Health Insurance

[yutekao 43]

Hello guys, 

 

My wife and I got married at the end of January and we just sent in her AOS application to the USCIS. 

 

I wanted to add her to my health insurance (I have Blue Cross which is under Obamacare) but the lady I spoke to on the phone told me I could not add her to my health insurance until she gets her green card. Is that true? 

 

If so, what other health insurance company do you guys suggest for her to get until she gets her green card.

 

Any information will be appreciated 

 

 

Thank you

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Not true, you can be added with the NOA 1

[Georgia16 2,858]

No not true.

 

We have blue cross blue shield and we got added before we even sent in the AOS. 

[yuna628 9,680]

17 minutes ago, yutekao said:

Hello guys, 

 

My wife and I got married at the end of January and we just sent in her AOS application to the USCIS. 

 

I wanted to add her to my health insurance (I have Blue Cross which is under Obamacare) but the lady I spoke to on the phone told me I could not add her to my health insurance until she gets her green card. Is that true? 

 

If so, what other health insurance company do you guys suggest for her to get until she gets her green card.

 

Any information will be appreciated 

 

 

Thank you

Nope. From personal experience, and I am well familiar with BCBS as we have it ourselves - you can add a spouse to your plan so long as you are married. The lady is talking nonsense, and this is not surprising, as it's a common problem with insurance companies. She may be added to any insurance you have, but the problem I do see here is that you have waited some time to add her, which is where the sticking point for BCBS might be. You could have added her immediately after you married.

 

Does she have or did you apply for an EAD with the AOS? Does she have her NOA1? There is no reason why she cannot be added, or purchase insurance for her, or even sign up to the federal exchange - your problem is going to be the fact you've waited a bit and trying to get the phone people to understand the requirements. BCBS is straightforward enough to the point you can mostly sign up online though - they did require some paperwork faxed over and a copy of the marriage certificate. Otherwise, once I was able to speak with a supervisor (and I spoke to multiple people all saying different things.. which was amusing when you know they aren't telling the truth) it was fine. BTW: They don't even ask for proof of status. An SSN is NOT required either, no matter what they say. But if using the exchange they may ask for proof (they give you some time to provide it) - an NOA1 or even an EAD will suffice.

Edited May 2, 2017 by yuna628

[Redheadguy03 505]

I believe you have 90 days to add someone under the special enrollment. So you may have missed that window. 

[Dutchster 1,107]

My husband added me on his health care, that is BlueCross BlueShield, with providing my social security number. That was last year, after we got married.

[yutekao 43]

1 hour ago, yuna628 said:

Nope. From personal experience, and I am well familiar with BCBS as we have it ourselves - you can add a spouse to your plan so long as you are married. The lady is talking nonsense, and this is not surprising, as it's a common problem with insurance companies. She may be added to any insurance you have, but the problem I do see here is that you have waited some time to add her, which is where the sticking point for BCBS might be. You could have added her immediately after you married.

 

Does she have or did you apply for an EAD with the AOS? Does she have her NOA1? There is no reason why she cannot be added, or purchase insurance for her, or even sign up to the federal exchange - your problem is going to be the fact you've waited a bit and trying to get the phone people to understand the requirements. BCBS is straightforward enough to the point you can mostly sign up online though - they did require some paperwork faxed over and a copy of the marriage certificate. Otherwise, once I was able to speak with a supervisor (and I spoke to multiple people all saying different things.. which was amusing when you know they aren't telling the truth) it was fine. BTW: They don't even ask for proof of status. An SSN is NOT required either, no matter what they say. But if using the exchange they may ask for proof (they give you some time to provide it) - an NOA1 or even an EAD will suffice.

Yes I do realized I missed the 60 day window after the marriage. My wife has not received her NOA1 (We sent in our package on 4/26/2017)

 

Also my wife has applied the AOS with the EAD. 

 

I am going to wait and call again when I have the NOA1. I really think the lady I spoke to has no idea what she was talking about and she didn't seem very helpful at all. 

 

So you think my wife will be able to add in to my health insurance after she receives her NOA1?

 

Thank you for your help 

[yutekao 43]

1 hour ago, Ebunoluwa said:

Not true, you can be added with the NOA 1

 

Thank you. 

 

We should receive our NOA1 soon. 

 

I will definitely give them a call again. Hopefully I can speak to someone that actually knows what they are doing.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

As far as I understand it you can get added right away after marriage through the employer but if through Obamacare you need the NOA1. At least it was that way when I looked at the requirements for immigrants instructions on thei marketplace website.