scrubbedexpat099

Varies, best to ask.

Ecto17

Yes absolutely we did.

Ecto17

It is through my husbands company, we were very lucky to have such great coverage.
Thankfully it was only the tooth that ended up being painful in the end!!

In terms of costs, the variables are too great to give you a costs.
I googled US health insurance explained, this gave me a brief understanding of how the system works. This along with calling my insurer and asking lots of questions, has help me understand our position and exposure.
There are some very knowledgeable people on here that can offer help and advise on this subject if you need it.

Noorah101

Unfortunately, there is no "standard" cost. It varies so much from employer to employer that there's no way to give even a rough estimate. You could pay zero for premiums (employer pays it all), or pay a couple of hundred per paycheck.

It depends on the insurance plan.

It depends on the employer's insurance plan.

I guess for the monthly premium, figure zero to several hundred a month. Then depending on the type of insurance plan, figure a co-pay each time you see a doctor, go to urgent care, etc....or plan to pay out of pocket for all that up to the deductible amount until insurance kicks in 80% up to another level. Plus cost of prescriptions depending on the plan.

There's really no way to give you even a ballpark figure.

Rene

SanDiegogirl

There are always monthly premiums the employee has to pay (in addition to co-pays, deductibles etc).

There is no standard monthly premium, it depends on the type of medical cover.

However, for two of you (you and wife) budget anything between $300 and $500 per month.

Noorah101

There are some (maybe very few) employers who cover 100% of the premium.

Rene

Rete

No, it has not been reversed. Although they might be hard pressed to classify her as a domestic partner since she is newly arrived in the US and as such has nothing to substantiate their claim to a domestic relationship, they can always try it.

Personally, I know of two domestic relationships with shared benefits. One is male/female living together for over 20 years and another is a married same sex couple.

Rete

It is not all that expensive to visit an urgent care center for medical assistance if you have a cold, the flu, a bladder infection, etc. Common aliments. The cost would be less than or perhaps the same as the monthly premium for a healthcare policy and if the policy has a deductible you are out of pocket for the premium as well as for the deductible and/or the co-pay.

If you had an accident, i.e. a car accident or fell in a public store or on someone's property, many states mandate that auto insurance covers medical costs associated with the accident and homeowner insurance policies will pay for your medical expenses and public stores will also pickup the costs of all medical bills if you are injured on their property (even if it is your own fault). A friend, at this moment, fell at Stop n Shop and fractured her elbow. It was her fault, she didn't look where she was going and tripped up the curb and stated as much on the questionnaire given her by the store. They are paying all the hospital, doctor, tests, physical therapy bills and offering her a tidy sum for her carelessness.

Your peace of mind is all important and if that means obtaining a policy for 3 months, then, of course, that is what you should do.

Pulaski

A K-1 visa should be sufficient IMO.

Rete

Hey, no harm in trying. A K-1 visa only gives her the right to live in the US for 90 days which is not a domestic relationship IMHO. But then, MO doesn't count for jackshit.

Pulaski

A K-1 visa should be sufficient IMO, along side whatever else they have - shared address, wedding date, etc.

Rete

Again, it is an opinion. Be interesting to see what HR has to say if they try this approach.

Pulaski

Maybe, maybe not. I was only countering your (lMO) overly confident "most probably they will not ...".

It would certainly be interesting to hear if they do try.

CaptainAmerica

Thank you for everyone's input on this. As I'm finally nearing my time to enter the US on the K-1, we've investigated insurance options via my fiancee's employer's healthcare provider. Unfortunately they won't add me to his policy until we can supply a marriage certificate, however I won't need a SSN. Which means if we marry pretty quickly (and we intend to) then my lack of coverage window should be reasonably short.

I'm intending to investigate interim insurance cover with the same provider, if they'll allow it.

scrubbedexpat099

SSN is not needed.

If the same provider provides interim cover it will not be on the same terms.