New Immigrant Insurance

Bridge coverage for new green card holders — protecting the gap before long-term U.S. health coverage kicks in.

Overview

Who this covers

Temporary travel medical coverage for new green card holders and other new immigrants — covering the U.S. and worldwide travel together — meant to bridge the gap before long-term U.S. health coverage kicks in. This isn’t a substitute for major medical insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid — it’s short-term protection for the transition period.

Why Sell This

Fills a gap every green card holder has

This one sells itself once a client understands the gap it fills. A green card can get approved while someone’s still overseas, and they land in the U.S. with no domestic coverage yet in place. Some green card holders travel internationally often enough that they never quite get around to enrolling in a U.S. plan. Others are just between jobs, waiting on an employer plan to start. All three are common, everyday situations for anyone working with immigration-adjacent clients, and the stakes are real — U.S. healthcare costs are no gentler on a green card holder than on anyone else.

Client Fit

Who this typically fits

New green card holders

Entering the U.S. for the first time as a permanent resident, before long-term coverage is active.

Frequent international travelers

Green card holders who travel often and don’t keep year-round U.S. major medical coverage.

Between jobs

Clients waiting on employer-sponsored coverage to begin.

Adjusting status

Someone adjusting status who needs interim protection during the process.

Coverage Highlights

What’s typically included

Core medical coverage

Emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, ER visits, and prescriptions.

High evacuation limits

Emergency medical evacuation up to $1,000,000 on several plans.

Pre-existing conditions

Acute onset covered on some plans, though the amount often shrinks with age.

Wide age range

Eligibility varies a lot by plan — some go up to 99, others cap at 89.

Student visa overlap

A few plans double as a fallback for student visa holders whose school doesn’t have its own mandate.

Flexible duration

Most plans renew or extend up to 364–365 days; a couple stretch to 2 years.

Compliance & Requirements

What to confirm before quoting

Bridge coverage only

Not a substitute for ACA Marketplace plans, employer coverage, Medicare, or Medicaid — set that expectation up front.

No federal mandate

There’s no requirement for green card holders to carry this, unlike J-1’s regulatory requirement — it’s a voluntary purchase.

U.S. citizens excluded

Most plans exclude U.S. citizens outright. Once a client naturalizes, this category no longer applies to them.

Frequently asked questions

Does this replace ACA coverage or Medicare?

No. It’s temporary bridge coverage only, not a substitute for major medical insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. Make sure the client understands that going in.

Can a U.S. citizen buy this?

Generally not. These plans are built for non-U.S. citizens and residents, and several explicitly exclude U.S. citizens from purchasing (unless you’re a citizen living abroad).

What about an older client, say in their 70s or 80s?

Coverage exists, but it shrinks with age on some plans, and a few cut off entirely at 90. Check the specific plan rather than assuming it’ll work the same way it does for a younger client.

Can this cover someone waiting on a new job’s health plan to start?

Yes — that’s one of the more common reasons people buy this. It’s a bridge until the employer plan kicks in.

Coverage Options