Confusing About Medicare (Free care)

[Larrybird 1]

Dear VJ's

Happy New Year 2012 .

I have a small issue, i went for my Medical everything is fine but when i was tested for TB i don't know why the civil surgeon doctor required X Ray exam he sent me over Codman Square Hospital(Public hospital in Boston) when i got there they asking me for my insurance that i don't have yet then i said i will pay but she said we can give u Mass health so that u don't need to pay anything i said cool then i told her i mean the Insurance lady that i'm applying for My Permanent residency through my wife a US citizen who is insured through her job but can't put me coz i don't have SSN yet. She said it won't be a problem it's not gonna be an issue so i fill out the paper they will send me the card of anything else by mail.My question do u think i can take that advantage ,is that a public charge,how can u help with ,if it's a problem how can i cancel that,please let me know anything that u know about that.thank u so much.

[ceadsearc 516]

Do you mean Medicare or Medicaid? Medicare is usually only for those ages 65+.

[Samantha78 117]

I live in the Boston area. No you can not use Masshealth to pay for your Xrays. Masshealth is a government funded insurance so you are not eligible for this. People in the hospitals (and I'm saying this because I work for one of the major Boston Hospitals) are required to assist in a patient getting their procedures, tests, etc...paid for and one of these ways is trying to enlist them into the Commonwealth Care plans or Masshealth. They are not aware of the immigration laws and have no idea that you are ineligible. You absolutely have to pay for this out of pocket. There are many small diagnostic centers that charge very cheap for a chest xray - but they must be approved by the civil surgeon.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You should not be accepting free health care for an elective immigration medical procedure. Your wife should pay - just as she has to pay the fees for the forms. Accepting medical benefits can make you ineligible.

You should be able to get on your wife's insurance without your SSN - it will take some effort but SSN is not a number that anyone is required to have. It is not a national ID number, at all.

[Inky 1,111]

Searching google found that Mass Health is a state health care program for Massachusetts

http://www.massresources.org/masshealth-description.html

It is not medicare or medicaid.

[Samantha78 117]

Searching google found that Mass Health is a state health care program for Massachusetts

http://www.massresou...escription.html

It is not medicare or medicaid.

Yes, it is Medicaid. It is called Masshealth but it is under the Medicaid program.

You should not be accepting free health care for an elective immigration medical procedure. Your wife should pay - just as she has to pay the fees for the forms. Accepting medical benefits can make you ineligible.

You should be able to get on your wife's insurance without your SSN - it will take some effort but SSN is not a number that anyone is required to have. It is not a national ID number, at all.

This is correct. My HR department told me I only needed to provide a copy of my husbands passport showing he had entered the country in order to add him to my insurance plan.

[Samantha78 117]

Masshealth / Medicaid

Here is more info on the insurance specifications- in the first paragraph "What is Masshealth" it clearly states "MassHealth is a public health insurance program for low- to medium-income residents of Massachusetts. The national health insurance program called Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are combined in one program in Massachusetts called MassHealth".

Edited January 13, 2012 by sam&jensi

[aaron2020 11,651]

Dear VJ's

Happy New Year 2012 .

I have a small issue, i went for my Medical everything is fine but when i was tested for TB i don't know why the civil surgeon doctor required X Ray exam he sent me over Codman Square Hospital(Public hospital in Boston) when i got there they asking me for my insurance that i don't have yet then i said i will pay but she said we can give u Mass health so that u don't need to pay anything i said cool then i told her i mean the Insurance lady that i'm applying for My Permanent residency through my wife a US citizen who is insured through her job but can't put me coz i don't have SSN yet. She said it won't be a problem it's not gonna be an issue so i fill out the paper they will send me the card of anything else by mail.My question do u think i can take that advantage ,is that a public charge,how can u help with ,if it's a problem how can i cancel that,please let me know anything that u know about that.thank u so much.

The Medicaid program in Massachusetts is called MassHealth. Regular MassHealth is regular Medicaid. Medicaid is a means tested benefit. Your petitioner will be responsible for reimbursing the government for any benefits you use.

Hospital staffs do not understand immigration law. Hospitals care about getting paid. As long as the government pays, hospitals don't ask or educate their staff on what happens afterwards. The hospital staff will not know that your petitioner has to repay the cost of your benefits.

------------------------------

http://www.massresources.org/masshealth-description.html

What is MassHealth?

MassHealth is a public health insurance program for low- to medium-income residents of Massachusetts. The national health insurance program called Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are combined in one program in Massachusetts called MassHealth.

---------------

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html#4

Means Tested Public Benefits

Federal means tested public benefits are the following:

Food stamps

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Medicaid

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

State Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

FAQs: Means Tested Public Benefits

Can the applicant use government assistance or public benefits?

What assistance programs are not considered means tested public benefit programs?

