Getting SS number for Health Insurance

[gregoryagu 30]

Kadriya and I were legally married on May 5 in a civil wedding in Clearwater Florida.  (She arrived Mar 28, we got engaged April 5. We will do a church wedding 24 June 2017). We are very happy together of course.

 

Now for the paperwork.  I would like to start by getting her on my health insurance. But it seems a social security number is required.

 

Can we just go now to the SS and get one?  What documentation will they require?

 

I currently have health insurance through my company, but the cost goes from 42 per week to 142 per week when adding a spouse.  I have checked healthcare.gov, and the plans there seem to be about half the price for the same coverage.

 

But I know there is a small window to get this taken care of, or wait until the next open enrollment.

 

Any advice is appreciated.

 

Greg

 

[DrEllaNJ 288]

try to get the SSN as soon as possible.  https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf

In fact, you should already have done that. Sometimes you run in trouble when you wait until after the wedding /her I-94 is close to expiring, and they make you wait until EAD. See http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

 

For health insurance, SSN is generally not required though - but very few administrators know that. Generally, marriage is a "qualifying event", after which you have 30 days to act.

Edited May 15, 2017 by DrEllaNJ

[ch3john 308]

Typically, the A number can be used in place of SSN

[gregoryagu 30]

17 minutes ago, DrEllaNJ said:

try to get the SSN as soon as possible.  https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf

In fact, you should already have done that. Sometimes you run in trouble when you wait until after the wedding /her I-94 is close to expiring, and they make you wait until EAD. See http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

 

For health insurance, SSN is generally not required though - but very few administrators know that. Generally, marriage is a "qualifying event", after which you have 30 days to act.

Thanks.  Tomorrow morning we will go to the SS office and see if we can get that.  Her I-94 is good for 6 months total, so that is not close to expiring yet.

[gregoryagu 30]

11 minutes ago, ch3john said:

Typically, the A number can be used in place of SSN

The A number?  Do you mean the Arrival number from her I-94?

[f f 725]

the ssn is not required for health insurance. I have used the i94 number for my step child with no issues.

also which visa did your wife arrive on since it is in the cr1 section but you mention having a marriage ceremony here.

[gregoryagu 30]

16 minutes ago, f f said:

the ssn is not required for health insurance. I have used the i94 number for my step child with no issues.

also which visa did your wife arrive on since it is in the cr1 section but you mention having a marriage ceremony here.

 

16 minutes ago, f f said:

the ssn is not required for health insurance. I have used the i94 number for my step child with no issues.

also which visa did your wife arrive on since it is in the cr1 section but you mention having a marriage ceremony here.

She arrived on a B2 Visa. 

 

So I believe the IR Visa is the correct Visa, but I am unfamiliar with IR/CR1 Visa's. (I was working on a K1 Visa earlier with a different person, but we broke up before the interview.)  

 

Kadriya came and visited for a month, then went back to Russia for two months, came back for a second visit at which time I proposed and she accepted.  We then did a civil wedding. But there was no K1 involved.

Edited May 15, 2017 by gregoryagu

[DrEllaNJ 288]

actually, if you're both in the US, you should do AOS - unless she's planning to go back to Russia and wait for her visa there. http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

 

But you say you're getting her on your health insurance, which may not be necessary if she goes back to Russia. In that case, you could ask your insurance provider if immigrating is a qualifying event, and then when she immigrates, add her to your insurance or buy insurance on the Marketplace. 

[DrEllaNJ 288]

also, I was under the impression that she came with a K1 visa. So scratch my first post - I'm not sure if she will be able to get a US SSN with a tourist visa, especially if she's not planning to stay here (yet). Even if you apply for AOS, she may have to wait until she gets her work permit before she can get a SSN.

[f f 725]

she needs work authorization to get the ssn. but it is moot since I was able to get my step child on my employer health plan for the trip by just giving the the i94 number. and again a ssn is not required for health insurance.

 

good luck

[sy1983 31]

Agree, SSN should apply right away, and she can apply an ITIN as well if you are still sorting out the immigration process. ITIN number can be use for insurance, taxes etc.. 

I as well spoke to my insurance agent and they are willing to take passport # or GC as well. I would go ahead and try travel insurance in the mean time just to play it safe. 

[f f 725]

keep in mind travel insurance does not cover routine things like checkcheckups but is there so if there is a major accident you are covered. also it does not count as coverage for aca if that is around next year no one knows.

[sy1983 31]

7 minutes ago, f f said:

keep in mind travel insurance does not cover routine things like checkcheckups but is there so if there is a major accident you are covered. also it does not count as coverage for aca if that is around next year no one knows.

Im not sure what are the charges in other states but in California, if one has no insurance, he or she can see a doctor at the county hospital for $80. 

Try looking into this https://www.***removed***.com/ 
Im on the similar boat and have been looking into options for my wife. You can see the details on my stats, but basically she is coming over with no insurance, no SSN and so Im talking to medi-cal and private companies to get her

something. 

Edited May 15, 2017 by sy1983
website

[Boiler 43,434]

My County does not have a Doctor.

 

Agee SSN not a current issue as here as a visitor  but also not needed.

[fcl 42]

I currently have Health insurance, i've already had free checkups, vision and dental for +6 months, my wife was able to add me to her healthcare coverage without SSN (i have none yet), we are waiting for I-130 approval. I think she used all zeros when asked for my SSN on the online form. 

You should be able to have more options for family coverage through your company.