How to Get Individual Health Insurance in the US as a New Immigrant
One of the absorption procedures that new immigrants must undertake involves obtaining health insurance. New immigrants who receive health insurance coverage through an employer or a family member's health insurance plan don't need to obtain health insurance but some new immigrants do not have health insurance coverage through any private or public health insurance when they arrive. They should investigate their options for obtaining health insurance as quickly as possible to insure that they will not encounter difficulties if they need individual health care insurance.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Contact insurance companies that specialize in health insurance plans for new immigrants. Insurance companies offer health care plans for individuals and families of new immigrants, both for those who immigrate to the U.S. with green cards and those who come on H1B/H4 visas.
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2
Ascertain, through the chosen insurance plan, how long the new immigrant has from the time of her arrival in the country to obtain health insurance under the insurance company's New Immigrant Insurance Plan. Most insurance companies allow a new immigrant to buy individual health insurance within two years of arrival.
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3
Check to find out for what time period the insurance coverage lasts. New immigrants can buy individual health insurance for anywhere from one month to twelve months at a time, depending on the insurance company. New immigrants may renew their individual health insurance plan, but should renew it before its expiration date to avoid a reapplication process.
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4
Provide the insurance company with the new immigrant's name, address, date of birth and passport number to obtain individual health insurance. Some insurance companies may ask to see the new immigrant's immigrant visa or green card as well.
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5
Set up a payment plan with the health insurance company. Health insurance companies bill monthly. New immigrants may pay for their individual health insurance plans through their credit cards. Obtain a member's card from the insurance company. The new immigrant will need to present this card to any doctor or hospital for which he expects reimbursement from the insurance company under his health care plan.
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6
Prepare to pay a deductable fee for all services. Health insurance plans often include an initial deductable fee that policy holders must pay out of pocket before the insurance company pays for the rest of the bill.
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7
Find out which hospitals and doctors the health insurance plan will cover. Make sure that their location matches the new immigrant's location. Find out what types of medical care the insurance policy covers. Ask whether the insurance policy covers preventative care, dental care, eye glasses, and other types of health care that the new immigrant may need.
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8
Ascertain the process for filing a claim for reimbursement with the health insurance company under the new immigrant's individual health care plan.
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1
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References
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