On October4, 2019, the President issued a proclamationstating individuals entering the US from abroad on a green card must now becovered by approved health insurance within 30 days of entering the US. This new rule will take effect on November 3,2019.
Approvedhealth insurance includes:
- An employer-sponsored plan
- An unsubsidized plan offered in a US State’sindividual market
- A short-term plan effective for at least ayear or until the foreign national plans to leave the US for extended travel
- A catastrophic plan
- A family member’s plan
- A military healthcare plan, such as TriCare
- A Medicare plan
- Any other plan that is deemed adequate by theSecretary of Health and Human Services.
Applicantsmust be able to present evidence to the Embassy Officer reviewing their casethat the applicant will have health insurance before the issuance of the visato enter the US.
This newrule applies to those seeking entry to the US on a green card for the firsttime. Children who are under the age of18 and entering the US with their parents are exempt from this rule.
This ruledoes not apply to those who have received a green card in the past and arereturning to the US after a trip abroad. This rule also does not apply to those entering the US on a nonimmigrantvisa, e.g. H-1B, TN, L-1, for F-1.