Insurance for F-2 dependents

[techboy]

Hello All,

Can you please share any ideas how to purchase insurance for dependents? Should one add a spouse and a child to his or own university insurance? It looks like cost doubles if added. Can couples purchase separate insurance? If yes, will it affect if couples decide to have a baby later?

Thank you

Edited July 8, 2015 by techboy

[shinigamiasuka]

As far as I know, dependents are required to be on university insurance as well. Whether insurance from an external company is allowed or not depends on your university's rules. You should check with your university.

[TakeruK]

As far as I know, F-2 dependents are not required to be on any standard of insurance (J-2 dependents are). However, it is a good idea to do so!! Your university insurance will cost more with a dependent on it and it might be a good value. Otherwise, a good alternative is the "Marketplace" plans, that is, the "Affordable Care Act" / Obamacare plans. Each state manages their plans separately. Expect to pay around $2000-$4000 per year for health insurance per person.

[techboy]

Thank you TakeruK and shinigamiasuka for the information. Aetna university plan is way expensive for my spouse which is around 6k.

[TakeruK]

Thank you TakeruK and shinigamiasuka for the information. Aetna university plan is way expensive for my spouse which is around 6k.

 

You might want to know there is a law change that might prevent this in the future. For example, the current cost of insurance at my school is about $3000 per year, but we only pay $500 per year because the school pays the other $2500 as part of our benefits package. However, to add a spouse costs almost $7000 !! I, along with other students and administrators on campus, have been trying to convince them to lower this rate for a long time. We wanted them to subsidize or lower this rate for dependents so that the cost is about $3000.

 

This year, the school has informed us that due to the Affordable Care Act, they are no longer allowed to charge a higher premium for dependents than they do for students. So, although the new rates are not announced yet, adding a spouse or child should cost the same as the unsubsidized rate (i.e. around $3000). So, we got what we wanted after all, due to the law change  

[Crafter]

When I was on a J-1 with my J-2 husband, he had his own insurance from our home country, but the insurance had an "international coverage" in case of sickness, emergencies and repatriation of remains. We sent coverage info to our sponsors and it was accepted.  It was WAY cheaper than any other insurance in the US.