Greencard pending and pregnant!

[mkay2k 0]

Good morning,

 

I'm looking for a little bit of advice please. 

 

I'm a British Citizen residing in Maine awaiting approval of my immigration status. My Greencard application was submitted in October 2016, after I married my Husband in the September, who is a Maine resident. I have contacted USCIS, who have said this is still within the processing time. 

 

I do not have any US current health insurance, because I do no have a Social Security Number, something we were going to look at after my immigration status changed. 

 

I've since found out that I'm pregnant. I'm not able to leave the US under immigration law, for example to have the baby back in the UK, where I would be covered by The NHS. 

 

I've looked into getting insurance, but all the companies will not cover me now that I am pregnant. I have been reading forum by people in similar circumstances and people have advised me to contact my local Birthing Center to set up a plan with them. Does anyone have any advice at all please?

 

Both my husband and I work, so we wouldn't require or be entitled to any government benefits. 

 

Thank you

Edited February 17, 2017 by michaelahess
removed address

[Georgia16 2,858]

You work so you must have gotten your EAD. You can get SSN number with that. 

 

Is is it a combo card you have also AP then you can travel also. 

[mkay2k 0]

Thank you for your reply. 

 

I work for a company based in the UK, so I haven't required a SSN.

 

[Georgia16 2,858]

15 minutes ago, michaelahess said:

Thank you for your reply. 

 

I work for a company based in the UK, so I haven't required a SSN.

 

Why didn't you apply for EAD and AP it was free with the AOS (Still is) ? You could have had it by now. 

I would go ahead and apply for it because you just never know how long the AOS process will take.

[mkay2k 0]

I didn't realise I needed EAD because I'm not working for a US company. I get paid by a UK company, into a UK bank account.

 

I'm all confused!

 

I don't necessarily want to have the baby back in the UK, I want to have it here with my Husband by my side. I just want to know if anyone had landed themselves in a similar situation and what they did about insurance and paying to have the baby. 

[Boiler 43,630]

Nothing to stop you leaving, getting back in without AP is the issue.

 

You are not resident in the UK, much of the NHS requires you to be a resident.

 

You did not need a SSN to apply for Medical Insurance and could have done so under the last open enrollment. Look to see when the next time you can sign up is. Can you be added to your Husbands plan?

 

How did you enter the US?

[mkay2k 0]

I entered on an Esta, but then we decided to get married and started the Greencard process. 

 

I will check with my Husband's Insurance, but I'm pretty sure I've missed the deadline now :/ 

[Georgia16 2,858]

7 minutes ago, michaelahess said:

I didn't realise I needed EAD because I'm not working for a US company. I get paid by a UK company, into a UK bank account.

 

I'm all confused!

 

I don't necessarily want to have the baby back in the UK, I want to have it here with my Husband by my side. I just want to know if anyone had landed themselves in a similar situation and what they did about insurance and paying to have the baby. 

You should have been able to get on the medical without the SSN. My boy got on without having a SSN number.

[yuna628 9,534]

Since you entered under the VWP and not a K1 or a spouse visa, obtaining an SSN wouldn't have been possible for you immediately as it would have been if you had the legal protections afforded by an actual visa. Nevertheless the unfortunate thing is you also didn't file for an EAD, which would have been the thing that would help you to obtain an SSN and make signing up for health insurance easier - such as O'care. You have likely also waited to long to use a special qualifier for O'care right now. Still, this is yet another example of someone being told they couldn't obtain insurance without an SSN, when they could have - either privately purchased or signed up via the spouse's insurance at work if offered. An SSN is not required to obtain insurance, despite what any person tells you. Green card arrivals can take up to a year these days...

 

[Marco&Bettina 502]

OP, when did you find out you were pregnant? You may still be within the qualifying event window as the child is your husbands. The child could be covered then, which would cover you on appointments and birth, even if you're not ensured. It's a bit more complicated than that. But that's the gist.

[3rd 84]

I agree with Marco&Bettina, depending on when you found out you were pregnant you may still be in the 'life changing event' qualifying window to be added to your husband's insurance. Either way I think this would be a great time to apply for your EAD/AP card, it costs you nothing as you've already applied for AOS. If you read the guides it'll be very helpful for you. 

 

Worst case scenario you get your AP but still can't get insurance then you could always fly home and have the baby there as a last resort. I'm sure there are insurances that will take you on, but you'll be paying a pretty penny for the privilege.

[f f 725]

5 hours ago, Marco&Bettina said:

OP, when did you find out you were pregnant? You may still be within the qualifying event window as the child is your husbands. The child could be covered then, which would cover you on appointments and birth, even if you're not ensured. It's a bit more complicated than that. But that's the gist.

the date you found you were pregnant is irrelevant.there is no way to get insurance even if you can prove you are carrying a usc baby.  stop spreading false hope. there was a window when you emigrated that is now closed. there was a window when you married that is now closed. there was open enrollment that is now closed. you had many opportunities and because some one said you were missing information that was not required does not give you another chance. it was and still is your own responsibility to know the laws and fight for what is legally within your rights.the most common ways to get health insurance outside of open enrollment is through; marriage, divorce, birth, death, moving, new job, left job. until an enrollment window opens you will be hard pressed to find an insurer who would willing take on a pregnant woman who will cost much more than she paid in this year. you may wish to seriously consider giving birth in England if you can not cover the bills of child birth.

 

good luck

[3rd 84]

It does specify on the healthcare website that the qualifying event only happens with a birth. Makes sense...

 

I would then say you either need to AP and have the baby back home, have to pay a big medical bill here, or keep searching for an insurance that will take you. My suggestion is to have the baby back in the UK as the rates if you do get insurance are going to be exorbitant. 

[GreatDane 366]

Can your husband get a new job? That honestly might be the easiest solution, even in Maine.

As I'm sure you're aware, non-USCs don't qualify for any government funded healthcare and accepting it would make you a burden to society cancelling your application so affordable care act provisions won't be an option. 

You need to wait until your AOS is processed to leave the country or you abandon your petition. This can take 1-2 years, but is generally less than one. You could try to apply for EAD/AP - it is free to apply while your AOS is processing, but it might not be any quicker than waiting for AOS at this point.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I don't think that going back to the U.K. is an option as she's no longer a resident for healthcare purposes.

 

OP, I highly suggest finding a midwife and birthing center.  That would definitely cut down on costs.