Getting an L1 - need info on health insurance for family

[rglass]

I will soon be getting an L1 visa and relocating to the US, but my family will be staying in Canada. Looking for info on health insurance - my company provides dependent coverage, but how can it work if I'm in the US and the family is in Canada?

[Reba]

It won't. You will have to purchase separate supplemental insurance for your family in Canada. It is very unlikely that a US insurance company will cover them. Plus, the "out of network" expenses would be higher than if they didn't have supplemental in Canada at all probably!

[agnelson]

Many US company insurance cover dependants, even living in canada, with no extra surcharge. Mine certainly does, so you will need to check with your plan rather than accept the answer above.

However as reba sez, these won't payout as generously for out of network claims (like in canada), and really, for the few medical things that govt doesn't pay in canada, what benefit would their be in getting them covered.

I would suggest you cover dental and vision for your dependants, but not medical, which their province takes care of anyways.

[Reba]

There are so many variables with US insurance, which company, which state, etc etc etc a question such as this should be posed to the insurance administrator/HR manager at your employer. None of the insurance I have ever dealth with would have covered family that is not resident in the country of insurance purchase. On either side of the border.

[agnelson]

One thing that may help is making sure that your family get any SSns or ITINs that they need. InsurCos often have cookie-cutter rules that your dependents have these number to overcome fraud.

Getting med insurance for your CDn family is not that critical (other than for dental and vision), and since you are a transferee, this should be made a condition of transfer. Remember you are moving here on business -- not for love -- so your experience should not necessarily mirror marriage-based migration. you can and should be a tad more demanding.

But, as I say, if your fim has a good plan, where your family lives will not a be factor (just don't pick network-only HMO coverage).

-- Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:05 pm --

[Reba]

sometimes you only have one choice for employer offered insurance. Or rather 2 choices. What they offer, or nothing at all.

Again, it's best to speak with the insurance adminstrator at work to find out if your family can be covered and what the costs will be.