K-1 visa medical insurance.

[Oatmeal]

Does anyone know if a fiancee would be covered by any kind of medical insurance on the K-1 visa.

I know that there is some kind of medical insurance that is purchased on a student visa but I was wondering about the K-1.

Also, how might that be affected by my recent marriage.

[Mark H]

... in response to K-1 visa medical insurance., posted by Oatmeal on Mar 24, 2002

Oatmeal,
Sounds like you are in the perverbial "uninsured" window. I agree with posters who recommend you do NOT sign any financial responsiblity for the bills.

Important question:

1. When you arrived in the ER, did you register her under her own name, address, etc...? Or did you register her under YOUR name?

I think this will be the key. If they do not have YOUR information, you should be fine. If they do, I think you may be on the hook. I agree with Jack that the Affadavit of Support may pose serious problems to getting her medicaid now that she's married. If she were still on the K-1 visa, I'm almost positive she could get medicaid coverage. Now, I'm not so sure.

Another thing to consider is this. I don't know your situation, sounds like you may be moving? Vacationing? Whatever, the bottom line is you don't have to pay these bills right away. THe best thing to do is to contact the hospital, Orthopedic group, and Radiology group regarding bills. I'm sure you will be receiving a bill from each entity. Each group will have a billing/collections department for outstanding bills. Inform them of your situation (or whatever situation you wish to create) and make some payment arrangements that will take the sting out of the bill.

If they already have YOUR SSN# and you have signed papers for care with her as your wife....they can destroy your credit for outstanding medical bills. However, if you contact them, make arrangements and follow through, you will be fine. SOmetimes you can also arbitrate a reduced fee with the office. It's worth a shot.

Good luck,
Mark H.

[BubbaGump]

... in response to K-1 visa medical insurance., posted by Oatmeal on Mar 24, 2002

Even though she's not a tourist you might be able to purchase it for the interim period.

[wsbill]

... in response to K-1 visa medical insurance., posted by Oatmeal on Mar 24, 2002

n/t

[Stan B]

... in response to K-1 visa medical insurance., posted by Oatmeal on Mar 24, 2002

and they added her on the day I called and then told me to update their profile on-line when they got their ssn's.
As for ssn's, my wife's was no problem, but they wouldn't give 1 to Katya. Instead they had me go next door to the IRS and file for a tax payer ID #.

[ChuckRM]

... in response to I have Kaiser, posted by Stan B on Mar 24, 2002

I had a similar experience with my wife and her son.  We went to the local Social Security office at the suggestion of some people in her ESL class after waiting more than four months for her work authorization permit.  SS accepted her application, but wouldn't accept her son's application.  So, a K-1 is good, but a K-2 isn't?  I don't understand this.  

At SS they told me that I needed to file for a taxpayer ID# for him. I did this in mid-Feburary, but we haven't received either the SS# or the taxpayer ID#.  I would like to file the income tax forms ASAP - the government owes me money!

Medical insurance is an issue for us.  I have a good policy through work (state government), BUT (catch-22) they use the SS number as an identifier.  So, no SS, no medical insurance.  My wife's son got sick several months ago and we had to take him to a hospital emergency room.  The bills came to over $2,000.  They were in his name, not mine. I debated stiffing the hospital in my mind, but finally decided to pay for him. I wonder if we are legally responsible for these kinds of debts before they process the AOS. But I figure, if there are any questions about our marriage when the AOS interview comes around, I have a big stack of medical bills to wave at the INS interviewer.  Still, the INS delays in processing our paperwork cost me $2,000 plus.

[Rags]

... in response to Medical Insurance and SS Numbers, posted by ChuckRM on Mar 25, 2002

I can relate to your situation. We asked the same questions at the SS office.

"I could get a SS# for my 3 yo son years ago but not my new stepdaughter?"

"No, she is not work authorized. (Duh???) You will have to wait until her AOS."

"She will still not be authorized to work then will she?"

"No" (I gave up with the government logic.)

So we wait for my wife's SS so I can add her to my insurance. Two weeks, four weeks, six weeks. I have to have that # for her AOS paperwork so I call the SS office.

"Oh, her application was processed the same day and she was sent a card."

"If that's true, why have we not received it in six weeks?"

"I don't know but if you come in we will REissue her one."

"How can you reissue something that never got issued in the first place? I need that number today as we have to be at the INS at 0700 tomorrow with that # and you do not open until 0900 hr."

"Well you can come in today and do it."

