Searching for a civil surgeon in the USA who my insurance covers

[Krishetngjbc 0]

I am adjusting status and need to do a medical check with a civil surgeon but so far I’ve only found ones who I have to pay out of pocket for. I’m wondering if there are any out there that my Aetna insurance will cover? Should this be a question I contact my insurance company about? I’m still learning to navigate the health system. Thank you

 

Just a quick additional question, should I submit the work and travel permit along with my AOS package? My immigration lawyer told me not to however I’ve read that I should 

[EatBulaga 383]

5 minutes ago, Krishetngjbc said:

I am adjusting status and need to do a medical check with a civil surgeon but so far I’ve only found ones who I have to pay out of pocket for. I’m wondering if there are any out there that my Aetna insurance will cover? Should this be a question I contact my insurance company about? I’m still learning to navigate the health system. Thank you

 

Just a quick additional question, should I submit the work and travel permit along with my AOS package? My immigration lawyer told me not to however I’ve read that I should 

 

AOS I-693 medical exams are most likely not covered by health insurance.

We went to a civil surgeon who is in our health insurance network and is also a primary physician.

They took our health insurance card, but we still paid full price, which was like 560.

But yes, contact your health insurance company to verify.

 

Yes, submit I-131 and I-765 along with the I-485 if you see the need to travel or work before the AOS is approved. Remember to include the extra fees.

[Edward and Jaycel 677]

1 hour ago, Krishetngjbc said:

I am adjusting status and need to do a medical check with a civil surgeon but so far I’ve only found ones who I have to pay out of pocket for. I’m wondering if there are any out there that my Aetna insurance will cover? Should this be a question I contact my insurance company about? I’m still learning to navigate the health system. Thank you

 

Just a quick additional question, should I submit the work and travel permit along with my AOS package? My immigration lawyer told me not to however I’ve read that I should 

 

What filing category are you adjusting under?

[wildbug100420 174]

1 hour ago, Krishetngjbc said:

I am adjusting status and need to do a medical check with a civil surgeon but so far I’ve only found ones who I have to pay out of pocket for. I’m wondering if there are any out there that my Aetna insurance will cover? Should this be a question I contact my insurance company about? I’m still learning to navigate the health system. Thank you

 

Just a quick additional question, should I submit the work and travel permit along with my AOS package? My immigration lawyer told me not to however I’ve read that I should 

Please complete your timelines 

[SalishSea 18,170]

1 hour ago, Krishetngjbc said:

I am adjusting status and need to do a medical check with a civil surgeon but so far I’ve only found ones who I have to pay out of pocket for. I’m wondering if there are any out there that my Aetna insurance will cover? Should this be a question I contact my insurance company about? I’m still learning to navigate the health system. Thank you

 

Just a quick additional question, should I submit the work and travel permit along with my AOS package? My immigration lawyer told me not to however I’ve read that I should 

I have never heard of insurance covering an AOS exam.  

 

Why would you not submit for work and travel?  What if the GC processing goes back to 12+ months again?

[OldUser 7,727]

50 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

I have never heard of insurance covering an AOS exam.  

 

Why would you not submit for work and travel?  What if the GC processing goes back to 12+ months again?

Agreed, vaccinations may be covered by insurance, but exam itself - not really.

[JD2 103]

You may want to look up the vaccine schedule on the CDC website.  Go to CVS or Walgreens or Rite Aid or whichever Aetna covers.  Get the vaccines there beforehand and take the proof of vaccination to the Civil Surgeon appointment.  That way, even if the doc isn't in network, at least you only have to pay for the visit not the vaccines.

Edited February 1 by JD2

[RamonGomez 272]

18 hours ago, SalishSea said:

I have never heard of insurance covering an AOS exam.  

 

Why would you not submit for work and travel?  What if the GC processing goes back to 12+ months again?

 

My wife's exam was covered. We have a large healthcare system here (several hospitals + 20 clinics) that had exactly one semi-retired family medicine physician who only did immigration physicals one day a week. It was billed as preventative care and fully covered by our insurance. Not sure if that would still be the case today.

[Krishetngjbc 0]

On 1/31/2025 at 7:00 PM, SalishSea said:

I have never heard of insurance covering an AOS exam.  

 

Why would you not submit for work and travel?  What if the GC processing goes back to 12+ months again?

My lawyer said to wait until I receive the receipts from submitting the AOS forms then I should send the work and travel permits however I think I will send the whole package together regardless 

On 1/31/2025 at 9:56 PM, JD2 said:

You may want to look up the vaccine schedule on the CDC website.  Go to CVS or Walgreens or Rite Aid or whichever Aetna covers.  Get the vaccines there beforehand and take the proof of vaccination to the Civil Surgeon appointment.  That way, even if the doc isn't in network, at least you only have to pay for the visit not the vaccines.

Great idea, thanks!

[Krishetngjbc 0]

On 2/1/2025 at 1:12 PM, RamonGomez said:

 

My wife's exam was covered. We have a large healthcare system here (several hospitals + 20 clinics) that had exactly one semi-retired family medicine physician who only did immigration physicals one day a week. It was billed as preventative care and fully covered by our insurance. Not sure if that would still be the case today.

I phoned my insurance company yesterday to ask if there’s a civil surgeon I can see for an immigration medical check, and I don’t know if it was my accent but she thought I was looking for a surgeon who implants RFDI microchips for tracking purposes and asked why I would want that and that it’s not covered as it’s a new tech, I explained a few times that no it’s a medical check for immigrants but I had no success so I take it that it’s most definitely not covered by my insurance

[Edward and Jaycel 677]

6 minutes ago, Krishetngjbc said:

My lawyer said to wait until I receive the receipts from submitting the AOS forms then I should send the work and travel permits however I think I will send the whole package together regardless 

 

I do not know of any benefit to waiting to file until after the I-485 receipt is issued - Filing them concurrently is the right choice IMHO

 

2 minutes ago, Krishetngjbc said:

I take it that it’s most definitely not covered by my insurance

 

Most health insurance companies do not cover the immigration medical exam - I know one user reported it being covered but that's the exception to the rule

[Boiler 46,198]

It was likely a mistake anyway you send the medical with everything else

[Edward and Jaycel 677]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

It was likely a mistake anyway you send the medical with everything else

 

I believe he was referring to the EAD and AP?  

 

24 minutes ago, Krishetngjbc said:

On 1/31/2025 at 8:00 PM, SalishSea said:

Why would you not submit for work and travel?  What if the GC processing goes back to 12+ months again?

My lawyer said to wait until I receive the receipts from submitting the AOS forms then I should send the work and travel permits however I think I will send the whole package together regardless 

[Ontarkie 14,512]

~~Moved to AOS from Work, Student and Tourist Visas, from Bringing Family of PR~~