medicaid

[ca_babe 129]

Another suggestion I have is you're not on food stamps yet, ask you husband to apply for himself. That would free up some money so you can afford health care for you and your baby if he's approved.

[ca_babe 129]

It looks like your only option is Medicaid, http://coverageforall.org/pdf/matrix/NC_Matrix.pdf. But again, your sponsor will have to reimburse it. When and how, I don't know.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

@ aaron2020

You are right, I did mix up "public charge determination" and "means-tested benefits".

However, you posted this:

3. A “qualified alien” who first physically entered the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996 cannot receive TANF, Medicaid, or CHIP for five years after obtaining status as a qualified alien unless the criteria in WAC 388-424-0006 (4) are met.

I am not 100% sure about whAt the criteria in WAC 388-424-006 (4) are, but I did receive CHIP Perinatal. (And I first physically entered the U.S. on June 13, 2011.)

In this particular case (pregnant LPR), I think people tend to forget that prenatal care is at least partly done the make sure the unborn child is healthy. The unborn child is a future USC.

Pregnancy Medicaid is NOT the same as regular Medicaid as it is only for the duration of the pregnancy. Same with CHIP Perinatal (where it exists) versus regular CHIP.

To the OP, if you are due in November, are you receiving prenatal care currently? If not, and you only go to the hospital for labor & delivery, then don't worry, that will be covered by emergency Medicaid, and nobody will try to get money out of you or any of your sponsors for that. Emergency Medicaid is for everyone, even illegal immigrants.

[him4life 13]

@Cababe i did call the inclusive health u suggested, but i would have to pay a lumpsum before they give coverage, i also spoke with someone in economics in social services today, he said 2 years ago the 5 year rule was changed for pregnant permanent residents, they now are eligible to get full medicaid regardless of the amount of years, however he said because i was sponsored i would have to submit my sponsor income details for last month, even if i didnt submit it in the application, whilst doing their investigations they would look up my permanent residence card and see that i am sponsored, they would then contact the sponsor for the required information, he said once required info is submitted the sponsor wont be held liable to pay back anything, however he said if i am denied because the sponsor makes too much money, then i would be defaulted to emergency medicaid, i didnt remember to ask him if this only goes for the state of North Carolina

[him4life 13]

@ aaron2020

You are right, I did mix up "public charge determination" and "means-tested benefits".

However, you posted this:

3. A “qualified alien” who first physically entered the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996 cannot receive TANF, Medicaid, or CHIP for five years after obtaining status as a qualified alien unless the criteria in WAC 388-424-0006 (4) are met.

I am not 100% sure about whAt the criteria in WAC 388-424-006 (4) are, but I did receive CHIP Perinatal. (And I first physically entered the U.S. on June 13, 2011.)

In this particular case (pregnant LPR), I think people tend to forget that prenatal care is at least partly done the make sure the unborn child is healthy. The unborn child is a future USC.

Pregnancy Medicaid is NOT the same as regular Medicaid as it is only for the duration of the pregnancy. Same with CHIP Perinatal (where it exists) versus regular CHIP.

To the OP, if you are due in November, are you receiving prenatal care currently? If not, and you only go to the hospital for labor & delivery, then don't worry, that will be covered by emergency Medicaid, and nobody will try to get money out of you or any of your sponsors for that. Emergency Medicaid is for everyone, even illegal immigrants.

yes i have been receiving prenatal care, the medical center that i go takes a small cash deposit at each visit then bills me later in the mail, social services told me that pregnancy medicaid would cover me for the last 3months, labor and delivery, and two month post partum checkup, i understand that i have to pay the outstanding six months prenatal visits which we are presently doing

[ceadsearc 516]

Some things are not considered for public charge but are still means tested.

Anyone who is having trouble with their social services should go in person and ask an eligibility worker (not an assistant who answers the phone) about sponsor deeming.

For regular Medicaid, nonfinancial criteria come first. Meaning that if you haven't been an LPR 5 years you'll be denied without them evening looking at anything else or considering your sponsor. Pregnancy Medicaid may be different but not every state has it.

[aaron2020 11,651]

@ aaron2020

You are right, I did mix up "public charge determination" and "means-tested benefits".

However, you posted this:

3. A “qualified alien” who first physically entered the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996 cannot receive TANF, Medicaid, or CHIP for five years after obtaining status as a qualified alien unless the criteria in WAC 388-424-0006 (4) are met.

I am not 100% sure about whAt the criteria in WAC 388-424-006 (4) are, but I did receive CHIP Perinatal. (And I first physically entered the U.S. on June 13, 2011.)

