Health Insurance

[Keeley 67]

Hi, I'm hoping someone else has some experience that might be able to help me.

 

Background information: I'm a USC and my husband got his CR-1 visa last week. We have both been living overseas together for the last several years. We are moving back to the United States on Nov 30th this year. At the time we travel, I will be about 30 weeks pregnant. We will get a "fit to fly" clearance letter from my doctor before we travel.

 

My issue relates to health insurance coverage from the time we arrive in the US. Under the ACA, we qualify for a special enrollment period because my husband recently got legal residency status and because I am re-patriating to the US. As soon as he received his visa last week, I went through the healthcare.gov website to find a plan that would provide adequate coverage for the remainder of my preganancy, labor and delivery. The site didn't give me an option to elect a start date and automatically said our coverage would begin on December 1st. One day of non-coverage wouldn't be a huge issue except that I want coverage from the day we arrive just on the off chance there is a complication with my pregnancy. 

 

I contacted the insurance carrier to see if they can provide pro-rated coverage for November, but haven't heard back yet. In the meantime, I want to investigate other options. My travel insurance won't cover me because a) it's a one-way trip and my plan covers only round-trips and b) my pregnancy will be past 28 weeks, so they won't provide coverage. I have done some searching online and can't find any travel insurance that would cover me at that stage of pregnancy.

 

Has anyone else experienced this and had success with getting pro rata coverage for the month you arrive in the US and/or found travel insurance that covers third trimester pregnancy? Thanks!

[EandH0904 1,184]

While it's great that you are trying so hard to be pro-active, if your doctor has determined that you are fit to fly try not to worry unnecessarily about the one day. Many health insurance plans could backdate if there was a need. 

 

Get some compression stockings, stay hydrated and try to walk to aisles every couple hours if it's a long flight 

[Keeley 67]

4 minutes ago, EandH0904 said:

While it's great that you are trying so hard to be pro-active, if your doctor has determined that you are fit to fly try not to worry unnecessarily about the one day. Many health insurance plans could backdate if there was a need. 

 

Get some compression stockings, stay hydrated and try to walk to aisles every couple hours if it's a long flight 

Compression stockings acquired, and it's a 15-hour flight so will do lots of walking!

 

I know it's highly unlikely things would go wrong, but I'd rather pay a bit extra now than end up with thousands in hospital bills, so checking out my options!  

Edited October 24, 2018 by Keeley
typo

[Boiler 43,430]

I thought you had to be resident in the State to apply for OCare?

[EandH0904 1,184]

34 minutes ago, Keeley said:

Compression stockings acquired, and it's a 15-hour flight so will do lots of walking!

 

I know it's highly unlikely things would go wrong, but I'd rather pay a bit extra now than end up with thousands in hospital bills, so checking out my options!  

And that's great! I've been an ER nurse for a long time usually people dont plan even 1% as well as you but if worse came to worst and the fit hit the shan I can't imagine a place would be so argumentative over what is likely to be a few hours in the end of things 

[Sarah&Facundo 576]

In my experience, when we moved back to the US earlier this year, the cutoff for insurance the following month was the 15th of the month prior and you have to pay for the full month. My assumption is if you wanted to be covered at any point in November, you would have had to enroll by October 15th. We were caught in this too and my husband was here for a month and a half without insurance, although thankfully nothing happened. I'm not sure if there is a way around it anymore 😕

Your best bet might be to push your flight up by a day so you arrive December 1st, if possible.  Good luck with your pregnancy  

[Keeley 67]

19 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I thought you had to be resident in the State to apply for OCare?

You do, and we will be when the insurance goes into effect. I'm repatriating and my husband already has his visa in hand. They required a copy of the sticker in his passport which serves as temporary I-551 evidence of permanent residency.

[Keeley 67]

13 minutes ago, Sarah&Facundo said:

My assumption is if you wanted to be covered at any point in November, you would have had to enroll by October 15th.

I think you're probably right, which is so frustrating because my husband's interview was on the 16th and we received his visa on the 18th, so just missed it! 

[Boiler 43,430]

Well you will not be entering until the 30th of November.

[Keeley 67]

4 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Well you will not be entering until the 30th of November.

Correct, and I want health coverage for that day, but currently it doesn't start until 1st of December, so looking to cover the 1-day gap.

[Russ&Caro 1,548]

Might a separate travel insurance policy cover that one day?

[Boiler 43,430]

New Immigrant Insurance, but cover is limited and OP seems more concerned about the existing condition.

[Keeley 67]

1 hour ago, Russ&Caro said:

Might a separate travel insurance policy cover that one day?

Yes, I’m still researching that. You can get one way travel insurance policies but they tend to stop coverage after 28 weeks of pregnancy. 

[sy1983 31]

Different state would have different policy. Do you qualify for medi-care ? 

[Keeley 67]

Just now, sy1983 said:

Different state would have different policy. Do you qualify for medi-care ? 

No, I won't qualify. The state is Oregon if that helps. I didn't realize the dates of coverage were different state by state under the ACA.