Health insurance

[JennyJM 0]

Hi,

I recently received my CR-1 visa (finally!) and will be travelling to the US next Wednesday to live with my husband. He is a government employee and has excellent family health insurance, however, I need a social security number in order to be added to his policy. His cousin works in the local social security office and will help me get this as soon as possible, but I won't have it immediately when I move. I have a pre-existing medical condition and just don't want to be without insurance in the interim. Travel insurance will not work because my intention not to return to my home country would invalidate the policy.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!

[Lemonslice 4,887]

Some companies make it sounds like SSN is compulsory to get insurance, it is not.

[Expat1 971]

It is not.

My wife was enrolled the same way a newborn is enrolled, pending receipt of SS number. Your husband needs to have you enrolled the same way and provide the SS number whenever the card is issued.

Your husband's mistake was not enrolling you as soon as you got married. The change of circumstance opens a window for enrollment, which if not taken advantage of, causes you to wait until next annual enrollment window.

Your husband needs to sit down with HR and figure out what to do.

Edited July 6, 2015 by Expat1

[Ryan H 3,813]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to Moving to the US and Your New Life In America forum; topic is about issues post POE.

[mlh 93]

It is not.

My wife was enrolled the same way a newborn is enrolled, pending receipt of SS number. Your husband needs to have you enrolled the same way and provide the SS number whenever the card is issued.

Your husband's mistake was not enrolling you as soon as you got married. The change of circumstance opens a window for enrollment, which if not taken advantage of, causes you to wait until next annual enrollment window.

Your husband needs to sit down with HR and figure out what to do.

Some insurance companies also consider immigration a life changing event, not just the marriage, and I know we did not enroll my husband upon marriage because 1) most US insurance companies will not cover a spouse that doesn't live in the US, and 2) even if we could enroll him, we didn't want to pay insurance premiums for 20 months when he's not even here to use them.

OP - Another option to consider, which was recommended to me in my thread a couple weeks ago about insurance coverage is www.einsurance.com. You can get short term insurance if for some reason you can't be enrolled in your husband's without your SSN.

[Umka36 781]

I was able to enroll my newborn son without a SSN, but was informed that as soon as I got it to provide it to HR and the insurance company.

It's just a recommendation, but I wouldn't have his cousin personally involved with your SSN processing. It can be deemed a conflict of interest. I have a brother-in-law that works as a district manager for social security, but avoid asking him for a favor because I wouldn't want him to lose his job for it.

[JennyJM 0]

Thanks everyone for the advice! Much appreciated!

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

I don't know how serious is your pre-existing condition and how soon you may seek for medical help, but it took me lees than a couple of weeks after arrival to apply for SSN and may be under another week to get it. If you think you may be fine for a 3 weeks or so I wouldn't worry about it. Just apply as soon as system will let you. You can bring drugs for personal use to the US as long as they're legal here (even if they require prescription in the US), I had some legal drugs I purchased in Russian pharmacy in my luggage just in case.

- Victor from Russia

[j&ana 363]

my wife arrived in the united states June 9th she got her social security number card about a week after she arrived. I call to have her put on my insurance at first they told me they could not do it since it was not life changing event, but when I reminded them that it was according to the Obama affordable health care act. they told me they had to check, then came back on the phone and told me I was correct. That it was consider a life changing event. So if they tell you no, ague with them as it is a life changing event but I think you only have a certain amount of time upon arrival to be put on the policy..Also as other have said you can apply then give them your social number when you received it

Edited July 6, 2015 by j&ana