Can the applicant use government assistance or public benefits?

If the sponsored immigrant uses federal means tested public benefits, the sponsor must repay the cost of the benefits.

What assistance programs are not considered means tested public benefit programs?

The following types of assistance are not considered means tested public benefits and do not have to be repaid.

Emergency Medicaid

School lunches

Immunizations and treatment for communicable diseases

Student assistance to attend colleges and institutions of higher learning

Some kinds of foster care or adoption assistance

Job training programs

Head start

Short-term, non-cash emergency relief

-------------------

http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/immigration/restrictions-sum.shtml#sec3

Summary of Immigrant Eligibility Restrictions Under Current Law

D. “Federal Means-Tested Public Benefits” — TANF, Medicaid, and CHIP

Five year ban for Qualified Aliens who entered the country on or after 8/22/96

Most “qualified aliens” entering the country on or after enactment are banned from receiving “Federal means-tested public benefits” for a period of 5 years beginning on the date of the alien’s entry with a qualified alien status (Sec 403) (see exceptions below). The HHS interpretation, published in the Federal Register on August 26, 1997 (62 FR 45256), designated TANF and Medicaid (except assistance for an emergency medical condition under Medicaid) as the Federal means-tested public benefits administered by the Department. Subsequently, HHS has communicated that the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is also a “Federal means-tested public benefit.” The Social Security Administration has stated that Supplemental Security Income is a “Federal means-tested public benefit.” The Department of Agriculture has also stated that SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps) are also means-tested. No other program has been determined to be a “Federal means-tested public benefit” program.

Exceptions to the 5-year ban on “Federal Means-Tested Public Benefits”:

States have the option to provide Medicaid and CHIP assistance to children and pregnant women who are lawfully residing in the United States without a 5-year delay, and no debt accrues to a sponsor under an affidavit of support on the basis of receipt of such assistance, and the cost of such assistance is not considered an unreimbursed cost. (Sec. 214, P.L. 111-3, Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009)

Refugees, Asylees, aliens whose deportation is being withheld, Amerasians, and Cuban/Haitian entrants and victims of a severe form of trafficking.. (Sec 403(b)(1))

Veterans, members of the military on active duty, and their spouses and unmarried dependent children. (Sec 403(b)(2))

Certain Indians, Hmong, and Highland Laotians are eligible for SNAP. (Sec 403(d))

Edited January 14, 2012 by aaron2020

[aaron2020 11,651]

Searching google found that Mass Health is a state health care program for Massachusetts

http://www.massresources.org/masshealth-description.html

It is not medicare or medicaid.

Inky,

Please re-read the first paragraph in the link you provided; http://www.massresources.org/masshealth-description.html

====================

What is MassHealth?

MassHealth is a public health insurance program for low- to medium-income residents of Massachusetts. The national health insurance program called Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are combined in one program in Massachusetts called MassHealth.

==================

MassHealth = Medicaid + CHIP

Both Medicaid and CHIP are federal means tested benefit programs.

Edited January 14, 2012 by aaron2020

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

@OP, your husband should be able to get you on his insurance. There have been serveral threads about it on VJ.

It's not uncommon for the HR people to mistakenly think a SSN is required when it really isn't. If they really need a uniquie identifying number give them your A#.

[Larrybird 1]

Thank u guys for your responses,i have another issue again with my son he was on TPS(Temporary Protected Status)Since the Earth Quake In Haiti,went to school,doesn't have any Public Charge besides the Mass Health ever since he was here.,do u think i have to cancel it too.

Any Advices

[ceadsearc 516]

Thank u guys for your responses,i have another issue again with my son he was on TPS(Temporary Protected Status)Since the Earth Quake In Haiti,went to school,doesn't have any Public Charge besides the Mass Health ever since he was here.,do u think i have to cancel it too.

Any Advices

It looks like he might be ok.

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/specific-populations/refugees-asylees/resettled-refugee-benefit/public-benefit-eligibility-for-haitians-with.html

[oos 0]

Does anyone know if the Massachusetts "Commonwealth Care" program counts as a means-tested benefit for immigration purposes? (i.e. will the sponsoring spouse have to reimburse the state for medical services the state pays for under this program?)

Thank you!

[milimelo 4,568]

Does anyone know if the Massachusetts "Commonwealth Care" program counts as a means-tested benefit for immigration purposes? (i.e. will the sponsoring spouse have to reimburse the state for medical services the state pays for under this program?)

Thank you!

Have you bothered to read the entire thread you'd come to realize that indeed it is.

[oos 0]

Yes, in fact I did read the entire post, in which no response applies to my question. As discussed, Masshealth is Medicaid as administered in Massachusetts, but I am not discussing Masshealth, which is a need-based benefit for immigration purposes. As such, my question still stands unanswered.