Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
#1
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1
Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
Hello I am seeking some advice. My husband is going through the spousal visa process right now. He is a British citizen with Type 1 Diabetes. Right now through my current health insurance plan, I won't be able to enroll him for another year. He won't have employment when he gets to the States, so my question is how can we get affordable supplies until he gets insurance?
What have others have done who have come to the States?
I have looked up things online, but there is so much conflicting information. I would like to hear from anyone who has been through this themselves and can offer some advice as to what they did. Thankyou , I really appreciate your help and input.
Kind Regards,
YG
What have others have done who have come to the States?
I have looked up things online, but there is so much conflicting information. I would like to hear from anyone who has been through this themselves and can offer some advice as to what they did. Thankyou , I really appreciate your help and input.
Kind Regards,
YG
#2
Re: Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
The honest answer? You don't. You pay through the nose every time he needs something.
Also, it's far from guaranteed that he will be able to get affordable health insurance for such a expensive pre-existing condition anyway.
I personally would really discourage anyone from leaving the cover of the NHS if they have such a long term life condition - you have to begin to think about your problems and what you are going to need long term far more in the US than in the UK.
That said, I'm sure someone on here has been through similar and will be along soon to provide a more positive answer!
Also, it's far from guaranteed that he will be able to get affordable health insurance for such a expensive pre-existing condition anyway.
I personally would really discourage anyone from leaving the cover of the NHS if they have such a long term life condition - you have to begin to think about your problems and what you are going to need long term far more in the US than in the UK.
That said, I'm sure someone on here has been through similar and will be along soon to provide a more positive answer!
Last edited by civilservant; Jun 23rd 2013 at 1:37 pm.
#3
Re: Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
Check the prices at the following links to see if they have the needed supplies and the price. The prices should be about as good as you can get.
http://www.healthwarehouse.com/simva...tml?ref=goodrx
http://www.goodrx.com/simvastatin?gc...FUxxQgodqE8AQQ
http://www.healthwarehouse.com/simva...tml?ref=goodrx
http://www.goodrx.com/simvastatin?gc...FUxxQgodqE8AQQ
#4
Re: Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
Hello I am seeking some advice. My husband is going through the spousal visa process right now. He is a British citizen with Type 1 Diabetes. Right now through my current health insurance plan, I won't be able to enroll him for another year. He won't have employment when he gets to the States, so my question is how can we get affordable supplies until he gets insurance?
What have others have done who have come to the States?
I have looked up things online, but there is so much conflicting information. I would like to hear from anyone who has been through this themselves and can offer some advice as to what they did. Thankyou , I really appreciate your help and input.
Kind Regards,
YG
What have others have done who have come to the States?
I have looked up things online, but there is so much conflicting information. I would like to hear from anyone who has been through this themselves and can offer some advice as to what they did. Thankyou , I really appreciate your help and input.
Kind Regards,
YG
When DH and I were planning everything, a big consideration was health insurance. I'm lucky that I have excellent insurance, but it came with some limitations such as when you could add family members. We ultimately decided to go with the K-1 so that I could add him during the 30 day period for "change of life circumstances" rather than get married first, do an I-130, then wait for open enrollment. We got married on January 30th, I got our certified copy of our marriage license and turned in all necessary benefit paperwork on the 31st, and DH had health insurance (and dental, and life, etc.) effective February 1st.
This is not very helpful you, but this type of information, should be available for those who research the pros and cons of each type visa.
#5
Re: Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
I was under the impression that when you first marry or have a child that the spouse or child can immediately be placed on your health plan. If you wait for x number of days then you will have passed the eligibility time and have to wait for open enrollment.
This is how it worked for me and my company's plan when I first married in mid year.
How long have you been married?
This is how it worked for me and my company's plan when I first married in mid year.
How long have you been married?
#6
Re: Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
Secondly, it is possible to manage type 1 on a somewhat limited budget depending on the types of insulin used. If he uses any of the more recent ones (Lantus, Levemir, Humalog, Apidra, Novolog) then you either need to fork out the money to keep using them (around $100 or so per vial, up to double that for cartridges) or switch to the older NPH and regular insulins which can be had for around $10 a vial at Wal-Mart without a prescription. Test strips are another huge cost. If he uses any of the brand name meters you are looking at around $100 (give or take a few dollars) per box of 100. Places like Wal-Mart, Target and a few others have sort of generic meters where test strips can be 30%-50% of the brand name prices but depending on the number of tests it can still add up. Again, no prescription required. Although it's probably unlikely he's using it, metformin can be picked up for next to nothing with a prescription. Things like Symlin as well as Byetta and similar drugs will be expensive. Again, those are not common for type 1's to take but there are still a number who do. Things like statins and blood pressure medications can be found pretty cheaply in generic versions with a prescription if he needs them. If he does take them though, it might be worth using this as a good time to discuss the benefits and need to take those with his current doctor.
Last edited by Duncan Roberts; Jun 23rd 2013 at 3:18 pm.
#7
Re: Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
I was under the impression that when you first marry or have a child that the spouse or child can immediately be placed on your health plan. If you wait for x number of days then you will have passed the eligibility time and have to wait for open enrollment.
This is how it worked for me and my company's plan when I first married in mid year.
How long have you been married?
This is how it worked for me and my company's plan when I first married in mid year.
How long have you been married?
Brat1 lost her health insurance and was immediately enrolled in her husband's company provided health insurance plan.
Last edited by Michael; Jun 23rd 2013 at 4:31 pm.
#8
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Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
I agree. Assuming that the OP is a member of a group health insurance plan through her employer I would expect that "loss of health insurance" would be a qualifying event that would allow a family member to be enrolled outside of the normal open enrollment period. If that is the case then she needs to go back and explain the issue to the HR/benefits people in terms of "loss of health insurance" rather than "immigration".
#9
Re: Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
If for some reason the OP cannot get insurance via her employer, if the State they will live in has a high risk medical pool that maybe an answer until she can enroll her husband. My wife is diabetic and gets affordable cover via Oregon's high risk pool.
#10
Re: Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
http://www.coveredca.com/calculating_the_cost.html
#11
Re: Immigration with Type 1 Diabetes
They should actually be used together. Immigration has caused the loss of health insurance so could be used by either saying that immigration caused the current health insurance to be lost or the that the current plan is no longer offered in the new location. Either way, there are at least two sections that could be used to trigger the life event clause that would open up enrollment.