Health insurance after cr-1 entry? Confused

[Dom10 1]

So my wife has arrived 2 weeks ago with cr-1 visa and has her social security number now. We are confused on the health insurance aspect. I get my health insurance via school and cannot add her on to it. I assume she is not eligible for the affordable healthcare act marketplace insurance with subsidies as we have no income history (it was direct consular filing so I was in a different country and a student). She will be getting a job soon but I don't think that makes a difference? What are the options (other than getting lucky and finding a job that gives health insurance)? Thank you

Edited October 10, 2018 by Dom10

[BlueDevil1442 23]

Check out all of your options for her based on price and coverage. She may still be eligible for affordable care act marketplace insurance. Call and find out. I found this post that explains and gives all the options for a spouse visa, now lawful permanent resident. Understanding the U.S. Health Insurance System

 

Also, check out private immigrant insurance. Immigrant insurance is very reasonably priced with good coverage. Here is good information on that. Immigrant Health Insurance- Select The Right Plan

[Boiler 43,433]

Immigrant Insurance cover is very limited, why it is relatively cheap.

[geowrian 22,335]

I've gotta agree...I would literally be bankrupt if I had any plans like that. Then again, some of us are luckier than others when it comes to our health.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,368]

She should be able to get coverage on the Marketplace. She has a qualifying life event (immigration) & AFAIK no past income proof is required. You required to estimate your FUTURE household earnings if you want to take advantage of the tax subsidies then next time you file taxes you have to account for that (so if your income was higher than you estimated it to be you have to pay back a portion of the tax subsidies you received the previous year, together with any taxes you may owe). BTW you can adjust your income levels in your Marketplace account every month, if necessary, that way, it adjusts the amount of tax subsidy and you don't get a big surprise come tax time.

Edited October 10, 2018 by EM_Vandaveer

[bakphx1 785]

I would just check on the new Trump brain child to disqualify people getting subsidized insurance on the Marketplace. I'm not familiar with his new method to make life hard on immigrants or what's official, but read up just in case.  

 

 

[TBoneTX 43,058]

It might be prudent to avoid attributing proposed policies to a specific individual until we know whether a Senate committee, congressional staffers, or unknown/unelected bureaucrats are the authors.