Advice for obtaining U.S. health insurance prior to visa interview?

[Tokyo2Cali 0]

Hello everyone!

 

My wife (Japanese citizen) and myself (U.S. citizen) just received our email confirmation from NVC last night that her IR1 visa interview at the embassy in Tokyo has been scheduled! The interview is scheduled in 2 months (mid-April) and we are starting the process now for the additional pre-interview requirements.

 

My main question is about health insurance. My understanding is that the consular officer will ask for either proof of enrolled insurance (either purchase in advance or be enrolled on a spouse's employer insurance) or be able to show proof you will be enrolling in insurance right away once arriving in the U.S. It seems having insurance lined up prior to the interview is the safest option. Is that accurate?

 

Unfortunately, since I, the sponsor, am also currently living in Japan with my wife, I do not have existing medical insurance in the U.S. from an employer that my wife can be enrolled in prior to the interview. So, I think it may be better to try to line up insurance for her before we go to the interview. I've been digging around and have found some articles (one example below), but I'm not sure if this website can be trusted.

 

Does anyone have any feedback about our situation and/or any trusted recommendations we can look at in terms of arranging health insurance in advance?

 

Article
https://www.***removed***.com/immigrant-visa-medical-insurance/

 

Insbuy "Health Insurance For Non US Citizens To The USA"

https://www.***removed***.com/new-immigrant-insurance/

 

 

Thanks so much!

[Boiler 46,276]

I have not heard of anyone being asked this.

 

Nor have I come across anything saying they could.

[Lil bear 4,352]

Agree with@Boiler. Not required.  But that said,  you should think through carefully how you are going to be covered once you are both there. The websites you listed are short term catastrophic cover .. better than nothing in the immediate  but severely limited in their cover ,. Usually only accidents and emergencies, often with high deductions and copay, no drug coverage and often excludes preexisting. 

[Tokyo2Cali 0]

@Boiler Thank you for that information. Maybe what I was seeing was related to Trump's last term in office where he signed an executive order to require new immigrants to show proof of medical insurance within 30 days of entering the country. It seems Biden reversed that? 

 

@Lil bear Thanks for your reply. I noticed something like this as well and I agree it's less-than-ideal. Right now there are no pressing medical issues, but outside of emergencies, it's still nice to have some additional coverage / piece of mind. I feel like getting insurance that you can choose from once in the U.S. leaves more flexibility, I just wasn't sure if that is going to be viewed as a possible pain point during the interview or not.

 

If they don't ask about any of that, then maybe I'm getting concerned for no reason. We just want to avoid as many surprises during the interview as possible.

[pushbrk 13,176]

11 minutes ago, Tokyo2Cali said:

@Boiler Thank you for that information. Maybe what I was seeing was related to Trump's last term in office where he signed an executive order to require new immigrants to show proof of medical insurance within 30 days of entering the country. It seems Biden reversed that? 

 

@Lil bear Thanks for your reply. I noticed something like this as well and I agree it's less-than-ideal. Right now there are no pressing medical issues, but outside of emergencies, it's still nice to have some additional coverage / piece of mind. I feel like getting insurance that you can choose from once in the U.S. leaves more flexibility, I just wasn't sure if that is going to be viewed as a possible pain point during the interview or not.

 

If they don't ask about any of that, then maybe I'm getting concerned for no reason. We just want to avoid as many surprises during the interview as possible.

This has never been an issue, never.  Just deal with it when you can after arrival.  Do NOT expect a question about it.  Not sure where you got that understanding, but it is false.

 

[Tesco 81]

Just sign up for ACA medical on day one of arrival.

[P055UM 289]

3 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Not sure where you got that understanding

 

https://www.boundless.com/blog/new-health-insurance-requirement-explained/

 

Agree this isn’t an issue but this article was not exactly hard to find, or unique. 

[TexasRafael 145]

I never obtained health insurance for my spouse until AFTER arrival in the US and that topic was never brought up in either interview at the US Embassy in Jakarta, in the K1 Visa or the Spousal visa interview.   Once the person is in the US it is best to have health insurance but it is not part of the approval process for the visa. 

[mam521 2,251]

4 hours ago, P055UM said:

 

https://www.boundless.com/blog/new-health-insurance-requirement-explained/

 

Agree this isn’t an issue but this article was not exactly hard to find, or unique. 

And from 2021

[pushbrk 13,176]

9 hours ago, P055UM said:

 

https://www.boundless.com/blog/new-health-insurance-requirement-explained/

 

Agree this isn’t an issue but this article was not exactly hard to find, or unique. 

One would not get the idea they must prove they have insurance, from reading that article.  It's first paragraph is an update indicating it's no longer even a phantom issue.  We never saw an issue from it, probably because people who have qualifying income or assets are able to get health insurance through the ACA marketplace.  I said it was never an actual issue because it never was.