Insurance Rant

[Peggy 1]

Someone else just posted this same question the other day. They wouldnt let them add their spouse to the insurance, becasue it was past the 30 days.

Take a look to see if you can find it.

I hope you get this sorted out soon

[pbgirl 1]

You should look into the details further. Usually a qualifying life event would be one of the following:

Marriage

Birth, Adoption, Guardianship

Divorce

Spouse Loss of Insurance or Employment

Spouse gains employment

Transfer or Family move

Dependent Loss of Eligibility

Immigration should fall into the "Family move" category, so do some research. Call your insurance provider directly and ask for more details about qualifying events. I would be willing to bet that you can get this resolved without changing jobs or paying for private insurance.

I was told by my HR person (I too, am trying to be proactive) about adding my husband to my insurance and she said it qualifed as a life event, but more because he was losing his insurance (by leaving his job and moving to the States). So it would be OK to not add him until he was in the States.

I would push that event more than the marriage one.

[CarolineM 0]

well well. I called back and got to speak to a VERY nice and VERY helpful man. He says that he really doesn't know but he says as long as Stewart can show something from Australia saying he will not have coverage in America - it will work and we can add him.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but insurance in England and Australia (and probably everywhere around the world...) is different from the US. He is not covered through his job, but rather through medicare? So I'd have to get him to get a note from them saying he won't be covered in America...

I think I'm right on this and i'm feeling much better

[Sister Fracas 5]

Glad you seem to have gotten this sorted.

When my husband moved here, I was told by my HR dept, I just had to add him within the 30 days of his arrival. The thing was that they needed his social security number...which made me nervous because I thought he might not get his SSN before 30 days was up, but all was well and he was added easily.

[Kajikit 65]

well well. I called back and got to speak to a VERY nice and VERY helpful man. He says that he really doesn't know but he says as long as Stewart can show something from Australia saying he will not have coverage in America - it will work and we can add him.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but insurance in England and Australia (and probably everywhere around the world...) is different from the US. He is not covered through his job, but rather through medicare? So I'd have to get him to get a note from them saying he won't be covered in America...

I think I'm right on this and i'm feeling much better

That's a real no-brainer... they should know that Australian medicare is NOT reciprocal, any more than the NHS or US medicare is. Australia has private insurance as well but it doesn't cover you outside the country either - I suspended my policy when I moved because I had about six months left to run... I didn't bring any kind of document.

[Chicky 0]

I added my hubby immediately, but as a list only out of country and it made my rate go down but didn't add to it as he wasn't here driving.

[almaty 19]

Karo, my company had the same requirement ....

[TracyTN 237]

Most every company has a cut off time that the 'qualifying event' is considered valid. I think the angle you're trying now (him moving here as the qualifying event) should get you where you need to be.