Health Insurance in CA for non married couples (wedding, living)

[londonmom]

Thanks Dr shang that's really helpful - will check out the site. Can't believe your deductible though, guess that means you always pay for the little things yourself . Hopefully there'll be less visits to the Dr anyway as I'm hoping flu and tonsilitis will be a thing of the past in sunny CA!!

[drshang]

If there's something wrong with me I just pay it out of pocket. But honestly, for better or for worse, I don't really go to the doctor unless there's actually something wrong with me. Plus if you don't make offices go through the insurance process often times they will give you a heavily discounted rate. This goes for dental insurance too. Most places in the US have "insured rates" and "uninsured rates" and the insured rates will be much higher.

EDIT: there are also doctors offices here that ONLY take uninsured clients. Many doctors in the US have gotten really sick of the insurance crap and nonsense required to get reimbursement as well as the red tape involved with insurance and have opened up offices that don't take insurance, which is really useful for things like routine visits and checkups (and obviously maintaining major medical as a backup if the office needs to refer you somewhere expensive if you have a major problem). So to be honest not having coverage for basic stuff isn't really as bad as it sounds, especially if you don't have many pre-existing conditions that require prescription drugs or other regular care. The US also has HSA (health savings accounts) that allow you to save for medical expenses tax free if you maintain a high deductible, major medical plan, which is another perk to this type of coverage. I am not sure if you qualify for this but depending on the route you take it might be worth looking into. Also some people in Southern California go to Mexico to get the same prescription drugs for less. I don't know anything but this personally but it's something to think about and do some of your own research if this specific situation applies to you and you're willing to go through a little leg work to do something like that.

At my age the probability is very small for little things to happen - so that's why I chose the higher deductible major medical coverage. If I get cancer or a car accident or something then I'm covered for the "big stuff" that would bankrupt me paying out of pocket but if I get an ear infection I didn't see the logic in paying $500 dollars extra a year when paying out of pocket will probably only cost a couple hundred bucks. Obviously your mileage will vary but at least you have the information ahead of time to determine how much you'll be likely to pay and then determine the best solution for you.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by drshang

If there's something wrong with me I just pay it out of pocket. But honestly, for better or for worse, I don't really go to the doctor unless there's actually something wrong with me. Plus if you don't make offices go through the insurance process often times they will give you a heavily discounted rate. This goes for dental insurance too. Most places in the US have "insured rates" and "uninsured rates" and the insured rates will be much higher.

EDIT: there are also doctors offices here that ONLY take uninsured clients. Many doctors in the US have gotten really sick of the insurance crap and nonsense required to get reimbursement as well as the red tape involved with insurance and have opened up offices that don't take insurance, which is really useful for things like routine visits and checkups (and obviously maintaining major medical as a backup if the office needs to refer you somewhere expensive if you have a major problem). So to be honest not having coverage for basic stuff isn't really as bad as it sounds, especially if you don't have many pre-existing conditions that require prescription drugs or other regular care. The US also has HSA (health savings accounts) that allow you to save for medical expenses tax free if you maintain a high deductible, major medical plan, which is another perk to this type of coverage. I am not sure if you qualify for this but depending on the route you take it might be worth looking into. Also some people in Southern California go to Mexico to get the same prescription drugs for less. I don't know anything but this personally but it's something to think about and do some of your own research if this specific situation applies to you and you're willing to go through a little leg work to do something like that.

At my age the probability is very small for little things to happen - so that's why I chose the higher deductible major medical coverage. If I get cancer or a car accident or something then I'm covered for the "big stuff" that would bankrupt me paying out of pocket but if I get an ear infection I didn't see the logic in paying $500 dollars extra a year when paying out of pocket will probably only cost a couple hundred bucks. Obviously your mileage will vary but at least you have the information ahead of time to determine how much you'll be likely to pay and then determine the best solution for you.

No there is nothing wrong with you. Years ago, when our kids were young insurance pretty much covered hospitalization, nothing else or maybe Xrays and some lab or it covered office visits after the third one for the same illness...
I am glad they now cover preventive medicine thus we can prevent many illnesses from getting out of hand, but I also think too many people run to the doctors too much and doctors (for fear of law suits etc) order way too many tests...Our old plans were too restrictive, but today is the opposite.

Nita

[LABornandRaised]

I work for a major health insurance company in CA and in a nut shell, even if you're straight, you can be covered as a domestic partner (rather than being married) just like gay couples, but you have to meet the same criteria gay couples do as defined as "domestic partner." In other words, show proof you two live together, etc.

[londonmom]

Thanks, I feel a bit better about this now and will get my husband to push for the domestic partner bit. We have been together for 11 years and obviously have bills in joint names - is this the type of proof they would be looking for?

[nori_garsi]

Originally Posted by londonmom

Thanks, I feel a bit better about this now and will get my husband to push for the domestic partner bit. We have been together for 11 years and obviously have bills in joint names - is this the type of proof they would be looking for?

We didn't have to provide any proof. We just had to fill out forms and sign them. It was ridiculously easy.

[motoman]

Originally Posted by londonmom

Thanks, I feel a bit better about this now and will get my husband to push for the domestic partner bit. We have been together for 11 years and obviously have bills in joint names - is this the type of proof they would be looking for?

I don't know the technicalities, but I think in California if you have lived with someone that long you are in effect common law partners. Meaning that you are considered essentially married. But I don't know how that works given that you are moving here. You might check into it through the State website.

[uptown_urbanist]

I thought that in CA to establish a domestic partnership one of the partners in a non-gay couple had to be over 62?

[motoman]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

I thought that in CA to establish a domestic partnership one of the partners in a non-gay couple had to be over 62?

Could very well be.

[impala666]

You will need a visa unless you are married.
Get married it will save loads of problems.