Will Applying for Insurance Put You at Risk With Immigration? What Really Happens to Your Data

It's one of the questions I hear most often, and people usually ask it quietly, sometimes before they've even told me their name: "Mario, if I apply for insurance, does that get back to immigration?" I've been an insurance agent for 15 years, and I understand exactly where that fear comes from. When your family has something to lose, every form feels like a door, and you don't know who's standing on the other side. So I want to be straight with you. First, what I'm not: I'm not an immigration attorney, and I won't give you legal advice. What I can do is explain, from my day-to-day work, what information each type of insurance asks for, what it's used for, and which questions are worth asking before you sign anything.

What a final expense or life insurance application asks for

Final expense and life insurance are private contracts between you and an insurance company. They aren't government programs, and they aren't immigration paperwork. To review your application, the insurer will usually ask for:

• Your full name, date of birth, address and phone number.
• A few health questions. Final expense has no medical exam, but they will ask about conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.
• Your beneficiary's information, meaning the person who will receive the money.
• A way to pay the premium, like a bank account or a card.
• Some form of identification number. Which numbers are accepted depends on the company, and we go over that before we start.

That information is used for three things: deciding whether you're approved, figuring out what you'll pay, and knowing who gets the money when the time comes. Every insurer has a privacy policy explaining how it handles your information. You can ask for it and read it before you sign, and if you'd like, we can go through it together.

Obamacare is a different story, and I'll be upfront about it

With ACA health plans, the conversation changes, because the Marketplace is a federal government program. For someone to get coverage and a subsidy, the system verifies their income and their citizenship or immigration status. That's how the law works, and I'm not going to hide it from you.

What many people don't realize is that the verification applies to the person asking for coverage, not the whole household. In general, a family member who isn't applying for coverage for themselves doesn't have to provide their immigration status, even if they're listed as part of the household. That's why there are mixed-status families where, for example, a parent applies for coverage only for their children. Who qualifies, and how, depends on each person's status, and the rules change, so we review it case by case before anything gets submitted. And my help with this doesn't cost your family anything.

When the answer isn't mine to give

If you have an open immigration case, if you're worried about public charge, or if you simply don't know how an application might affect your situation, that question belongs with an immigration attorney. I say this with care: I'd rather tell you "I don't know, ask a lawyer" than promise you something that isn't mine to promise. Your peace of mind is worth more than any policy.

I'd rather tell you "I don't know, ask a lawyer" than promise you something that isn't mine to promise.

Questions to ask before you sign

• What exactly do you need this information for?
• Is it required, or can I continue the application without it?
• Where can I read the company's privacy policy?
• What will my beneficiary need in order to collect the money?
• For Obamacare: who in my home is applying for coverage, and who isn't?

A good agent answers every one of those without getting annoyed. Before I ask you for any number or document, I tell you what it's for, and if something isn't clear, we stop right there. I bring this up because fear without information has a cost too. In Texas, the average funeral runs about $9,200 according to the NFDA, and industry estimates suggest around 60% of Hispanic families in the state don't have life insurance. I don't know how many of those families stayed away because they were afraid. I do know that an honest answer beats a door you never dared to knock on.

Mario Barrera is a licensed insurance agent (TX Lic. #3008095, NPN 17440153), not an attorney. This article is for general information only and is not legal or immigration advice; for your specific situation, consult an immigration attorney. All coverage is subject to approval and varies by age and health. Marketplace eligibility and subsidies depend on each case, if you qualify.

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