Author Topic: ACA Marketplace Application Ambiguity  (Read 1020 times)

Billy B. Good

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ACA Marketplace Application Ambiguity
« on: May 27, 2021, 06:21:32 AM »
We will be relocating to the USA at the beginning of July. Since I won't have employer-sponsored health insurance, for some months probably at least, I want to apply for an ACA health insurance policy for my family of four (wife, two small kids and myself).

The application asks if we have had a recent "life event" like - have we moved? The answer is yes, sort of. We will have moved, but we haven't yet.

I am trying to get the insurance in place and effective on or before the day we arrive. I don't want to arrive, apply then, and be without health insurance for the time it takes to process the application and buy the insurance, which could be a month or more.

The online application asks for the date of our move, but won't accept a future date.

I was going to put in the date we signed the lease for the new crib in the USA, about a week ago, but then I got to the "penalty of perjury" stuff on the signature page and hit pause. I don't want to "lie" about our move date.

I will happily explain this to any human involved in reviewing our application, but I don't want bureaucratic trouble.

What would you do?

yachi

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Re: ACA Marketplace Application Ambiguity
« Reply #1 on: May 27, 2021, 08:00:57 AM »
Well, moving is a qualifying event, but I don't see where it says you can or can't do it ahead of the move.  I would guess they would cover retroactively to your move date, but I'm not sure.

I'm posting mainly to say you can enroll in Marketplace health coverage through August 15 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency.  They lengthened their open enrollment period due to Covid, so we're still in a period where you don't need to have a qualifying event.

Fishindude

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Re: ACA Marketplace Application Ambiguity
« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2021, 08:04:09 AM »
Fair warning - If you do any of this online and reveal your phone number or email, you will be bombarded with a ridiculous amount of emails and texts from people trying to sell you insurance plans.   In most communities there is an actual agency or person you can deal with to review the ACA programs and get you signed up, hassle free, without all of the unsolicited offers.

reeshau

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Re: ACA Marketplace Application Ambiguity
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2021, 08:38:06 AM »
I repatriated last year.  Our Irish private insurance did cover "foreign" medical coverage, although the full burden of reimbursement paperwork would have fallen on me.  So, we would not have gone without.

ACA insurance will not be applied retroactively.  It becomes effective one the 1st of the month after you enroll.  (Special rule for 2021; normally, it could be the 2nd month following, if after the 15th of the month)

https://www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/if-i-enroll-in-the-exchanges-will-that-coverage-take-effect-immediately/

Don't sweat the date details.  Yoh are following a web form that doesn't well anticipate people moving internationally, even though there are millions who do that.  You have a signed lease, which is perfectly valid proof of residence for all sorts of things, from a driver's license to bank accounts.  If asked, nobody will blink an eye past that, or ask for your travel itinerary to back it up.  They aren't that interested; they are looking for fraud, not nuance.

On the other hand, there is still a pandemic going on, and your kids at least are not vaccinated.  If they got sick in the US, you would be financially responsible for any medical care and hospitalization, including ICU.

Just sign up.  Risk / reward is pretty clear.  If it came to it, tell your honest story to the judge.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!