Is this discrimination?

[JoeCanuk 3]

I am a permanent resident and I live in Indiana. Indiana has a health insurance plan for low income people called "HIP". I found out though that I am not eligible for it because I have not been a permanent resident for five years. I called them up and told them I am here legally and we are a low income family and so I should qualify. I believe this is discrimination and said so. Am I right?

How are low income people supposed to get health insurance, especially in this economy? Or am I not entitled to health care?

[payxibka 10,045]

I am a permanent resident and I live in Indiana. Indiana has a health insurance plan for low income people called "HIP". I found out though that I am not eligible for it because I have not been a permanent resident for five years. I called them up and told them I am here legally and we are a low income family and so I should qualify. I believe this is discrimination and said so. Am I right?

How are low income people supposed to get health insurance, especially in this economy? Or am I not entitled to health care?

no it is not.... discrimination can occur from class to class, but not within a class... as long as they treat ALL LPR's the same (ie same eligibility criteria), then no discrimination exists.

The US does not yet have socialized health care

Edited April 9, 2009 by payxibka

[JoeCanuk 3]

I am a permanent resident and I live in Indiana. Indiana has a health insurance plan for low income people called "HIP". I found out though that I am not eligible for it because I have not been a permanent resident for five years. I called them up and told them I am here legally and we are a low income family and so I should qualify. I believe this is discrimination and said so. Am I right?

How are low income people supposed to get health insurance, especially in this economy? Or am I not entitled to health care?

no it is not.... discrimination can occur from class to class, but not within a class... as long as they treat ALL LPR's the same (ie same eligibility criteria), then no discrimination exists.

The US does not yet have socialized health care

I think discrimation can still happen within a class though. And they aren't treating all LPRs the same. They are saying unless you have been an LPR for five years then you are not eligible.

I don't believe I'm talking about socialized health care. I'm talking about an insurance plan that is based on your income. It is a sliding scale. If you make so much money, you pay up to a certain amount max on the scale.

[payxibka 10,045]

I think discrimation can still happen within a class though. And they aren't treating all LPRs the same. They are saying unless you have been an LPR for five years then you are not eligible.

I don't believe I'm talking about socialized health care. I'm talking about an insurance plan that is based on your income. It is a sliding scale. If you make so much money, you pay up to a certain amount max on the scale.

Yes they are treating all LPR's the same... the first eligibility requirement for ALL LPR's is 5 years.... once you are eligible then then the income criteria apply... you need to meet the first criteria which unfortunately you have not.....

Socaialized health care would mean health care for all regardless of class... we do not have that....

Edited April 9, 2009 by payxibka

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I don't like it; but brother pax is correct. You do not meet the eligibility criteria for the program. It has nothing to do with national origin (protected class); but with length of permanent residence. Sorry

[JoeCanuk 3]

I hear you guys. It just doesn't seem right.

For some reason, my new country seems to be against immigrants. Or at least people who need medical attention.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I hear you guys. It just doesn't seem right.

For some reason, my new country seems to be against immigrants. Or at least people who need medical attention.

against immigrants?? Hell,millions of USA citizens don't have insurance!!

[Ed+Cindy 1]

I am a permanent resident and I live in Indiana. Indiana has a health insurance plan for low income people called "HIP". I found out though that I am not eligible for it because I have not been a permanent resident for five years. I called them up and told them I am here legally and we are a low income family and so I should qualify. I believe this is discrimination and said so. Am I right?

How are low income people supposed to get health insurance, especially in this economy? Or am I not entitled to health care?

Nope.

I can tell you from my experience living out of the US, both in NZ and France, programs and benefits with residency length requirements are common. I have examples in both countries of different benefits I could not get until I lived there a certain amount of time.

Although, I do think 5 years is a little long.

Edited April 9, 2009 by Ed+Cindy

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I am a permanent resident and I live in Indiana. Indiana has a health insurance plan for low income people called "HIP". I found out though that I am not eligible for it because I have not been a permanent resident for five years. I called them up and told them I am here legally and we are a low income family and so I should qualify. I believe this is discrimination and said so. Am I right?

How are low income people supposed to get health insurance, especially in this economy? Or am I not entitled to health care?

Nope.

I can tell you from my experience living out of the US, both in NZ and France, programs and benefits with residency length requirements are common. I have examples in both countries of different benefits I could not get until I lived there a certain amount of time.

Although, I do think 5 years is a little long.

In Canada, I had access to health immediately as a foreign student.

[ricebird 0]

I've applied years ago for that kind of insurance too; and as you said I did not qualify because of the residence criteria for LPRs (5 years). There's an exception that dependents of US veterans don't need to meet the residence criteria (my husband is a veteran) yet I was still denied based on residence eligibility.

My husband got upset - he said if I am an illegal alien they'll going to foot my hospital bill (we heard that a lot of illegal aliens are enjoying some sort of aid for emergency hospitalization, is that true?). Anyway, they did offer an insurance plan with low co-pay for my baby (who is a USC).

I think that's the purpose of Affidavit of Support your petitioner signed: they guaranteed that they will support you and will not be a burden to the state or federal government in your early years of residency in the country.

[Welshcookie 17]

We almost got refused a rental agreement on our house when I presented my greencard, we didn't read the small print well enough to see that the company stated that all occupants had to be US citizens.

I know, a bit OT, but that made us go "#######?"

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

5 years is long, but a residency requirement makes sense to me, and is definitely not discriminatory. The residency requirement ensures people do not come t the US for soley for medical treatment, and also ensures you (likely) have paid something towards your treatment via taxes.

[Liam and Sam 2]

I've applied years ago for that kind of insurance too; and as you said I did not qualify because of the residence criteria for LPRs (5 years). There's an exception that dependents of US veterans don't need to meet the residence criteria (my husband is a veteran) yet I was still denied based on residence eligibility.

My husband got upset - he said if I am an illegal alien they'll going to foot my hospital bill (we heard that a lot of illegal aliens are enjoying some sort of aid for emergency hospitalization, is that true?). Anyway, they did offer an insurance plan with low co-pay for my baby (who is a USC).

I think that's the purpose of Affidavit of Support your petitioner signed: they guaranteed that they will support you and will not be a burden to the state or federal government in your early years of residency in the country.

I could be wrong so someone step in if so. It's not any sort of aid. It's people who go to the ER - they can't really refuse you at the ER. And so the person receives medical care, might pay a little up front (depends on the place) and then walks away while the hospital is left to foot the remaining bill. In addition to millions of other reasons, it forces the hospitals to charge outrageous prices for their services...

[Kajikit 65]

We almost got refused a rental agreement on our house when I presented my greencard, we didn't read the small print well enough to see that the company stated that all occupants had to be US citizens.

I know, a bit OT, but that made us go "#######?"

Now THAT is illegal discrimination. They can say that you have to be a legal RESIDENT of the US (and make you prove it) but they have no rights to demand a certain form of legalness over any other. Or if they do then they shouldn't!

[Flames9_RN 358]

You goto an ER with a problem, you will get seen. Some hospitals that are totally private (no funds from the State) will stabilize you, and send to another hospital that does the $$$ from the state. You will get seen, and you will get charged for it.

I'm a RN student (24 days to go til graduation,lol) and we put on free clinics staffed with a nurse practioner (NP)to see people that have no insurance. Check your schools to see if they have a nursing or medicla program,and see if they offer such a clinic. Not much use to you in an Emergency setting, but for the little things, comes in handy! Just be prepared to be probed with a zillion questions from students! lol