Horees

Alot of medical insurances doesn't cover maternity for some reason. Try looking at AFLAC. My daughter did and it covered maternity where her medical insurance did not. Plus look into HMOs that may be available where you are at. Alot of times the hospitals or medical centers around the area you live caters to certain HMOs so find out what they accept and see who is offering it to get an individual plan.

Good luck!!1

I couldn't find a single HMO plan in Alaska!!!

https://www.premera.com/stellent/groups/public/documents/xcpproject/sp_ak_ind_fam.asp

Thanks for your reply, they don't cover the maternity except for complications of pregnancy!!!

Dears,

I got a job in Alaska, and moved here few months ago. I decided not to join my company health plans because it's expensive. The medium plan for family of 3 was around $850 per month, and I still have to pay $11,000 for deductibles before the insurance pays any cost (except for preventive visits, and some other minor issues).

Now I decided to purchase a health insurance on my own. I'm shopping online, but I may need a specific advice for Alaska. Everything here is different than the other states.

I tried to find the old fashion insurance where the insurance pays since day one (like all the insurance in most of countries), but I didn't find any.

So, the only way is the insurance with deductibles, where you pay from your pocket for certain amount (grands of bucks per year), then you pay like 20% after that.

Not only this, I went into some details, and I discovered that they don't cover any maternity cost!!! so if we want to get a baby, I have to pay it on my own. They cover only the complicated cases. what is the hell is this!!! What is wrong America.

I'm trying to convince myself that I understand something wrong, but their conditions are self explanatory.

I get relatively good income, but what is the use if I have to pay all of it, and more to cover my medical expenses, and getting a baby!!!

Any thoughts will be highly appreciated.

Thanks

I had the same problem with the 3 credit bureaus!!!

I have a credit card 11 months now, and when I tried to get my annual report, they told me I DON'T HAVE Credit on file!!!

I contacted my bank, and they told me that they are forced to report my info by law, and they confirmed that they are sending my info each month.

Further contacts with equifax, they told me that my SSN isn't on file.

I got the same response from the 2 other bureaus!!!

I had to send photocopy of my SSN and driver license to the c bureaus to fix my issue (sent twice to equifax because they lost the docs)

It took over 2 months to fix this!!!

I couldn't believe how this happens in USA, but I discovered that alot of procedures aren't perfect.

"It's not a bug, it's a feature" ©

Those plans are INTENTIONALLY designed this way. That's why they are NOT PPOs or HMOs but have their own classification and called HDCP = high-deductible consumer plans.

Too bad the OP's employer does not offer an alternative in the form of a traditional PPO or HMO.

Exactly, I'm really feeling bad regarding this issue.

$750 per month seems on the high side. Does your employer help to pay a percentage? How old is the 3rd person on your family coverage (I'm assuming a child)? If the child is somewhat older, teenage years, maybe the lower cost plan of $580 with the higher deductible would be better for you, seeing that a teenager usually doesn't rack up the medical bills that a young child would.

What company is that insurance through? As a reference for you currently the cost of a family plan at my work with a $1000 deductible is $135.00 per week, or $540 per month, that's through Blue Cross.

the baby is years old

The payments I mentioned is my contribution

The insurance with Blue Cross

Have you looked at BCBS? $750 seems high and the deductible seems very unreasonable.

I'll Look for this comapny...thank you

1. Those are so called high-deductible plans. Does your employer offer traditional PPO or HMO?

2. This kind of insurance isn't good. One of the deal breakers is whether somebody in your family has pre-existing conditions. If yes, it's generally better to stick with a group plan, even weak and expensive. If not, I'd shop around for an individual/family coverage NOT from the employer.

3. Other important numbers to be factored are out-of-pocket limit and annual/lifetime cap.

The company offer those plans only with deductible

annual max out of pocket is around 12,000 for family

lifetime unlimited

You may want to shop around for better rates. Sometimes you can find better medical/dental/vision insurance deals by going with an independant seller. Is the company you work for a small personal company? Alot of times smaller companies who doesn't have a large number of employees will choose an higher deductible insurances that the employee has to pay out. Shop around if you have time. We have an hmo that covers 3 people including 1 child and I pay out $350 a month with a set copay for doctor visits and prescriptions. That includes vision with it. Google some insurance companies that cater to your area to price them.

Good luck with your search!

the problem is that the company is a big company, and still expensive

Thanks for the advice, I'll look for something else

On the basis of the very limited information you have provided I would say average.

What other options do you have.

The 2 other options are

1- $1050 per month + $3000 deductibles

2- $580 per month + $9000 ded.

I forgot to add that the first plan I mentioned will qualify me for HSA (health saving account).

Hello friends,

I just want to take your opinion about medical plans with my company, I see it seems strange to me, but it may be logic to others, so I'm asking you here

The average health plan costs me $750 per month for family coverage for 3 persons (without vision or dental), in addition, there are $4000 deductibles in network or $8500 out of network, that I'll spend from my pocket per calendar year before the plan pay any medical costs (except preventive visits). after that the plan pay 80% of in network costs.

I feel this is strange concept, how comes I pay about $10,000 per year (750 per month), and I still pay $4000 before than insurance pay anything.

