New to the USA? Let's Get You Covered.
Moving to a new country is a lot to carry at once, and figuring out American health insurance shouldn't be the part that keeps you up at night. Whether you're here on a work visa, a green card, or a job relocation, the goal is the same: get coverage in place before you need it, so a surprise trip to the doctor never turns into a surprise bill. I'll walk you through it in plain English, at your pace.
How do I get health insurance after moving to the US?
Once you have moved to the US — on a work visa, a green card, or a job relocation — the priority is having coverage in place before anything unexpected happens. Whether you can use the ACA marketplace or qualify for income-based subsidies depends on your immigration status and your particular situation, and that is genuinely a conversation rather than something to guess at online. What you can usually start doing right away is compare private under-65 health plans, which can bridge you until your employer's benefits begin or until other coverage is available to you. As an independent broker, I will walk you through the options you can compare today at no cost to you, and point you to the right official resource for the eligibility questions.
Not sure where to start? See whether a life change opens an enrollment window →
First things first: coverage before you need it
In the US, health care is expensive to pay for out of pocket, so the single most important move for a newcomer is simply not to go uninsured while you settle in. You do not have to have every detail figured out to get started. The first question is usually just how long the gap is: are you waiting a few weeks for an employer plan to begin, or do you need your own coverage for the foreseeable future? That answer points to different options, and it is the first thing I will ask you.
The most common newcomer mistake is waiting to "get organized" before looking at coverage. An unexpected illness or accident does not wait for your paperwork, so it is worth having a plan in place even while the rest of your move is still in motion.
Marketplace, subsidies, and eligibility: an honest note
You have probably read that Americans can buy coverage through the ACA marketplace, sometimes with income-based subsidies that lower the cost. Whether that path is open to you, and whether you qualify for any savings, can depend on your immigration status, how long you have been here, your household, and your income. Those rules are detailed, they change, and they are not something I would ever want you to guess at from a web page — getting it wrong is how people end up with the wrong plan or an unexpected tax surprise. So here is my honest position: I will not make assumptions about your status, and I will point you to the official government resource for the eligibility questions. What I can do is help you understand and compare the private under-65 options in front of you, and talk through where the marketplace might fit once your situation is clear.
Where a private under-65 plan can help
If the marketplace is not available to you yet, or you simply need coverage quickly, a private under-65 plan can often bridge the gap. These plans can start relatively fast, and they can travel with you rather than being tied to a single employer. They are a common fit for a few newcomer situations:
- Waiting on employer benefits. A new job's plan often has a waiting period before it begins. A bridge plan can carry you through those first weeks so you are not exposed.
- On a visa and still sorting out eligibility. While you confirm what other coverage you can use and when, a private plan can keep you covered in the meantime.
- Relocating your whole household. A family that just arrived together can often be compared for coverage on one policy rather than piecing it together person by person.
- You want to choose, not default. Even when you do have options, it helps to see them side by side on real numbers before you commit.
Here for work and self-employed or contracting? See self-employed health insurance → · got a stipend or ICHRA from your employer? turn it into a plan →
How I help newcomers
My job is to make an unfamiliar system feel manageable. There are no dumb questions here — if this is your first time buying your own health insurance in the US, that is exactly the person I am used to helping. Tell me your situation and I will lay out what you can compare, explain the trade-offs in plain language, and handle the paperwork with you.
- Plain-English explanations, no jargon and no pressure
- Private under-65 options you can compare and enroll in when they fit
- A pointer to the official resource for anything tied to your immigration status
- One licensed person who stays in your corner as your situation changes
A softer landing into American coverage.
Covered While You Settle In
A private under-65 plan can often start quickly, so you are not exposed while the rest of your move comes together.
Plain English, No Jargon
I explain how American coverage works in words that make sense, so you can decide with confidence, not confusion.
Honest About Eligibility
I will not guess about your immigration status. I point you to the official resource and compare the options you can use now.
The Whole Family, One Conversation
Arrived together? I can compare coverage for your household so everyone lands with a plan, not just you.
Plain answers for your first coverage in the US.
I just moved to the US — how do I get health insurance?
