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KHN contributing columnist Michelle Andrews writes the series , which explores health care coverage and costs.
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Assuming that you’re a United States citizen and your family is living here on a valid visa, chances are you all have to have health insurance under the health law unless you qualify for an exemption, says Jenny Rejeske, a health policy analyst at the National Immigration Law Center. The insurance coverage you have through Sweden may meet the standards for “minimum essential coverage” under the federal health law.
Under , however, the Department of Health and Human Services has to certify that a foreign plan meets the standards set by the health law based on information provided by the plan sponsor, in this case the Swedish government. Â
“Basically the Swedish government would have to prove to HHS that [your family has] minimum essential coverage,” says Rejeske.
In March, the federal government . Under a proposed regulation, health insurance from a foreign country would be designated “minimum essential coverage” as long as it provides health benefits here in the United States. Â
Following a comment period that ends later this month, the federal government will issue a final regulation that spells out any changes to the current rules. The timing of that is uncertain. Â
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