health insurance crisis

[M&Pooh 12]

Everything went smoothly with Soc Sec. The guy helping us said he didn't need the letter to my employer. He said 3-4 weeks for delivery of soc sec card and she's even eligible to work in the US due to k1 visa. Thanks for the advice guys...

3-4 weeks might mean a serious problem for you. Many insurances allow adding a family member during 30 days after qualifying event ( in your case, marriage ) ONLY. If I were you, it would be the first thing to find out - whether your insurance carrier has a similar policy.

[veronicaanalee 2]

you can get the SSC after 14 workings-days after her arrival!

[Brian121957 43]

Everything went smoothly with Soc Sec. The guy helping us said he didn't need the letter to my employer. He said 3-4 weeks for delivery of soc sec card and she's even eligible to work in the US due to k1 visa. Thanks for the advice guys...

I think you will find that her SSC will be stamped that it is not valid for employment with out additional work permits. She won't beable to work untill you file AOS and get approved.

[EvilSquee 7]

As someone mentioned most companies have a policy that you only have 30 days after the qualifying life event (your legal wedding date) for open enrollment (changing your benefits aka adding your wife to the health insurance policy). DO NOT WAIT! She doesn't need a SSN to be added to your insurance, it may be a pain but don't wait 2-3 weeks for a SSC, get her added now before it's too late and they tell you too bad so sad 30 days are up. It will be much much much harder trying to fix that (not likely to be able to) than it will to get them to add her with no SSN.

[mfa 1]

I believe my question is semi-related...please bare with me here...

Suppose a pregnant immigrant enters legally but neither she nor spouse has health insurance? What happens when delivery time comes or doctor visits are needed???

Also...suppose pregnant immigrant arrives legally while married to spouse and covered under health plan...but then spouse loses job and health care before delivery comes???

[LeftCoastLady 441]

I believe my question is semi-related...please bare with me here...

Suppose a pregnant immigrant enters legally but neither she nor spouse has health insurance? What happens when delivery time comes or doctor visits are needed???

Also...suppose pregnant immigrant arrives legally while married to spouse and covered under health plan...but then spouse loses job and health care before delivery comes???

Then you'll have to pay out of pocket. Most hospitals won't turn you away at delivery due to lack of insurance, however, do expect a rather large bill in the mail.

[Brian121957 43]

Also...suppose pregnant immigrant arrives legally while married to spouse and covered under health plan...but then spouse loses job and health care before delivery comes???

Your employer should get you information on your COBRA options. COBRA is a way to keep your insurance but you pay for it instead of employer. As a rule the COBRA option is very expensive. But with a pending birth it may be better then nothing.

[LeftCoastLady 441]

Your employer should get you information on your COBRA options. COBRA is a way to keep your insurance but you pay for it instead of employer. As a rule the COBRA option is very expensive. But with a pending birth it may be better then nothing.

COBRA could be an option, however, be sure to read up on if it's possible to add a spouse during COBRA coverage.

[M&Pooh 12]

COBRA could be an option, however, be sure to read up on if it's possible to add a spouse during COBRA coverage.

I think, the original question implied that a spouse was already added and then the insured family member loses the coverage. In this case both spouses are eligible for COBRA coverage.

Also, I wouldn't say that COBRA is "very expensive". Many employer-provided health plans subsidize only the employee him/herself, not his/her family. In this case, COBRA premium does not differ much from a "usual" premium paid by the covered employee.

[LeftCoastLady 441]

I think, the original question implied that a spouse was already added and then the insured family member loses the coverage. In this case both spouses are eligible for COBRA coverage.

Also, I wouldn't say that COBRA is "very expensive". Many employer-provided health plans subsidize only the employee him/herself, not his/her family. In this case, COBRA premium does not differ much from a "usual" premium paid by the covered employee.

In the second scenario mfa mentioned, yes, the spouse should be able to be added to COBRA, however, it's best to check the coverage, especially since it would involve pregnancy care.

COBRA can be expensive if one's employer subsidizes a large portion of the health insurance costs. If you're paying $120/month, for example, while employed and that jumps to over $400/month under COBRA, that can be a shock to your bank account, especially since you're unemployed.

[kev_n_jena 89]

In the second scenario mfa mentioned, yes, the spouse should be able to be added to COBRA, however, it's best to check the coverage, especially since it would involve pregnancy care.

COBRA can be expensive if one's employer subsidizes a large portion of the health insurance costs. If you're paying $120/month, for example, while employed and that jumps to over $400/month under COBRA, that can be a shock to your bank account, especially since you're unemployed.

Cobra at my wife's previous job was about $320 per month. She stopped working after the birth of our child.

To add my wife and child to my policy at work was going to cost over $800 per month. Luckily they were able to qualify for private insurance at just over $300 per month.

Some of her Filipino coworkers here in the US mentioned that we should have another child soon. I told them how expensive it was and they were shocked. They thought the government paid for it since many of the single mothers they work with paid nothing.

By the way, without insurance the birth and prenatal care would have cost over $25,000 without discounts. The birth was normal. With insurance we probably paid about $5,000.

[mfa 1]

Have any sponsors here been presented with bills for child births that took place when immigrant was uninsured???

actually...maybe i should ask the opposite question too - does anyone know of any stories about sponsors whose immigrant had an uninsured child birth and, surprisingly, never received a bill???

Edited June 14, 2012 by mfa

[Caryh 5,206]

Have any sponsors here been presented with bills for child births that took place when immigrant was uninsured???

actually...maybe i should ask the opposite question too - does anyone know of any stories about sponsors whose immigrant had an uninsured child birth and, surprisingly, never received a bill???

That is like asking if you know anyone who filled up their cart at the grocery store and was told they didn't need to pay when they left. Someone always has to pay the bill, be it the individual, some government system that was qualified for, a charity, or insurance. Hospitals and doctors are not free in the USA and they will try to collect. Failing to collect they will turn it over to a collection agency which will continue to try and collect.

[mfa 1]

That is like asking if you know anyone who filled up their cart at the grocery store and was told they didn't need to pay when they left. Someone always has to pay the bill, be it the individual, some government system that was qualified for, a charity, or insurance. Hospitals and doctors are not free in the USA and they will try to collect. Failing to collect they will turn it over to a collection agency which will continue to try and collect.

if you have a story to share, please do.

but i dont need any lessons in economics, thanks.

im simply asking for stories about people's experiences.

whether its good or bad in your eyes is of little concern to my question.

[Caryh 5,206]

if you have a story to share, please do.

but i dont need any lessons in economics, thanks.

im simply asking for stories about people's experiences.

whether its good or bad in your eyes is of little concern to my question.

If I understood your question, you were asking if you can get services in a hospital in the USA for free. You can't, the USA does not have free medical care. Was there a different question you're asking?