In this particular case (pregnant LPR), I think people tend to forget that prenatal care is at least partly done the make sure the unborn child is healthy. The unborn child is a future USC.

Pregnancy Medicaid is NOT the same as regular Medicaid as it is only for the duration of the pregnancy. Same with CHIP Perinatal (where it exists) versus regular CHIP.

To the OP, if you are due in November, are you receiving prenatal care currently? If not, and you only go to the hospital for labor & delivery, then don't worry, that will be covered by emergency Medicaid, and nobody will try to get money out of you or any of your sponsors for that. Emergency Medicaid is for everyone, even illegal immigrants.

There is no such thing as "pregnancy Medicaid." There are only two forms of Medicaid - 1) emergency Medicaid and 2) regular/non-emergency Medicaid.

You are confusing people by making up names like "Pregnancy Medicaid." There is no such thing.

In general, an immigrant is barred from receiving CHIP. However, there is an exception for prenatal care. States can use CHIP funds to provide prenatal care to pregnant women, regardless of their immigration status.

The OP should apply for CHIP for prenatal care. She is eligible.

[ca_babe 129]

@Cababe i did call the inclusive health u suggested, but i would have to pay a lumpsum before they give coverage, i also spoke with someone in economics in social services today, he said 2 years ago the 5 year rule was changed for pregnant permanent residents, they now are eligible to get full medicaid regardless of the amount of years, however he said because i was sponsored i would have to submit my sponsor income details for last month, even if i didn't submit it in the application, whilst doing their investigations they would look up my permanent residence card and see that i am sponsored, they would then contact the sponsor for the required information, he said once required info is submitted the sponsor wont be held liable to pay back anything, however he said if i am denied because the sponsor makes too much money, then i would be defaulted to emergency medicaid, i didnt remember to ask him if this only goes for the state of North Carolina

The link that I gave you does say that you are eligible to get full Medicaid and that you're exempted from the 5-year rule. The second link says if you do receive Medicaid, that your sponsor would be liable to pay for it. But it looks like the person that you talked to would verify first whether your sponsor is indigent or not. If the sponsor himself is indigent, then he is exempted from paying it back.

http://info.dhhs.sta...6.htm#TopOfPage

VII. Indigent alien Exemption

An indigent alien is someone that the county agency has determined is unable to obtain food and shelter, taking into account the alien's own income, plus any cash, food, housing, and other assistance provided by other individuals, including the sponsor(s).

So, the sponsor is only liable to pay it back if an immigrant took Medicaid and the sponsor is not indigent. It's good that they are checking your sponsor's income first before approving your application. It's better to find out right away than for your sponsor to get a bill later. Although if your sponsor passed the poverty level then you might not qualify for Medicaid.

I have a question for you, if your sponsor makes too much money and you have been denied medicaid coverage, I understand that you wouldn't have to pay for the delivery. But would you have to pay for the cost of prenatal visits that you had incurred?

If I had advised somebody to go get Medicaid when they're not qualified for and get a bill later, they can't avoid paying it by saying, "ca_babe from VisaJourney.com told me so!" That's why I usually don't believe what people(hospital workers, social services) tell me unless I can verify it in writing like a reference from a reliable source like a government website.

Thank you for coming back and updating us with your situation. I think other people would benefit from this too.

Edited October 15, 2012 by ca_babe

[him4life 13]

There is no such thing as "pregnancy Medicaid." There are only two forms of Medicaid - 1) emergency Medicaid and 2) regular/non-emergency Medicaid.

You are confusing people by making up names like "Pregnancy Medicaid." There is no such thing.

In general, an immigrant is barred from receiving CHIP. However, there is an exception for prenatal care. States can use CHIP funds to provide prenatal care to pregnant women, regardless of their immigration status.

The OP should apply for CHIP for prenatal care. She is eligible.

[him4life 13]

i didnt come up with the name pregnancy medicaid, when i went to the medicaid office they are the ones that tell me that pregnancy medicaid is what i will be applying for, where i would have to get a statement from my doctor verifying my pregnancy and due date, they said regular medicaid ( which i am not entitled to) is different from pregnancy medicaid, once the pregnancy had ended the medicaid will also end, its just for the pregnancy, other state might term it different, in my state thats what they call it, the application form they gave me to fill out clearly states pregnancy medicaid

[him4life 13]

The link that I gave you does say that you are eligible to get full Medicaid and that you're exempted from the 5-year rule. The second link says if you do receive Medicaid, that your sponsor would be liable to pay for it. But it looks like the person that you talked to would verify first whether your sponsor is indigent or not. If the sponsor himself is indigent, then he is exempted from paying it back.

http://info.dhhs.sta...6.htm#TopOfPage

VII. Indigent alien Exemption

An indigent alien is someone that the county agency has determined is unable to obtain food and shelter, taking into account the alien's own income, plus any cash, food, housing, and other assistance provided by other individuals, including the sponsor(s).