Which means $14,000 per year (which I mostly will never go up to this amount unless if I and my wife decided to have another baby)

BUT, you are experts here is US issues, and who knows, it may be good insurance relative to your experience.

Please advise me, is it good, regular, expensive, deserve?

I have to enroll within this week, otherwise, I'll have to wait 1.5 years to the next open enrollment

thank you

Any advice?

Are we going to vote? YES for sure. It is very interesting that both our countries are running elections this year. Ahmed and I are watching all that is happening and we both will vote. I must admit however it is more excitement to know my Ahmed will vote im a true election for President for the very first time! As always Egypt and her people are in my prayers. I still have fresh in my mind the start of the revolution and the amazement I felt when I went to the square with thousands of Egyptians as they celebrated Mubarak stepped down. My love for Egypt and her people swelled to new heights! Will you vote?

I already did, but I'm sure that no one will get the winning percent, and we will be re voting

There isn't any reason for an Alaska company to deduct New York income taxes from your pay. You filled out a W-4 form for federal taxes, which will be deducted from your pay according to whatever you put down on the W-4.

Let me know when you need tips on skinning your first grizzly. I've done five of them so far.

I think I filled W-4 using my new york data, because I dont have any alaskan data.

I really need to get this money now, instead of be returned in the next year tax return

Horees... congratulations on the new job and big move! Ahmed and I moved from Michigan to Florida. We stayed in a hotel for 2 weeks until we found our new home. After we moved into our new home we went online to file our new address. So in my opinion as long as your stay in the hotel is temporary you can wait until you find a home. If you wont find a home for awhile then I would suggest listing your hotel's address. Best wishes and stay warm!

Thank you Amber, and congrats for both of you too

are you going to elect?

When you oficially moved to Alaska you are under their jurisdiction. When your tax professional does your taxes he will do both NY and Alaska taxes. And if you overpaid the NY taxes you will get a refund. For instance if you lived in NY for 4 months and then 8 months in Alaska you will only have to pay the NY taxes for the 4 months that you earned income in NY.

So, I'll be deducted each month according to NY tax even if I moved to Alaska for a new job, until filling the next year tax?

what If i'm still looking for apartment, and staying temp. in hotels?

Hello again,

I moved to Anchorage which is income free tax city from NY which has high income tax rates.

My work in Alaska, and I wonder which state tax rules should be applied to me?

Is it NY until I change my driver license to Alaska? or it doesn't make any difference?

Thanks

Hello friends,

I got my green card 4 months ago, now I moved to another state for work, and I'll be resident there.

My question is is there any documentation should be sent to USCIS or anywhere else?

I always like to follow the rules, but I actually don't know if I have to do something or not

Awesome news. I am proud of you to keep trying till u get what u wanted. God bless and buy a really thick jacket

I was almost lost hope to find my career job, the money I brought with me almost finished, I found job in restaurant, but its money doesn't cover the apartment rental...Thanks God, it's the perfect time

Send me a private message. We live in Manhattan.

I tried to send you, but it gives me this message "The member NY_BX cannot receive any new messages"

Is this one of those fishing boat jobs?

No, it's office based in major petroleum company, contract for 11+ months.

Hello back my friends,

After 5 months of hard trials, I finally got an offer for a good job in Anchorage, Alaska!!!

Yes, it is the last thing i ever imagined. specially I have just moved to new apartment with wife and son in new york.

I tried to make some search, but I prefer to hear your experience as well.

I noticed that Alaska has a special rules for everything, even my garmin nuvi 50lm doesn't work there . and I'll check for my t-mobile network

any thoughts are highly appreciated

thanks

Sorry for the mis understand

I do have my SSN Card, but i'm asking for the other staff like TIN (which is required in W9)

As well, I'm asking for the IRS required documentation to be done, in addition to this TIN and employee identification number

Thanks friends

same here not for sure if you can apply or not but it doesn't hurt to go and try. let me know what all you are suppose to do after you arrived here in the usa. zawgy osama and ana have our interview date coming closer but wished it will be here and approved inshallah. tell ana something ? when or how long did it take for you to get your visa for passport? thank you zawgyosama

I got the visa in passport around one week after the second interview.

Friends,

My bank sent me W-9 form to fill because I didn't have my green card in hand when I opened my bank accounts, I noticed that in the form they asking for income tax return, Taxpayer and Identification Number (TIN) & Employee Identification Number.

Actually I have been here for around 2 months, didnt get a job yet. So what do you advise me regarding Tax papers and other forms from SS office & IRS?

Thanks in Advance

Thank Alot friends for your reply. Life here is good, but I think when I get a job will be much better.

Regarding the medicad, I think that health benefits are basic human right even for green card holder. I'll share my experience after I apply for that.

Dear Friends,

First of all, i would like to thank all of you for supporting me, sharing useful information and experience.

I received my green card today, after 40 days of arrival. It's 10 years green card unconditional because I came through IR-1.

Since I came:

Got SSn after one month

Opened bank account after one month

Got credit card from capital one after one month

Got green card after 40 days

Edited my name in the SSn today and waiting for the new ssn card with shortened middle name

Preparing for the written test for the driving license

I think I can apply for medicad

What else?

aha, looking for a job, so pray for me.

What else, what else? dunno, if you have suggestions, I would be grateful.

Thanks again for helping me in my visa journey.

Take care