To be fair, this can make it difficult to move anywhere. Countries like Canada and Australia can refuse you an immigrant visa if you have pre-existing health conditions (much like insurance companies will refuse to take you on):
If he proves that his wife had coverage before enrolling in the plan (for example from Canadian health care) the insurance company shouldn't be able to play the preexisting condition card. Then again, that does not mean the insurance will have a good coverage for that. The best thing to do is to check that with the company you're applying to before signing.
Anyway, I agree that it sucks to live in a country where you have to think about this shit. Even with the best network (blue cross or blue shield) it's still not as good as France with a decent mutuelle for example.
To be fair, this can make it difficult to move anywhere. Countries like Canada and Australia can refuse you an immigrant visa if you have pre-existing health conditions (much like insurance companies will refuse to take you on):
https://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/health-requirements/overvie... http://www.canadavisa.com/immigration-medical-inadmissibilit...