Coming to UK on Fiance Visa-Do I just drop COBRA?

Hi, I have health insurance with Univera but it goes through COBRA. It costs me so much $ I want to cry every month that I have to send it! If I'm coming soon on a Fiance Visa, do I just cancel it? When? And do I get coverage by the NHS?

It's such a big step to drop my insurance and I want to make sure I do this right.
Thanks anyone who answers!

Mary

Yes, you can use the NHS with a fiance(e) visa.

I can't remember what I did with my health insurance.  I think when I moved over, I just cancelled it and when asked why, explained I moved and was no longer resident in the US.

thanks for your quick reply! I won't be fined or something from the Gov't will I?

So (in UK) do I just go to the local doctors surgery where my fiance lives, and sign up for NHS? I heard they don't always know how to do this?

 I can't wait to drop my expensive insurance!! 

Does Cobra cover you internationally?  Some surgeries may not be amenable to registering you under a fiance visa..

Does Cobra cover you internationally?  Some surgeries may not be amenable to registering you under a fiance visa..

There's shouldn't be any need for this.

You are perfectly entitled to use the NHS on a fiance visa and if the surgery tries to tell you otherwise, you either convince them to register you (showing visa and information from the NHS website), or you find a different surgery that will register you.

I don't see any point in using international insurance instead when you are entitled to use the NHS for free and they are in the wrong if they tell you otherwise.

Dump COBRA ASAP.  So expensive!
I think you're worried about compliance with Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) but see IRS site http://www.irs.gov/uac/Questions-and-Answers-on-the-Individual-Shared-Responsibility-Provision  Question 12 on US citizens living abroad.

I moved over in February, just before the requirement to have insurance, and when I spoke with someone in our states health insurance group about me not having insurance, they said it will be fine. The fact that you will no longer be living in the US makes it to where you are not subject to the health insurance requirement. Or so I was told.

You are eligible for NHS on your Fiance visa, I used NHS in the second month I was here. When registering with a GP you need your passport/visa and a bill with your address on it, so get your name on a bill at your address as quick as you can. You'll need that bill for a lot of different things like opening/being added to bank accounts, application for your NI Number (needed for work), Registration of Marriage, etc.


My local surgery was nice enough to get me to where I could see them without one, I just didn't get my NHS number/card for about 5 months.  If you can be added to the water bill, that would probably be fastest. Many of the electrical companies only allow one person per bill. And local councils aren't always great about getting you on the bill right away. haha. At least mine wasn't. *wry grin*

Thank you so much everyone for your valued input! This makes me breath a sigh of relief! There's enough to worry about with how expensive this whole process is that dropping my ridiculously high insurance is welcomed.

I guess November is the month that people can opt to change plans etc..(downgrade) but it might be simpler if I stick it out since I will be applying for my visa soon. After waiting 3 years and finally approaching reality it just doesn't seem real! I might be filling out my application within a week!!! YIKES! (giddy glggles of nervousness!! hahah)

I'm making a list of what I need to do when I arrive and your input is going on it, thanks again!