Medical Insurance for Wife

[vkrishn 97]

Hi all,

My wife got her Immigrant Visa on Feb and will be coming to the U.S next week. We got married in august 2013 and this is the first time she will be coming to the U.S

1) I called up my employer's health benefits contact and they told me that i have to wait until November to add my wife since its been more than 30 days since we got married and i cannot add her next week. Last November when we got the option to change my coverage, i called up the same number and confirmed with them that its OK to add my wife in March/April since she is expected to come to the U.S that time and they said OK. They don't seem to be OK with it now when i called them yesterday. Is there anywhere that says that if the spouse is immigrating for the first time to the U.S, i could add her any time and don't have to worry about the 30 day rule?

2) So i created an account online for Obamacare (Screwed up website and super slow) but did not purchase any insurance plans and was super expensive. Cheapest was like $300 per month. Is this the only option i have for my wife?

3) I thought about getting a travel insurance from India but not sure if its of any use until November 2014.

Thanks in advance.

[Cathi 5,770]

each company has their own rules. Usually there is open enrollment once a year, at the end of the year. When my husband got insurance through work in January as a new hire, we were contemplating whether or not we should add my children. We were told the same thing, if we didn't add them in the first 30 days, we would have to wait until open enrollment in October, so we opted to add them before the 30 day window was up. There are no rules for new immigrant spouses. You cannot purchase travel insurance for her because she isn't traveling here, she will be a resident

[Darnell 8,478]

you may want to talk to the medical insurance folk directly, not only the contact in HR,

as

an immigrating spouse is deemed a 'life-changing event' usually,

and

instant additions are allowed on 'life-changing events'.

[vkrishn 97]

you may want to talk to the medical insurance folk directly, not only the contact in HR,

as

an immigrating spouse is deemed a 'life-changing event' usually,

and

instant additions are allowed on 'life-changing events'.

Was planning on doing that tomm. HR contact needs couple of days time to "verify" what i spoke with the rep last Nov. Wish there was something clear cut for new immigrants.

Immigrating spouse isn't a Life changing event according to our company rules (At Least not quoted on their website). Will know better tomm. :-(

[Kat&Abhi 42]

Was planning on doing that tomm. HR contact needs couple of days time to "verify" what i spoke with the rep last Nov. Wish there was something clear cut for new immigrants.

Immigrating spouse isn't a Life changing event according to our company rules (At Least not quoted on their website). Will know better tomm. :-(

what my HR told me is that immigration in itself is not the life changing event, the fact that the spouse is losing their insurance in India is what makes it a life changing event and able to add the spouse immediately to your policy. The spouse cannot continue their indian insurance while in the US so they are in effect losing their insurance so that makes them immediately eligible to add to your policy. They said it doesn't matter that they are losing insurance due to immigration its just the point that they are losing their insurance.

[vkrishn 97]

Spoke to my company's Heath Benefits center again today and they told me tat they made an "exception" and will let me add my spouse to my health coverage once she comes to the U.S next week. They do need some kind of ID number (CA DMV website says one needs an SSN) or SSN (which will take 2-3 weeks to get the moment she steps in to the U.S).

[novedsac 355]

Kat & Abhi got it right … IRS defines qualifying events for qualified cafeteria-style benefit plans. Companies can implement their own requirements as long as they are not outside of the boundaries established by the IRS.

Immigration in and of itself is not a qualifying event. But a change in residence that effects the availability of coverage is a qualifying event per IRS guidelines. Since immigration is by definition a change of residence, then it would be a qualifying event.

Insurance companies like to utilize SSN for identification and tracking purposes, but you have no obligation to provide it to them. They must assign another number if you don't want to divulge your SSN or have it used for insurance purposes.

I very much doubt HR has 'made an exception' - they likely realized they were wrong in their initial response and didn't want to admit so, perhaps thinking you'd be extra grateful if you felt they were doing you a favor.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

I think it realy depends on your income, etc. Me and my wife (both have jobs, but both not eligible for any health insurance from employers) got totally FREE insurance through Obamacare, all of the cost came up subsidized by Obamacare (Bronze plans group). For Silver level plans we would have to pay over $100/month for both of us, but we can't afford it so we chose free Bronze plan. May be your household income is way too big to have free/cheap insurance, that's why you have to pay $300/month for your spouse?

- Victor from Russia

[Morningmist 76]

It depends if your employer offers insurance as well and income. The more income you make AND if you have employer sponsored health insurance, the marketplace is ridiculously expensive.

Esp. if you compare benefit to benefit.

The marketplace in fact kept saying that I should check out my employer's insurance but if I still was curious I could check out the marketplace. It nearly made me cry when I saw the rates.

[vkrishn 97]

Kat & Abhi got it right … IRS defines qualifying events for qualified cafeteria-style benefit plans. Companies can implement their own requirements as long as they are not outside of the boundaries established by the IRS.

Immigration in and of itself is not a qualifying event. But a change in residence that effects the availability of coverage is a qualifying event per IRS guidelines. Since immigration is by definition a change of residence, then it would be a qualifying event.

Insurance companies like to utilize SSN for identification and tracking purposes, but you have no obligation to provide it to them. They must assign another number if you don't want to divulge your SSN or have it used for insurance purposes.

I very much doubt HR has 'made an exception' - they likely realized they were wrong in their initial response and didn't want to admit so, perhaps thinking you'd be extra grateful if you felt they were doing you a favor.

Yeah. Whatever it may be i am relieved about this problem now. :-)

If you don't give your SSN they ask for an Identification number from the State I.D and as per CA DMV, State Id needs an SSN number (Huh? Beats me!). So lets see how it goes in 2 weeks. Thanks all for the input.

[vkrishn 97]

I think it realy depends on your income, etc. Me and my wife (both have jobs, but both not eligible for any health insurance from employers) got totally FREE insurance through Obamacare, all of the cost came up subsidized by Obamacare (Bronze plans group). For Silver level plans we would have to pay over $100/month for both of us, but we can't afford it so we chose free Bronze plan. May be your household income is way too big to have free/cheap insurance, that's why you have to pay $300/month for your spouse?

- Victor from Russia

Hmmm. I did not enter my annual pay yet. I just created an account on the website and since i did that on March 31st, it gave me a message to come back on April 10th to pick the plans.

I was just browsing through the plans and minimum was $300 per month. Don't know how it showed me those rates. I have Anthem blue cross HDHP (HSA) plan provided by my employer and don't pay any premium for the entire year since the company bears that cost if i get my health check done every year but have to pay medical costs up to $3000(single) or $5500 (family) before insurance covers 100%.

Edited April 4, 2014 by vkrishn

[vkrishn 97]

Update: Wife arrived last thursday and i added her to my insurance today. No issues. :-)

[TBoneTX 45,498]

Congratulations on both counts!