Bringing my mom to the USA to live

[akdiver 3]

I want to bring my mom to the USA soon and I'm wondering about the health care and coverage for her as a permanent resident. Anybody has been there done that?

She can get a job that offers health insurance.

[Annabelle 0]

She can get a job that offers health insurance.

To get it she needs to work full time and she is not at the age to do that and her English is poor and I just don't need her to work somewhere when she wants to be with me helping raising her grandchild.

[Satellite 1]

What did you do to come as a refugee? Did you have anybody in the USA before that? Is it a long process and does it have any "undersurface stones"?

Being Jewish in the Soviet Union was our ticket out in late 1988. My uncle was here in the late 1970's based on the same reason. Recent relatives have again been successful getting out as Jews being persecuted in Russia. Not sure what "undersurface stones" means, but the process is rather lengthy. Several years perhaps.

[akdiver 3]

To get it she needs to work full time and she is not at the age to do that and her English is poor and I just don't need her to work somewhere when she wants to be with me helping raising her grandchild.

Why don't you hire her as a babysitter, pay her a wage (and pay the social security tax) and offer her health insurance as an employment benefit? Solves a couple of issues all in one shot. Seems like a good solution. Edited June 19, 2008 by akdiver

[NYGirl 0]

To find a job for an immigrant over 60 years old and with a good insurance is unreal (a lot of americans can't find it) and I don't want her to work (to be eligable for an insurance from work you have to work full time - that's nor for my mom to be 60 in couple of years).

Satellite,

What did you do to come as a refugee? Did you have anybody in the USA before that? Is it a long process and does it have any "undersurface stones"?

NYgirl,

What do you mean "plenty of FREE medical insurances for people with low income or no income at all"? Medacaid? I don't know any others. Bwy I looked at medicaid of our state (Alabama) and they consider sponsor's income, too. With my hubby being a sponsor we won't be qualified.

NY state has Health Plus, Metro Plus ( and some others that I do not know the names) From what I know those 2 do not look at sponsors, only your income and if it's none or low you are qualified.

I wasn't talking about Medicaid though.

[slim 1,525]

If mom is hubby's dependent, wouldn't she be covered under his employer-provided health insurance?

(If he claims her on his taxes, like she lives with you and has no income, he has to claim her, right? If so, she should be covered under his insurance as well.)

[Annabelle 0]

If mom is hubby's dependent, wouldn't she be covered under his employer-provided health insurance?

(If he claims her on his taxes, like she lives with you and has no income, he has to claim her, right? If so, she should be covered under his insurance as well.)

Well, insurance is only for immidiate family (spouse and children).

[akdiver 3]

If mom is hubby's dependent, wouldn't she be covered under his employer-provided health insurance?

In any case, dependents are generally only covered until age 18 or age 22/23 if they are full-time college students. I don't know of an employer insurance that will cover all dependents regardless of their age.

[Annabelle 0]

Yes, that's true, akdiver!

I just asked my hubby and he is going to find out but 90% sure his insurance only covers spouses and children.

I need to find something else.

[Satellite 1]

I need to find something else.

If your mom is single, find her a nice gentlemen here who would marry her, and have him put her on his insurance coverage.

[slim 1,525]

I need to find something else.

If your mom is single, find her a nice gentlemen here who would marry her, and have him put her on his insurance coverage.

Now there's an idea!

[Annabelle 0]

Find her somebody she would fall in love with and be happy would be really great but it doesn't happend "just as you wish"! I looked around and where was nobody to consider (the age, interests, his desire (her English is poor) living in the same area and financial status)

So any candidates?

[eekee 182]

I don't have any candidates for your mom, but I think maybe you should check out AARP, the American Association of Retired People. I think their website is aarp.org. I am pretty sure they have some kind of insurance or prescription drug plan or something for people who are in a similar situation to your mother's.

Edit: http://www.aarp.org/aarp_benefits/offer_insurance/ here

Edited June 20, 2008 by eekee

[slim 1,525]

Find her somebody she would fall in love with and be happy would be really great but it doesn't happend "just as you wish"! I looked around and where was nobody to consider (the age, interests, his desire (her English is poor) living in the same area and financial status)

So any candidates?

Just realized you were in Alabama. What you should do is pull out all but one of her teeth and then get her down to the local Waffle House. The truckers passing through there would love her accent and it would only be a matter of time before one of them asked her to join him on the "open road."

[mendeleev 68]

Some states provide insurance to citizens that fall below a set amount of income.

I know California provides some form of Medi-Cal to just about anyone who is here legally with a social security number, regardless if they have an I-864 sponsor if you are over a certain age and under a certain income, or are disabled.

But finding private coverage for someone over 50 or 60 is going to cost you an arm and a leg. My recommendation is for mom to get a job with benefits ASAP, even if it is washing floors at your local super market.

Yes, my mom is 57 with a chronic illness and not only does she pay an arm and a leg, but they raise the rate frequently.

eekee,

I'm really interested in this question too, for planning purposes. I know its personal, but would you be willing to put a number around that arm and a leg for us? My MIL will be older and if my wife gets her here later, she for sure will not be working (unless maybe for us -- AKDivers idea is intriguing).