So, the sponsor is only liable to pay it back if an immigrant took Medicaid and the sponsor is not indigent. It's good that they are checking your sponsor's income first before approving your application. It's better to find out right away than for your sponsor to get a bill later. Although if your sponsor passed the poverty level then you might not qualify for Medicaid.

I have a question for you, if your sponsor makes too much money and you have been denied medicaid coverage, I understand that you wouldn't have to pay for the delivery. But would you have to pay for the cost of prenatal visits that you had incurred?

If I had advised somebody to go get Medicaid when they're not qualified for and get a bill later, they can't avoid paying it by saying, "ca_babe from VisaJourney.com told me so!" That's why I usually don't believe what people(hospital workers, social services) tell me unless I can verify it in writing like a reference from a reliable source like a government website.

Thank you for coming back and updating us with your situation. I think other people would benefit from this too.

yes if my sponsor makes too much money i will be denied the full medicaid coverage(that is prenatal, and labor and delivery costs) but if that is the case i would automatically be eligible for emergency medicaid which only covers delivery, whether the sponsor makes too much money or not

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

There is no such thing as "pregnancy Medicaid." There are only two forms of Medicaid - 1) emergency Medicaid and 2) regular/non-emergency Medicaid.

You are confusing people by making up names like "Pregnancy Medicaid." There is no such thing.

Maybe not in every state, but there is in Texas. My sister-in-law (USC) goes on it every time she is pregnant. She is not receiving Medicaid at other times. It's only for prenatal care, labor & delivery and six weeks afterwards, then the coverage ends.

In general, an immigrant is barred from receiving CHIP. However, there is an exception for prenatal care. States can use CHIP funds to provide prenatal care to pregnant women, regardless of their immigration status.

The OP should apply for CHIP for prenatal care. She is eligible.

I agree.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I applied and was granted Pregnancy CHIP in Texas (it's like Medicaid, but is state-funded). It covers all my prenatal care. For the actual labor & delivery I'll have to apply for emergency Medicaid.

CHIP is a "means tested benefit" meaning I hope you told your sponsor that they will most likely be receiving a bill. See here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html#_Means_Tested_Public

As stated, this is different to a "public charge" determination issue. No risk to status, but the sponsor will most likely get a bill. Just an FYI for anyone reading.

There is no such thing as "pregnancy Medicaid." There are only two forms of Medicaid - 1) emergency Medicaid and 2) regular/non-emergency Medicaid.

You are confusing people by making up names like "Pregnancy Medicaid." There is no such thing.

In general, an immigrant is barred from receiving CHIP. However, there is an exception for prenatal care. States can use CHIP funds to provide prenatal care to pregnant women, regardless of their immigration status.

The OP should apply for CHIP for prenatal care. She is eligible.

Sure, but it's means-tested (per the link I posted above). So the sponsor could get a bill.

Some things are not considered for public charge but are still means tested.

Anyone who is having trouble with their social services should go in person and ask an eligibility worker (not an assistant who answers the phone) about sponsor deeming.

For regular Medicaid, nonfinancial criteria come first. Meaning that if you haven't been an LPR 5 years you'll be denied without them evening looking at anything else or considering your sponsor. Pregnancy Medicaid may be different but not every state has it.

Yep, exactly. CHIP is means-tested. I wouldn't bother using it because my husband is my sole sponsor so if I can't afford it now, we can't afford it when we get the bill

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

CHIP is a "means tested benefit" meaning I hope you told your sponsor that they will most likely be receiving a bill. See here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3183.html#_Means_Tested_Public

As stated, this is different to a "public charge" determination issue. No risk to status, but the sponsor will most likely get a bill. Just an FYI for anyone reading.

Sure, but it's means-tested (per the link I posted above). So the sponsor could get a bill.

Yep, exactly. CHIP is means-tested. I wouldn't bother using it because my husband is my sole sponsor so if I can't afford it now, we can't afford it when we get the bill

Yes, I understand that we may get a bill. (They do try to get it from the primary sponsor first, even if someone has a joint sponsor.) And yes, we gave them the heads-up, and obviously we would reimburse them! But frankly the chances of that happening are pretty low, and even if it happens, overall we will be better off, because what is charged through CHIP is less than we could have negotiated as a cash fee (as we don't have medical insurance).