Health Insurance Without SSN: Options for New Arrivals

Yes, you can get health insurance without an SSN. Travel medical plans for recent arrivals are bought with a passport, a visa or entry record and a US address, and lawfully present immigrants can apply for Marketplace coverage before their Social Security number arrives. The rule to remember: you must give an SSN if you have one, but not having one yet does not stop you from getting covered.

This guide is for people who have just moved to the US and are waiting on their card. It covers what you can buy today, the documents to have ready, and how to move to longer term coverage once the number arrives.

Key facts at a glance

• SSN only if you have one: under 45 CFR 155.310, the Marketplace must require an applicant who has a Social Security number to provide it, and may not require one from a family member who is not applying for coverage.
• Immigration documents count: HealthCare.gov lists the green card, a machine readable immigrant visa with temporary I-551 language, an I-94, a foreign passport and your alien or I-94 number as documents you can use.
• Status still matters: HealthCare.gov states that undocumented immigrants cannot get Marketplace coverage. Lawfully present immigrants can.
• Arrival opens a window: moving to the US from a foreign country can qualify you for a special enrollment period, generally 60 days, according to HealthCare.gov.
• Bridge plans are for recent arrivals: according to the plan catalog, Trawick's Safe Travels USA plans must be purchased within 364 days of arrival in the US.

Can you get private health insurance without an SSN?

Yes. Private travel medical plans, often called new immigrant or bridge plans, identify you by passport, date of birth and US address. The plans Ombrela compares for recent arrivals include IMG Patriot Plus, Patriot Platinum and Patriot Lite, and Trawick Safe Travels USA, Safe Travels USA Comprehensive and Safe Travels USA Cost Saver. According to the plan catalog, the IMG Patriot plans can be purchased after arrival, and the Trawick plans must be purchased within 364 days of arrival.

These plans cover new injuries and illnesses, emergency care and evacuation. They are not full health insurance: all of them exclude pre-existing conditions, apart from limited acute onset benefits on some plans, and they do not cover routine maternity care. Think of them as protection against a large, unexpected bill while you wait for your SSN and a Marketplace or employer plan. Our guide to acute onset of pre-existing conditions explains that benefit in detail.

Not every plan accepts every nationality. Trawick's Safe Travels USA plans exclude residents of many European countries, Australia, the Dominican Republic, Nigeria and others, while IMG Patriot plans exclude citizens of Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Kosovo, Niger, Nigeria and Sierra Leone and cannot be bought from New York. The quote page shows only the plans that fit your country and state.

What documents do you need to buy coverage without an SSN?

For a bridge plan, have these ready: your passport, your visa or immigrant visa, your date of US entry, a US mailing address, the start date you want, and a card to pay. No SSN or ITIN is needed. Keep a copy of your I-94 record, since claims staff may ask you to confirm your arrival date.

For a Marketplace application, you will also need your immigration document type and number, your alien number if you have one, income estimates for your tax household, and any employer coverage offers. If the Marketplace cannot confirm your status electronically, you may be asked to upload a document copy. Our guide for green card holders on the ACA Marketplace covers that process.

Can you enroll in a Marketplace plan without a Social Security number?

Yes, if you are lawfully present and do not yet have a number. Federal rules only require the SSN from applicants who have one. Once you receive it, you should update your application so the Marketplace can verify your information and avoid problems with your premium tax credit.

Eligibility for help with premiums changed recently. According to KFF, lawfully present immigrants with income below 100% of the poverty level lost access to premium tax credits on January 1, 2026, and from January 1, 2027 subsidies are limited to green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and people residing under the Compacts of Free Association. If you hold another status, such as a work visa, check how the 2027 change affects you before you rely on a subsidy.

How long does it take to get an SSN after you arrive?

Timing varies. Many immigrant visa applicants request a Social Security number as part of the visa application, in which case the card is mailed to their US address after arrival. Others apply in person at a Social Security office once their arrival record is available. Either way, plan for at least a few weeks and do not wait on the card to start coverage.

Not everyone can get an SSN. People who are not authorized to work, such as most visitors and many students, generally cannot. If that is you, a Marketplace plan may not be the right path at all, and a visitor or student plan is. See our visitor insurance quotes if you are in the US temporarily.

How do you switch coverage once your SSN arrives?

The goal is overlap, not a gap. Keep the bridge plan active until the first day your new coverage starts, then cancel. Read the refund rules before you buy. According to the plan catalog, Trawick's Safe Travels USA refunds in full if you cancel before the start date; after that, refunds are limited, paid only in full months, subject to a $50 fee, and not available if a claim is on file. IMG's Patriot plans may charge a $50 fee after the effective date.

If you join an employer plan, give HR your SSN as soon as it arrives, even if they enrolled you without it. If you enrolled in the Marketplace, add the number to your application. Whichever you choose, write down the coverage start date and confirm the new insurer's card and member ID before you cancel anything.

This article is general information about insurance and public programs, not legal advice. For questions about your immigration status or eligibility, check official sources or speak with an immigration attorney.

Download our free Waiting for SSN Coverage Checklist below. It maps your SSN application timeline, the plans that accept passport ID, the documents to buy coverage, your switch over plan, the Marketplace window and a key dates calendar on one page.

How to get covered

If you have arrived recently and need protection now, start with a bridge plan and choose your entry date or today's date as the start. Visit our new immigrant insurance quote page, enter your age, citizenship and arrival date, and compare plans that accept you without an SSN. Premiums depend on age, length of coverage, policy maximum and deductible. If you are unsure which category fits you, the plan finder can point you to the right one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get private health insurance without an SSN?

Yes. Travel medical plans for recent arrivals, such as IMG Patriot and Trawick Safe Travels USA plans, are bought with a passport, visa and US address. They cover new injuries and illnesses and emergencies, but exclude pre-existing conditions apart from limited acute onset benefits. Most people use them as a bridge until their SSN, a Marketplace plan or employer coverage is in place.

Do I need a Social Security number to apply on HealthCare.gov?

Only if you have one. Under 45 CFR 155.310, the Marketplace must require an SSN from applicants who have one, and cannot require it from household members who are not applying. Lawfully present immigrants without a number yet can apply using immigration documents such as a machine readable immigrant visa, an I-94 or a green card, then add the SSN later.

Can I use an ITIN instead of an SSN for health insurance?

Bridge plans do not ask for either number, so an ITIN is not needed to buy one. An ITIN is a tax filing number, not a substitute for immigration status: Marketplace eligibility depends on being lawfully present, and HealthCare.gov states that undocumented immigrants cannot get Marketplace coverage. If you file taxes with an ITIN, ask a tax professional how it affects any premium tax credit.

What happens to my bridge plan when I get my SSN?

Nothing changes automatically. The bridge plan runs until the end date you chose or until you cancel it. Keep it active until your Marketplace or employer plan starts, then cancel and check the refund rules. For Trawick's Safe Travels USA, the plan catalog lists a full refund only before the start date, limited full month refunds after it, a $50 fee, and no refund if a claim is on file.

Waiting on a number should not mean waiting on coverage. Compare new immigrant plans on Ombrela today, and use your checklist to make the switch once your SSN arrives.