There are two kinds of medical insurance companies in America. Most insurance companies provide domestic health insurance for American citizens and legal immigrants, and a few insurance companies provide tourist health insurance for foreigners who come to the United States for a short time.
Foreigners who travel and live in the United States for a short period with non-immigrant visas can usually only participate in the visitor medical insurance plan. For example, travel to the United States to visit relatives, travel, study abroad for a short time, and work. This is the case. You can apply for a medical insurance plan for a few days or several years according to your itinerary.
Medical insurance for tourists usually includes emergency treatment, hospitalization, examination, prescription drugs and other expenses. , as well as the transportation costs of patients who need to be transported, and the costs of transporting the body of the insured back to China in case of death.
Medical insurance for tourists in the market is generally divided into fixed protection and comprehensive protection.
Fixed guarantee means that the insurance company only bears a fixed amount of each medical service, such as $50 for doctor's visit, $500 for emergency treatment and $3,000 for operation. The remaining medical expenses, no matter how much, are paid by the insured himself.
Comprehensive protection means that insurance companies and individuals share risks according to the compensation ratio agreed in the insurance contract. Patients need to pay out of their own pockets, share part of the medical expenses in proportion, and the rest will be paid by the insurance company.
The medical insurance for most tourists does not include pre-existing diseases and related complications, such as hypertension and diabetes, nor does it include medical expenses related to pregnancy and childbirth.
To study in the United States
If you are studying in the United States (visa F- 1) or a visiting scholar (visa J- 1), you must provide proof of medical insurance before you can register. Many schools have reached agreements with insurance companies to provide students with student health insurance. You can buy this kind of insurance for yourself and your family at school. You can also buy medical insurance that meets the minimum standards of the school at an off-campus insurance company.
American universities generally have university health services, which provide students with basic medical services such as outpatient service, emergency service, laboratory examination, health consultation, psychological consultation and vaccination. Common diseases and injuries can be solved here. The school also provides various free health education and psychological counseling services.
Usually, universities require students to pay medical care fees when they register, so they can use the basic medical services of the school clinic for free. Some school clinics will ask students to pay for some medical items, but the general fees are much cheaper than ordinary clinics outside the school.
When you finish your studies and attend Optional Practical Training (OPT), some schools allow graduates to continue to participate in the school's student medical insurance plan (about one year). Some internship units may provide you with medical insurance. If you can't get insurance in school or internship unit, you can buy relevant medical insurance through commercial insurance companies.
Working in America
After working in the United States, you can get medical insurance through the following ways: participating in the company's group health insurance, buying personal health insurance yourself, and participating in the group health insurance provided by industry associations for members.
Group health insurance is a non-wage benefit provided by the company to employees. If you work in the United States with an H visa or an L visa, you can get insurance through your employer just like a legal immigrant (green card holder) or an American citizen. The collective insurance premium you pay can also be used for tax reduction. Most Americans regard whether the company provides medical insurance as an important consideration in their job choice.
Working in the United States must pay social security tax and medical insurance tax. Medicare is a social medical insurance plan organized by the American government, which provides medical services for the elderly over 65 years old. You must pay 65438+ 0.45% of your salary as medical insurance tax. Even if you can't enjoy the treatment of medical insurance in the future, you must pay it.
Working in the United States, paying medical insurance tax for ten years or more than forty quarters, and being 65 years old is eligible for medical insurance.
Get an American green card or become an American citizen.
New immigrants (green cards) who have just arrived in the United States must obtain immigration qualifications and live in the United States for more than five years before they are eligible to apply for medical insurance provided by the government, such as Medicare or Medicaid insurance.
American commercial insurance companies provide domestic health insurance for American citizens and legal immigrants. Usually, insurance companies need to live in the United States for three months to one year, and they can apply for local medical insurance.
If you find a job after immigrating to the United States, you must pay 0.45% of 65438+ salary as medical insurance tax. Working in the United States, paying medical insurance tax for ten years or more than forty quarters, and being 65 years old is eligible for medical insurance. This is the health care insurance for the elderly organized by the federal government of the United States.
After many people settled in the United States, they arranged for their parents in China to immigrate to the United States. If your parents are over 65 when they come to the United States, they will not automatically get medical insurance when they immigrate to the United States for the first time. They must hold a green card for more than five years before they can pay insurance money to the government's medical insurance plan and buy a medical insurance plan.
A new immigrant who just got a green card.
Due to the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), that is, Obamacare reform, legal residents in the United States, including American citizens, legal immigrants (green cards) and other legal long-term residents, need to participate in medical insurance that meets the legal standards of ACA. If you do not participate in medical insurance or medical insurance does not meet the standards of ACA law, the government will impose a fine through IRS. The fine standard for 20 16 years is $695 for adults, $347.50 for children, and the maximum fine for each family is $2,085. Or 2.5% of household income, whichever is higher.
New immigrants can apply for travel medical insurance as transitional insurance before arriving in the United States. If new immigrants arrive in the United States after 2016 65438+1October 3 1 (the open application period ends), they can also apply for Obamacare as a special life-changing event within 60 days. However, new immigrants are usually not eligible to apply for Medicaid provided by the federal and state governments for people with incomes below the poverty line.
According to the proportion of out-of-pocket expenses, Obamacare reform is divided into the following levels:
Catastrophe and serious illness insurance: only applicable to people under the age of 30 or eligible for exemption.
Bronze grade: 40% self-raised and 60% insured.
Silver grade: 30% self-financing and 70% insurance.
Gold grade: 20% self-financing and 80% insurance.
Plantium platinum: 10% paid by itself, and 90% paid by insurance.
States in the United States have different medical policies for immigrants. Moreover, due to the change of state budget funds, the standards and qualifications of state-funded medical insurance often change.