't provide me with health insurance- I have to purchase my own.

 

Are there any health insurance options that are not long term in the US?  Obamacare may also be an option.

 

TIA!

 

 

[Lemonslice 4,831]

Healthcare.gov

 

No need to confuse the situation that it might be for a short term period only, for all you know, delays could keep you in the US for years.  Just get coverage, and let them know when you are moving out of country, when that happens.

Edited May 25, 2023 by Lemonslice

[Ontarkie 14,215]

~~Moved to Moving Here and Your New Life, form Working and Traveling - as the topic of health insurance is often discussed here.~~

[lovinglive 24]

On 5/26/2023 at 2:28 AM, Lemonslice said:

Healthcare.gov

 

No need to confuse the situation that it might be for a short term period only, for all you know, delays could keep you in the US for years.  Just get coverage, and let them know when you are moving out of country, when that happens.

Thanks, that seems like good advice.  I'll check it out.

[lovinglive 24]

On 5/26/2023 at 2:28 AM, Lemonslice said:

Healthcare.gov

 

No need to confuse the situation that it might be for a short term period only, for all you know, delays could keep you in the US for years.  Just get coverage, and let them know when you are moving out of country, when that happens.

Thanks, I was looking into ACA coverage for a long time, had selected a plan and was about to apply.  Then I found out that there is only an enrollment period towards the end of the year.  I think it's November or December.  It doesn't seem like any of the special enrollment periods apply to us.

 

Do you have any idea what we should do between now and then?

[Lemonslice 4,831]

2 hours ago, lovinglive said:

Thanks, I was looking into ACA coverage for a long time, had selected a plan and was about to apply.  Then I found out that there is only an enrollment period towards the end of the year.  I think it's November or December.  It doesn't seem like any of the special enrollment periods apply to us.

 

Do you have any idea what we should do between now and then?

You have an enrollment period/life change event as a new immigrant - I hope you didn't wait too long, that would be a shame.  When did she enter with her visa for the first time?

Otherwise, just reach out to insurance companies directly. 

[Lover_Boy 12]

On 5/29/2023 at 8:54 AM, lovinglive said:

Thanks, that seems like good advice.  I'll check it out.

Dependent on your income level and job with ACA,  You may want to set up a LLC and let the "Corporation/business" earn and pay taxes on the lion share of income at a much lower tax rate.

 

 

[lovinglive 24]

On 6/25/2023 at 11:31 AM, Lemonslice said:

You have an enrollment period/life change event as a new immigrant - I hope you didn't wait too long, that would be a shame.  When did she enter with her visa for the first time?

Otherwise, just reach out to insurance companies directly. 

Yes, unfortunately, I think we missed all the special enrollment period options.  The obvious ones seem to be marriage and possibly moving.  We were married about one year ago and she received her green card in October.  

 

Bottom line is that I think we will have to wait until this year's enrollment period starting in November.

[Lemonslice 4,831]

10 hours ago, lovinglive said:

Yes, unfortunately, I think we missed all the special enrollment period options.  The obvious ones seem to be marriage and possibly moving.  We were married about one year ago and she received her green card in October.  

 

Bottom line is that I think we will have to wait until this year's enrollment period starting in November.

You can still get insurance, just from the insurers directly, instead of the exchange.  Did you find coverage that fit your needs?

[lovinglive 24]

11 hours ago, Lemonslice said:

You can still get insurance, just from the insurers directly, instead of the exchange.  Did you find coverage that fit your needs?

Right, we could do that. I'm guessing the ACA provisions will not apply if you apply  directly to the insurers, correct?  I.e. denial or pre-existing conditions, and of course you don't get a subsidy.

 

It looks like my wife will be leaving the US in 6-8 weeks, though.  So we are probably going to get one of those visitor policies again- it's an insurance policy that people who visit the US for a fairly long period of time (like a few months) use.  I have to check the T&Cs and make sure we can use it.

[Lemonslice 4,831]

40 minutes ago, lovinglive said:

Right, we could do that. I'm guessing the ACA provisions will not apply if you apply  directly to the insurers, correct?  I.e. denial or pre-existing conditions, and of course you don't get a subsidy.

 

It looks like my wife will be leaving the US in 6-8 weeks, though.  So we are probably going to get one of those visitor policies again- it's an insurance policy that people who visit the US for a fairly long period of time (like a few months) use.  I have to check the T&Cs and make sure we can use it.

You would have to check with them, I am pretty sure that it is the same as during the enrolment period, minus the subsidies being applied directly to the cost.  It has been a while since I looked into it, and others might have more input, but I think the "subsidy" is still done while you do your next tax return.  

 

If your wife is a permanent resident, she is most probably not eligible to a policy for visitors though.