Q: Who is affected by the proclamation?
Almost all immigrant visa applicants for the U.S. will be affected by the proclamation. A small category of people such as those applying in refugee, asylum category, those seeking SB-1 visa, children of U.S. citizen under IR or IH visa are not subject to the changes. Most employment-based immigrants would already have approved health insurance through their employer and would be adjusting their status in the U.S. instead of getting an immigrant visa. Therefore, this would primarily be applicable to family-based immigrants.
Q: Does the new rule apply to all visa applicants at U.S. Embassies and Consulates?
No. The immigrant visa medical insurance requirement does not apply to non-immigrant visa applicants such as visitors, students, temporary workers, etc.
Q: How can an immigrant visa applicant meet the new requirement?
Many new immigrants would be enrolled into an employer-sponsored health insurance plan or enroll into the health insurance plan of a family member (such as spouse). New immigrants can also get an unsubsidized health plan from the individual insurance marketplace within their residence state. While the proclamation states that Medicare is considered an adequate plan, most immigrants are not eligible to enroll into it. New immigrants can’t enroll into Medicare until they are at least 65 years of age, once 65, they must have either worked in the U.S. for 10 years or have been a green card holder for at least 5 years.
Q: What are cost-effective ways to meet the new requirement?
Among other options, the following plan types are cost effective ways to meet the new requirement for immigrant visa health insurance.
(iii) a short-term limited duration health policy effective for a minimum of 364 days — or until the beginning of planned, extended travel outside the United States;
(vii) a visitor health insurance plan that provides adequate coverage for medical care for a minimum of 364 days — or until the beginning of planned, extended travel outside the United States;
Of course, if you are eligible for a domestic health insurance through your employer, your family member's employer, or in an individual insurance market, you should consider getting that type of insurance first as it will offer you more coverage.
Q: Can I buy the health insurance from an insurance company in my home country?
It is highly unlikely that the insurance from your home country is going to meet all of the immigrant visa insurance requirements.
Most insurance companies in foreign countries provide travel insurance only for 2-3 months for people traveling and the requirements mandate a minimum of 364 days. Also, many of them sell only fixed coverage plans for people over the age of 55 years, which does not provide adequate coverage and would still burden the healthcare system in the US. Therefore, those plans do not meet the requirements and are not approved health insurance plans. You really need to purchase comprehensive coverage plans. For these reasons, you should purchase U.S. based immigrant visa insurance.
