Im relocating to the US under an L1 Visa for internal company transfers. How does the health insurance work in the US?
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M$2 Answers
Health insurance is paid by you as a deduction. Most companies have a selection of health plans to choose from and each one will have a 'deductible' and also a co-pay. Talk to your co-workers about which one they choose and pick their brains over the best option.
My health insurance (similar situation) cost approx $200 / paycheck when paid twice / month and cost $10 for a doctor visit and covered most other issues. Dental and Vision added $24 / month to that and was not optional.
Talk to HR and ensure that you are covered from 'day one' rather than having to go through the (often) three month 'not yet eligible' period.
personal experience.
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M$For a detailed quotes from several Visitor Travel Medical Insurance, kindly visit the link below:
http://www.deccan.net/usa/insurance/compare.asp
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M$
An L1 visa is absolutely NOT a visitor visa.
An L1 is an transfer to the US as a resident but has the restriction that you are only allowed to work for the company that transfers you.
My original visa was an L1 and I 'upgraded' to a Green card after a while.
As you are an employee, and a resident alien, you have the same health care entitlement as any other resident.
http://www.usvisa.com/l-1_visa.shtml
Yes, an L1 is just like many other visa's, it is a visa that allows you to live and work in the US. An L1 is especially restrictive in that it only allows you to work for the company that brought you over.
H1's and similar allow a company to become your sponsor. These too are 'non immigrant' visa's, yet allow a much greater amount of freedom for the holder.
Either an L1 or a H1B holder is treated like any other employee in terms of benefits, an L1 holder can accrue a 401K and has to contribute towards social security and file taxes.
Exactly like a US Citizen or permanent resident.
There are some pretty scary things about being on an L1 though.
It is not, repeat NOT, transferable. You can only work for the company that sponsors you. You cannot go and work for another company without some seriously major INS hoop jumping.
If you are terminated from the company you have something like 30 days to leave the US.
PERIOD.
Regardless, the question pertains to health insurance.
As an L1 holder your employer can offer you and your family health cover, exactly like any other employee. Your will be a US resident while you are here and you will be treated like any other insurance card holding person.
One piece of advice.
Get the 'Green Card' process underway as soon as you get your Social Security Number.
According to workpermit.com, "The United States L1 visa is a non-immigrant visa which allows companies operating both in the US and abroad to transfer certain classes of employee from its foreign operations to the US operations for up to seven years."
http://www.workpermit.com/us/investor_l-1.htm
