Assistance paying for hospital bill

[saj102965 1]

My husband and I are in the process of adjusting status and today I had to take my husband to the hospital for a seizure that he had and now I need to know if any VJs have any information about any agencies that offer immigrants assistance with paying hospital bill and/or if anything like this exists. I do not know how much it is yet and the hospital gives a40% discount to uninsured people. However Im sure it is still going to be several thousands of dollars. I want to be prepared ahead of time before I get the bill so I can investigate thoroughly every option that may be available for assistance.

I thought I read somewhere on here in a booklet offered through the US government that gives information on health insurance and other important things that immigrants should know. Does anyone no what I am referring to? Thank you to whomever has information to offer.

[Glyn and Kathy 288]

Just wanted to say I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. My husband had some medical issues when he first arrived and it was stressful to say the least. Look within your community, often times there are things there in place. Our hospital offers the discount and also payment plans. They honestly don't seem to care how much you pay each month as long as you attempt to pay.

Good luck.

[RandyRob 0]

Hello,

I'm very sorry to hear about your situation. I don't know if this is what your referring to, but I think it may lead you in the right direction. Page 47 in particular might help. Best of luck to you and your SO.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/M-618.pdf

[saj102965 1]

Just wanted to say I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. My husband had some medical issues when he first arrived and it was stressful to say the least. Look within your community, often times there are things there in place. Our hospital offers the discount and also payment plans. They honestly don't seem to care how much you pay each month as long as you attempt to pay.

Good luck.

Thank you very much for that information.I am also going to try the social services in our area to see if they can direct to me any place that may assistance us.

[saj102965 1]

Hello,

I'm very sorry to hear about your situation. I don't know if this is what your referring to, but I think it may lead you in the right direction. Page 47 in particular might help. Best of luck to you and your SO.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/M-618.pdf

That is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much for that. I am also going to check around our community for any type of assistance. I will keep you posted on where we end up. I know the hospital also has assistance.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

The good news... Temporary public assistance for health care would not make your husband a "public charge", so they wouldn't deny his AOS for it, nor deport him if he's already received his green card.

The bad news... You signed an affidavit of support promising the government that your husband would not collect any means tested benefits in the US, and giving the government the right to seek reimbursement from you if he did, including the right to sue you for reimbursement if necessary. Even if you are approved to get assistance through a state Medicaid program, or other health assistance program, the state agency that provides the assistance may end up sending you a bill for the payments because of the affidavit of support. In other words, you may end up paying for it anyway.

Sit down with the people in the billing department of the hospital and discuss this with them. Many hospitals work on the same "deep pockets" principal that civil lawsuits are based on, meaning the persons with the most money (the "deep pockets") pay the most. Many hospitals bill substantially more when the government is signing the checks, and a lot less when a private party is paying, especially if the private party has little or no income. In the long run, you may end up saving a lot more money by working out a payment plan with the hospital, rather than letting the state pay the bill and then coming after you for reimbursement. You are undoubtedly not the first spouse of an immigrant to require emergency care at that hospital, so they have experience dealing with this. They'll usually work with you.

[Myopia 93]

My husband and I are in the process of adjusting status and today I had to take my husband to the hospital for a seizure that he had and now I need to know if any VJs have any information about any agencies that offer immigrants assistance with paying hospital bill and/or if anything like this exists. I do not know how much it is yet and the hospital gives a40% discount to uninsured people. However Im sure it is still going to be several thousands of dollars. I want to be prepared ahead of time before I get the bill so I can investigate thoroughly every option that may be available for assistance.

I thought I read somewhere on here in a booklet offered through the US government that gives information on health insurance and other important things that immigrants should know. Does anyone no what I am referring to? Thank you to whomever has information to offer.

I believe that Emergency Medicaid can help if you are eligible.

[saj102965 1]

The good news... Temporary public assistance for health care would not make your husband a "public charge", so they wouldn't deny his AOS for it, nor deport him if he's already received his green card.

The bad news... You signed an affidavit of support promising the government that your husband would not collect any means tested benefits in the US, and giving the government the right to seek reimbursement from you if he did, including the right to sue you for reimbursement if necessary. Even if you are approved to get assistance through a state Medicaid program, or other health assistance program, the state agency that provides the assistance may end up sending you a bill for the payments because of the affidavit of support. In other words, you may end up paying for it anyway.

Sit down with the people in the billing department of the hospital and discuss this with them. Many hospitals work on the same "deep pockets" principal that civil lawsuits are based on, meaning the persons with the most money (the "deep pockets") pay the most. Many hospitals bill substantially more when the government is signing the checks, and a lot less when a private party is paying, especially if the private party has little or no income. In the long run, you may end up saving a lot more money by working out a payment plan with the hospital, rather than letting the state pay the bill and then coming after you for reimbursement. You are undoubtedly not the first spouse of an immigrant to require emergency care at that hospital, so they have experience dealing with this. They'll usually work with you.

Thanks for that information. He has not received his greencard yet. Our interview is 12-21-10. That is why I am concerned about whether or not the hospital will work with us. We intend on filling out the form they gave us that said that they will try and find us assistance based on our income, which I can tell you isn't much, since I work part time, and my husband is not working yet.