Start by looking at how long you need coverage for: a few weeks until an employer plan begins, or your own plan for the foreseeable future. From there we compare the private under-65 options you can use now, and I point you to the official resource for anything tied to your immigration status. You do not need every detail figured out to get started — tell me your situation and I will take it from there, at no cost to you.
Can I get a marketplace plan or subsidies on a work visa or green card?
It depends on your immigration status, how long you have been here, your household, and your income, and those rules are detailed and can change. Rather than guess, I will point you to the official government resource so you get an accurate answer, and in the meantime I will help you compare the private under-65 options you can use. Once your situation is clear, we can revisit whether the marketplace fits.
What if I do not qualify for the marketplace yet?
That is a common spot for newcomers, and it is not a dead end. A private under-65 plan can often bridge the gap — it can start relatively quickly and travels with you rather than being tied to one employer. I will lay out what you can compare so you are covered while the rest sorts itself out.
How fast can I get covered after moving here?
Often fairly quickly. Private under-65 plans can sometimes take effect within days to the first of the next month, depending on the plan and when you apply. The key is not waiting until you need care, so it is worth reaching out as soon as your move is real.
My job starts soon — do I need coverage before the employer plan begins?
Often yes. Many employer plans have a waiting period before they begin, which can leave you exposed for the first weeks or months. A short private bridge plan can carry you through that gap so you are not uninsured while you wait. Tell me your start date and when benefits kick in, and I will help you decide whether a bridge makes sense.
My family moved with me — can we all be on one plan?
Often, yes. A household that arrived together can usually be compared for coverage on one policy rather than assembling it person by person. I will look at what fits everyone and lay out the options so the whole family lands covered, not just the working adult.
I am not sure what my immigration status lets me do — can you tell me?
I will be straight with you: I am a licensed insurance broker, not an immigration or legal advisor, so I will not make determinations about your status or what it entitles you to. What I can do is point you to the official government resource for those questions and, alongside that, help you understand and compare the private coverage options you can use. If a question is really about immigration or taxes, I will tell you plainly and steer you to the right expert.
Is there a fee to work with you?
No. There is no fee to you for my help — the insurance companies pay the commission, and it is already built into the plan, so working with a broker does not add to what you pay. You can read exactly how I am paid if you want the details.
Will you pressure me to sign up for something fast?
No. Moving to a new country is stressful enough. I will explain your options calmly, at your pace, and if something does not fit, I will tell you. You will never get a hard sell from me — the goal is that you understand what you are choosing and feel good about it.
Official sources: for the government rules on health coverage and immigration status, see HealthCare.gov — coverage for immigrants and HealthCare.gov — coverage and your immigration status. Michalek Health Solutions is an independent broker and is not affiliated with these agencies, and nothing here is immigration, legal, or tax advice.
Here for a reason beyond the move?
Self-employed & 1099
Buying your own coverage as a freelancer, contractor, or solo business owner.
Explore self-employed →Families & individuals
Buying your own coverage for your household instead of through a job.
Explore family coverage →Small business & teams
Covering yourself as the owner or a small team without enterprise cost.
Explore group coverage →Not sure this is your lane? If the marketplace or another path turns out to be your better fit, you are not on your own — I will connect you to a partner I trust who handles that, and I stay in your corner either way. One honest starting point, whatever fits your family. Meet the partners I trust →
New here? Let's line up your coverage.
Tell me a little about your situation and I will email you a plain-English rundown of the private under-65 options you can compare — no spam, no health questions, and no assumptions about your status. Would rather talk it through? I will call you.
This guide is educational and general — not an offer, quote, or guarantee of coverage, and not immigration, legal, or tax advice. It names no carriers and states no premiums.
In their words
“My COBRA was expiring so I reached out to Ryan at Michalek Health Solutions for health insurance options. Ryan was punctual, professional, and resourceful in all our interactions via email, text, and voice calls. …”
— Elizabeth A.
“Ryan was a great help and very accommodating when it came to helping my newly retired Father transition from his work insurance to his new insurance. …”
— John T.
“Ryan was so helpful in guiding me through the health insurance application process. Also when there was an issue with my policy, Ryan was very quick to call for me and remedy the situation. He is very personable, kind, and knowledgeable. I definitely recommend him!”
— Sydney C.
Welcome. Let's get you covered.
Tell me a bit about your move and I will lay out the options you can compare — no pressure, no assumptions.