Medical Insurance for UN Agencies Consultants in USA demystified !

Of course no one plans to get sick or hurt, but most of us need medical care at some point. Health insurance covers these costs and offers many other important benefits.

• Health insurance protects you from unexpected, high medical costs

• You pay less for covered in-network health care, even before you meet your deductible

• You get free preventive care, like vaccines, screenings, and check-ups, even before you meet your deductible.

First you need to know few important things:

• It's not possible for foreigner to enroll in any of plan you see ads in subway or TV.

• You  must have Social Security Number SSN. 

• It's will be expensive! around 300 per person monthly with prescription coverage.

• With insurance some cost still will be only at your pocket.

The easiest way is to insure yourself and your family members in GeoBlue, its kind of travel insurance with coverage in the US designed for expats. Advantage of this is that you have full coverage in Blue Cross Blue Shield network (biggest one) . Here you can find all information and also calculate monthly fee GeoBlue Brochure. 

Good to know !
Deductible
The amount you have to pay out-of-pocket for expenses before the insurance company will cover the remaining costs. 

Out of pocket
Money you pay at every visit, in most of the cases not at the time of the visit but healt provider will send you invoice. 

Social security number SSN for G4 Visa holders - reality

This is something very handy in US and you will be asked about this in many occasion. 

1. Renting apartment - credit check 
2. Open bank account in other bank that UNFCU 
3. Getting mobile phone on agreement 
4. Schools, preschools and all kind of education 
5. Medical insurance and all kind of insurance 
6. Getting driving license in us most of the states 

And many more situations....

There is many disinformation information about SSN for G4 visa holders. I can say based on my experience with 6 months consultancy contract wit the UN. 

You will get SSN without any problem ! All you need is application form and your passport with G4 visa. You needs to fulfill application and visit social security card center in Manhattan is on 123 Williams street (close to Brooklyn bridge) and your card will be send to you in two weeks. You can get only one SSN for your family if your spouse will apply for work permit the she/he will need to apply for another SSN.

PS. Here is interesting article about this how expats struggle to get things done in US 

First things first - how to get to the New York and find reasonable apartment

Hello everyone, this will be some basic information about relocating to New York for UN Staff  & Consultants and their families. It's totally based on own and my family experience. My family is 4 people me, my wife plus 2 kids (boy 3 years and girl 1,8 years old). So there will be a lot of information for families, about schools, kindergartens, nanny's etc.

1. VISA
This will be simple, after you get your contract you will also receive visa application form (TTS.1 Form) from you HR Focal point or Visa Office (external company working for UN). Send application and contract or TOR to office and you will get Cable (diplomatic telegram) will be send to you by email and US Embassy of your choice. Remember to fulfill and print DS-160 form on-line before you visit US Embassy. You need about 5 business days to issue Cable (diplomatic telegram) and 2-3 days in US Embassy to issue visa. So try to ask for this form TTS.1 as soon as possible from your HR Focal Point. Your Cable is valid only for 30 days so remember about this, if you need visa for family members etc.

PS. You will need to inform visa desk on every contract extension ! Remember that without active contract with UN you can stay only up to 31 days in US thought the G4 Visa validity date in your passport.  

2. Travel to NYC

You will get your ticket from the Office so don't worry, even for consultants Office will purchase tickets.

2. Apartment for You only (short-term up to 12 months). 

The road to rent an apartment for family is much more complicated in New York so I will write separate post about this. Now I will concentrate on short-term rentals for professionals from 1 to 12 months.

First what you need is money, you will need first month rent + security deposit + last month rent (in some cases) + 1500/3000 broker fee (is some cases). So in Manhattan in July 2014 is will be for one bedroom (studio) 1500+1500+1500+1500/300  = 6000/7500 all paid upfront on first day, this is starting price most of apartment you see is much more expensive.

And one general rule, there is almost impossibly to rent apartment in NYC from abroad, you need to be here and have US Mobile telephone number to contact, meet and see apartments or finally sign the pre-approval credit check. You can stay with your friends in NYC or go for one week to hotel/hostel.

Best place to look for apartment is three places:
www.nakedapartments.com/ [good search engine]
newyork.craigslist.org/hhh/ [some no fee apartment]
iseek2.un.org/newyork [access only if you work already for UN]

Other better options !
There is some really hard to find so remember those ones, apartments for professionals in NYC in reasonable prices.

1. Central Park Inn
Good option for longer stay up to 12 months. Prices from 1400 USD for month + security deposit + cleaning service (100 USD per month) and pre-approval credit check(300-500 USD).



2. Bridge suites

Good location 60 East close to UN headquarter and downtown Manhattan. Prices from 2500-2700 for studio + security deposit + utilities charges (4 USD per day). Could be a little hard due to proximity to Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge.