Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

Good evening, all.

I'm moving to PA in November on a CR-1 visa. My husband will be adding me to the health insurance plan he has through his employer (until it might ever make sense for me to get my own), but they need my SSN to do so. Because of that, and due to various timings and cut-off points with his employer, I will not be covered by that insurance until January 1st, 2018.

I'm a fit and healthy 32-year-old woman, with no current or foreseeable medical issues, but I'm conscious to make sure I'm covered by some health/medical insurance (are those terms interchangeable?) in my first 6.5 weeks in America. My husband thinks that, most likely, any short-term insurance plan I take out would likely not cover any small-scale medical issues, and would probably only be worth my while when it comes to big expenses (i.e. we crash the car and I lose a limb), which is precisely the reason I'd prefer to take insurance out than not.

I'm at a loss as to where to start to find health insurance for a short period of time. I'm anticipating it being relatively costly, but surely worth it for the peace of mind? Did anyone else ever do this? Could you recommend any companies? I've no idea which price comparison websites are reputable - I'd gladly take recommendations for any of those, too, if anyone has any.

Thank you so much for any advice you can offer.

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

I've just found this thread: http://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-5...sident-902855/

Am I right in understanding, from this, that I might be eligible to buy an ACA plan? It is unlikely that I'll have a job lined up to go to when I arrive, but I hope to be working within my first two or three weeks. Does that make much difference, here? Ought healthcare.gov be my first port of call?

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

Yes, you will need to look for your state's marketplace

https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-...ce-marketplace

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

That is incredibly useful and interesting, thank you, mrken30.

Upon first glance, it looks like I (as a new PR) might qualify for a 2017 Special Enrolment Period. I'll look into this further.

Thank you!

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

Yes, new immigrants qualify for special enrollment.

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

You do not require a social security number to be enrolled under his health plan. They can use 000-00-000 for your number for the moment and the minute you obtain your social security number in about a month or so from entry on your CR-1 they can make the switch.

It is the same as your being able to accept employment without a social security number with the right visa and supplying it once received.

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

If they give you grief, this is the IRS webpage that explains you do not need to give an SSN

https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-...urance-company

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

Thank you for the confirmation!

I see! Thank you both for this. I will ask my husband to speak to his employers again and see what we can work out. In the meantime, it's good to know I should be eligible for cover elsewhere if needs be, without too much difficulty.

Thank you all very much for your help.

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

Thanks for the Q and answers!

Not so helpfully, Maryland, where I'll be living from the 1st Nov, seems to have set up their website so you can't even access it from outside the US. Unless it's just down.

http://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

It's denying me access to the NYC's website too - guess i'll have go try when I land.

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

It maybe worth having a trial on a VPN site. I'm sat here in the UK and can access them.

Ive used Express VPN. Useful when you then reside in the US to be able to access certain UK sites. For me BT Sport.

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

Good! Yes, I was planning on trying with the VPN when at home.

Re: Short-term health insurance? Price comparison sites?
 

I'm on a work laptop so I can't download a VPN :(