Health Insurance for recently arrived spouses

[breter 0]

Can anyone recommend a good insurance company that will insure a non-citizen that has not been here for at least a year? Specifically maternity insurance. I've already looked online, and only found places that want to sell us some 137.50 a month "up to 80% paid" policy. However, it doesn't sound very good and they wont let me see the policy before I buy it. (big hint there) I missed putting her on my health insurance because it was so costly. We were just going to find an individual plan for her. However, that is starting to look impossible.

[English Muffin 59]

Moving from General Immigration forum to Moving Here forum.

[EasternDE 35]

You should find good hints in this topic:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=209083

[breter 0]

You should find good hints in this topic:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=209083

Thanks, but looking for something a bit more mainstream. Maybe it isn't possible, but was hoping one of the big conventional insurance providers had some type of plan that didn't have the in country a year requirement.

Edited July 24, 2009 by breter

[EasternDE 35]

Hmm... Your wife is already pregnant?...

If yes and you're looking for a pregnancy coverage, you're pretty much doomed.

[breter 0]

Hmm... Your wife is already pregnant?...

If yes and you're looking for a pregnancy coverage, you're pretty much doomed.

I'll take that as a no, you don't know of any conventional policies without this requirement. Thanks

[EasternDE 35]

I've been searching these last days this very specific question. (the maternity one)

The only one I found that would cover maternity is designed for "expatriate" people and it is very costly. But the company is in my own country, not in the US. But maybe you can find something similar in your fiancé's country?

No matter what, no insurance would cover a "pre-existing condition". Which is why I asked.

[breter 0]

I've been searching these last days this very specific question. (the maternity one)

The only one I found that would cover maternity is designed for "expatriate" people and it is very costly. But the company is in my own country, not in the US. But maybe you can find something similar in your fiancé's country?

No matter what, no insurance would cover a "pre-existing condition". Which is why I asked.

Actually, I thought of looking in her country but its not easy looking for stuff online in Latvia. I'll mention that to her as she can find stuff more easily. Thanks for the advice

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

Blue Cross Blue Shield will take legal residents (you need to provide a photocopy of the greencard or visa) from the first day they arrive in the country. They do have maternity coverage, but it is expensive and you need to have it and not get pregnant for 6 months until they will cover maternity.

If your wife is already pregnant or you are looking to get pregnant soon, check out self-pay fees from some local OB/GYNs and hospitals. We could not get maternity coverage due to previous infertility, and ended up going the self-pay route. I got a good discount for self-paying and a huge (30%) discount for paying for all schedules stuff (labs, doctor visits, hospital stay) at my first appointment, so if there are no complications, this baby will cost me about 4000 dollars; that is actually about the same as paying for the maternity rider for two years.

Edited July 25, 2009 by Penguin_ie

[DouglasFiel 53]

Can anyone recommend a good insurance company that will insure a non-citizen that has not been here for at least a year? Specifically maternity insurance. I've already looked online, and only found places that want to sell us some 137.50 a month "up to 80% paid" policy. However, it doesn't sound very good and they wont let me see the policy before I buy it. (big hint there) I missed putting her on my health insurance because it was so costly. We were just going to find an individual plan for her. However, that is starting to look impossible.

Might try to get her added to your insurance for a qualifying event, marriage, or she lost coverage elsewhere (you have 30 days)... Open enrollment (when does your company do this?) if you can get her enrolled before the baby is due,,,, they might have to cover,,, cause, I understand pregnancy is not subject to the preexisting condition clause... But, might want to verify that.

Good Luck,

[Tom&Ren 0]

Blue Cross Blue Shield will take legal residents (you need to provide a photocopy of the greencard or visa) from the first day they arrive in the country. They do have maternity coverage, but it is expensive and you need to have it and not get pregnant for 6 months until they will cover maternity.

If your wife is already pregnant or you are looking to get pregnant soon, check out self-pay fees from some local OB/GYNs and hospitals. We could not get maternity coverage due to previous infertility, and ended up going the self-pay route. I got a good discount for self-paying and a huge (30%) discount for paying for all schedules stuff (labs, doctor visits, hospital stay) at my first appointment, so if there are no complications, this baby will cost me about 4000 dollars; that is actually about the same as paying for the maternity rider for two years.

Hi Penguin! I am about to move to Iowa on a K1 Visa and was hoping to take out Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance there..............can you point me in the direction of where I can find info about legal residents being covered when they first arrive?? Cheers!

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

Hi Penguin! I am about to move to Iowa on a K1 Visa and was hoping to take out Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance there..............can you point me in the direction of where I can find info about legal residents being covered when they first arrive?? Cheers!

I don't know if it is mentioned anywhere on their website, but if you go to the online application bit on your state's BCBS website, it'll ask if you are a citizen and if not, to explain. I actually ended up applying over the phone, and was told to send in a copy of my visa page in the passport (didn't have the physical green card at that stage), and they insured me and the rest of my family (all USCs except for me) from the date the letter with the cheque and visa photocopy was postmarked. I have found them very good, they paid in full for all the twin's well-child visits and vaccinations, even the catch-up stuff that would have been done earlier if they'd been born here (vaccination program is different in Ireland, where they were born). They even ended up paying for my first pregnancy ultrasound in this pregnancy, because while maternity isn;t covered under my program, "pregnancy complications" are, and an early ultrasound to rule out twins this time was covered under that.

[Tom&Ren 0]

Thankyou for the info! It's a relief to know they definitely insure new immigrants.........I looked into some other "new immigrant" medical insurance for just myself but they all looked kind of dodgey, my fiance and I are much happier to go with a big reputable place like BC/BS.........thanks again!

[moonhunt 1]

Thankyou for the info! It's a relief to know they definitely insure new immigrants.........I looked into some other "new immigrant" medical insurance for just myself but they all looked kind of dodgey, my fiance and I are much happier to go with a big reputable place like BC/BS.........thanks again!

Make sure that you checked maternity condition.

Some medical insurance policy may have the condition, which not allow the coverage for maternity situation for some period such as 6 months from joining date.

You can double-check with your employer's medical insurance plan.

Sometimes they have 30, or 60 days enrollment if there is big life-time event such as marriage/divorce.

Joining from oversea as a part of immigration may be qualify for that one.

Ask supervisor or HR supervisor if you need help.

Edited July 30, 2009 by moonhunt

[Ed+Cindy 1]

Can anyone recommend a good insurance company that will insure a non-citizen that has not been here for at least a year? Specifically maternity insurance. I've already looked online, and only found places that want to sell us some 137.50 a month "up to 80% paid" policy. However, it doesn't sound very good and they wont let me see the policy before I buy it. (big hint there) I missed putting her on my health insurance because it was so costly. We were just going to find an individual plan for her. However, that is starting to look impossible.

We got a plan from Seven Corners for my fiance when she came here. They have a plan for new immigrants. However, its not a day to day type of plan, but more for urgent stuff. You might have a hard time finding something with day to day care for a reasonable price.