"No, I work for a living and besides I cannot leave here, drive for two hours to pick up my wife, and then drive another hour and a half to get to your office. If she has been issued a SS#, just give it to me so I can put it on her paperwork."

"We can't give you her # over the phone because of the privacy laws but if she calls we can give it to her."

"What is the difference, me or her?" (same response)

"How will you know that it's actually her?"

"We'll ask special questions that only she knows."

"I did all the paperwork that you have so I have all the information that you have. In addition, I have the reciept that your office gave us. She doesn't have that." (same "privacy laws" BS)

"So you are saying that you can't give it to me but you can give it to her based on the fact that her voice is higher pitched than mine?" (More of the same BS, I give up and call V and ask her to call the office.)

V calls and they tell her that she HAS to come in person to the office to get her #.

I call back really pissed. Nice lady answers, I explain everything that has transpired and she says "no problem, her # is..."

On the bright side, Blue Cross accepted her and her daughter without a SS#.

[Stan B]

... in response to Medical Insurance and SS Numbers, posted by ChuckRM on Mar 25, 2002

our SSN in about 10 days, just like they said. But like you I think I need our daughters tax ID # so I can get back some $$$.

[Rags]

... in response to I have Kaiser, posted by Stan B on Mar 24, 2002

Yo Stan, did you get her TIN yet? I filed a W-7 for Dasha 1/20/02 and haven't heard a thing back. According to the W-7, it can only be submitted to Philly. Is that what you did? What did you send along with the W-7? I sent a photocopy of her K-1 and I-94 with a notarized statement that it was a copy of her original (no way was I going to send off her passport as we needed that for the AOS).

Man, I sure would like to have that number so I can file my return before the big deadline rush. You would think that I would be used to waiting on the Government by now. NYET!!!

[Stan B]

... in response to Re: TIN, posted by Rags on Mar 25, 2002

I filed with our local INS office and all they had me do was fill out some paperwork, checked her passport and we showed her our marriage cert. and they said they would send it to Philly and that it would be 6 weeks. That was almost 5 weeks ago, so who knows how much longer.

[Peter Ryan]

... in response to Re: TIN, posted by Rags on Mar 25, 2002

I too applied for a TIN for my wife's son on 2/20 at Philly to claim him as a dependent and still haven't heard back. I included notorized copies of about 5 different documents and I sent it certified mail. The IRS says to wait 4-6 weeks so I am not sweating yet. Let me know if you get yours.
Peter

[Charles]

... in response to K-1 visa medical insurance., posted by Oatmeal on Mar 24, 2002

You should add them as dependents on your existing health policy as soon as you can get a SSN for them.  Unfortunately, there is usually a waiting period before the insurance coverage kicks in.  In that gap period, should something serious happen, don't sign anything at the hospital saying you are responsible for the bill.  The hospital will try to get her qualified for public assistance.

[Jack]

... in response to Re: K-1 visa medical insurance., posted by Charles on Mar 24, 2002

Charles, I was going to write Oatmeal here and tell him I thought your advice to not sign anything making him responsible for the bill was good advice.
I had actually wrote such then erased it as I realized he had just married her and as such, and with the affidavit of support he had signed where he promised that she would not be a burden on the state (or country), wouldn't he now be responsible for her debt and she not able to get public assistance, as outlined by the affidavit of support?

[Charles]

... in response to Question Charles, posted by Jack on Mar 25, 2002

Once you're married, you can put them on your insurance.  Remember, the "Affidavit of Support" executed in connection with the K-1 visa is probably not enforceable.  The I-864 Affidavit of Support that is filed with the I-485 application is enforceable and you would have to reimburse the government for any payments.  The problem period is the time between when she arrives and you marry or are able to put them on your insurance.  What you need to do is when they are getting ready to come to make sure you have dependent coverage on your policy and then you can add them as dependents when they get their SSN's or taxpayer ID's.  You need to close that gap period as soon as possible, but, if something happens during the gap period, I would not sign anything saying you're responsible and would let the government pay for it.  After all, they're the ones that make it so difficult anyway.

[Mike]

... in response to Re: Question Charles, posted by Charles on Mar 25, 2002

If the Gov makes it so complicated then let them carry the burden. If at anytime this creates a problem and the Gov choses to come after you then deal with them. Typically Gov agencies such as the IRS and whatever have programs where you can make arrangments for monthly payments within your means. As for any medical bills that are sent to you, you can make payment arrangments. I once heard that you only need to send 10 dolars a month and they can't do anything, and I also heard that most people and companies don't hold medical bills against you when it comes to future credit needs.
Mike