Health Insurance Requirement?

[Rebecca Smith 1]

Hello fellow visa holders and those in process. I am new to this forum and probably would not have encountered this wonderful forum if not for what happened to us at my IR1 husband's final visa interview. They required him to present a health insurance policy. Their details were only that it could not be a policy commonly called a "traveler's health insurance", and that it had to be for a period of one year. Does anyone know about this requirement? I, as the USC, live with my husband in Costa Rica, and so we will both be moving to the US once he gets his visa, and as of this moment, neither of us has a job or even job offer there. Help!!

[The Mean Lady 604]

ewww ####### tell me that isn't true.

[bsd058 296]

If it's the first you've heard of it, then it's probably not for everyone. They don't require it for Canadians as far as I know KDH.

[Alaska2012 462]

I have never heard of this before. Does he have some kind of medical condition?

[caly 48]

I have never heard of this being asked for before.

[The Mean Lady 604]

I know I have to get health insurance for him, just wasn't prepared for this to be done at interview.

Seems especially silly since we don't know WHEN we'd be entering the US, so why would I be required to give him health insurance in a country he isn't in yet.

silly silly silly

[SarahBear 4]

Hello, sorry just to clarify here, did they ask for a health insurance policy good for the United States, or did they ask for one from your spouses' home country?

I don't understand why they'd need to see a health insurance policy good for the USA if he doesn't reside in the USA yet. I don't even know if an insurance company would write a policy for a scenario like that *unless* it was for traveler's insurance.

[NikLR 13,220]

I plan on getting travel insurance for when I move down until I am able to be put on my husband's . Last thing we want is to have to pay a bunch of money if I get hurt. Accidents happen. As is being a requirement you may want to check in your regional forum or with other Costa Rica applicants.

[Rebecca Smith 1]

I have never heard of this before. Does he have some kind of medical condition?

At the required medical exam, the doctor will ask if you have any health issues or take any medication. He answered that he takes medicine sometimes for blood sugar issues. The doctor then put that information in the paperwork that he filled out for the Embassy's information. My husband didn't take a test to prove that he has diabetic issues or anything, and diabetes is not a disqualifier as far as immigrant visas are concerned. The consular officer didn't even say that the health insurance policy had to insure for issues with diabetes. Just asked for a general policy that would last for 1 year and not be "traveler's insurance". They implied that it is an optional requirement that they can place on an applicant. When I asked for more information, the consular officer would only say to look at the USCIS website (where there is no information). I had to call the Embassy later to try to pin down the real requirements, and still feel like I don't have all the information.

[Alaska2012 462]

At the required medical exam, the doctor will ask if you have any health issues or take any medication. He answered that he takes medicine sometimes for blood sugar issues. The doctor then put that information in the paperwork that he filled out for the Embassy's information. My husband didn't take a test to prove that he has diabetic issues or anything, and diabetes is not a disqualifier as far as immigrant visas are concerned. The consular officer didn't even say that the health insurance policy had to insure for issues with diabetes. Just asked for a general policy that would last for 1 year and not be "traveler's insurance". They implied that it is an optional requirement that they can place on an applicant. When I asked for more information, the consular officer would only say to look at the USCIS website (where there is no information). I had to call the Embassy later to try to pin down the real requirements, and still feel like I don't have all the information.

To me it all sounds very strange, there is no such requirement in order to get the visa. No one can force you to get an insurance, if you want to pay out of your own pocket that is all good. You need to talk to some more people about this, maybe actually talk to someone at uscis or something cause it sounds to me like the consular officer don't really know what he is talking about.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

This was the problem 'He answered that he takes medicine sometimes for blood sugar issues", this is a chronic condition. Therefore the embassy wants to make sure your husband will not depend on government aid. This condition requires daily medication or doctors supervised visits.

They have opted to asked you'll to provided proof of Health Insurance rather than to straight out reject your husband petition on the fact that he could become an aid to government assistance.

Your choice......

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

This was the problem 'He answered that he takes medicine sometimes for blood sugar issues", this is a chronic condition. Therefore the embassy wants to make sure your husband will not depend on government aid. This condition requires daily medication or doctors supervised visits.

They have opted to asked you'll to provided proof of Health Insurance rather than to straight out reject your husband petition on the fact that he could become an aid to government assistance.

Your choice......

Yep.

This is only the second time I have heard of them requiring health insurance for a spousal case (the other case was a wife with severe asthma if I remember right), but it is quite common when petitioning elderly parents.

Travellers insurance does not usually cover people who immigrate, hence they would not accept it.

Edited January 3, 2013 by Penguin_ie

[The Mean Lady 604]

Nice to see this clarified.

My husband's only visit to his doctor in 3.5 years so far now has been because his doctor retired and he was required to "meet" his new one upon receipt of his records.

I think we're good

Sorry for you, though, that sucks.

[Rebecca Smith 1]

This was the problem 'He answered that he takes medicine sometimes for blood sugar issues", this is a chronic condition. Therefore the embassy wants to make sure your husband will not depend on government aid. This condition requires daily medication or doctors supervised visits.

They have opted to asked you'll to provided proof of Health Insurance rather than to straight out reject your husband petition on the fact that he could become an aid to government assistance.

Your choice......

I probably would agree, but isn't that what the sponsor and joint or co-sponsor are for, to help so the person doesn't go on government aid? And, this kind of insurance doesn't cover anything pre-existing, so it won't help with his diabetes needs. It will just help for emergency situations or accidents, etc. So it will hopefully be a good net, but it is a shame that they can't just ask us to find a plan to enroll him in once we set foot in the US.

[Rebecca Smith 1]

Yep.

This is only the second time I have heard of them requiring health insurance for a spousal case (the other case was a wife with severe asthma if I remember right), but it is quite common when petitioning elderly parents.

Travellers insurance does not usually cover people who immigrate, hence they would not accept it.

It may be common in practice, but it is not mentioned in the law or in lists of requirements. That is where our sticking point is. We went to what should have been the "final interview" and they gave us this requirement there, and it was just like out of left field. They also didn't provide us with any good information about what type. They literally said on the form they gave us that it has to be for a minimum of one year and it cannot be traveller's insurance. That is all. No minimums or maximums, no requirements for what the policy should or should not cover, etc. We were shocked and dismayed and left in a feeling of disbelief. Can you imagine?