Bring parents in from overseas - Health Insurance

[vartanarsen2 2]

Hi guys. I am a US Citizen from birth and I brought in my wife through K1-all the way up to her Naturalization in March. Now, its time she wants to bring her parents in through petition to live with us in the US. I have to idea where to even begin with the health insurance isue/obamacare, etc. My wife and I work very hard and luckily we are on our payroll's insurance, but that can only go so far as to spouse and children...I dont believe it goes all the way to parents. I am guessing, we will have to shop for insurance for her parents, but Im afraid of pre-existing conditions, etc.(did obamacare eliminate that yet?) We live in Mass, so there are options like Mass Health, but I dont where to begin. The biggest concern of mine is that her parents come, and we are still in the paperwork/applications, but they get sick and have to go to ER, and I don't have to tell you, how much medical bills can get up to wihtout heath insurance...I dont mind paying $100-$200/month for real insurance like Blue Cross, Etna, etc., but I'm afraid the paper work will drag and they could get sick anytime, lets say they fall, etc...

Has this issue ever concerned anyone else, trying to bring their parents in? Any idea suggestions on how you guys did it?

Sorry for blabbering on......

[Umka36 781]

You can start here:

https://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/template.PAGE/menuitem.55b6e23ac6627f40dbef6f47d7468a0c

[vartanarsen2 2]

You can start here:

https://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/template.PAGE/menuitem.55b6e23ac6627f40dbef6f47d7468a0c

great thanks Umka.

I clicked on it and requires Mass Residency...I wonder how I'll be able to show my wife's parents residenicy when they just moved in? Cable Bill? Electirc Bill?

[Umka36 781]

Am I a Massachusetts resident under the mandate?

If you "obtained any benefit, deduction, exemption, entitlement, license, permit or privilege by claiming that you are a resident of Massachusetts," you are. You are a Massachusetts resident if you:

• Plan to file a Massachusetts resident tax form or get certain exemptions or deductions allowed on the Massachusetts resident tax form.
• Declare on mortgage documents that a Massachusetts property is your principal residence.
• Declare on a homeowner's insurance policy that a Massachusetts property is your principal residence.
• File a certificate of residency with a Massachusetts city or town to take a job with a public agency or department.
• Pay in-state tuition rates for you or a dependent at a community college, state college or university.
• Apply for public assistance from the state for you or a dependent.
• Are the custodial parent or guardian of a child or dependent who is enrolled in a public school in a Massachusetts city or town.
• Register to vote in Massachusetts.

https://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/menuitem.afc6a36a62ec1a50dbef6f47d7468a0c/?fiShown=default

[Jnegi1030 1]

We filed for my husbands mom a few months back and this is a huge concrrn for us. We are looking into docters in the area that work on a private basis where we woukd pay the doctor a monthly fee.

[vartanarsen2 2]

Am I a Massachusetts resident under the mandate?

If you "obtained any benefit, deduction, exemption, entitlement, license, permit or privilege by claiming that you are a resident of Massachusetts," you are. You are a Massachusetts resident if you:

• Plan to file a Massachusetts resident tax form or get certain exemptions or deductions allowed on the Massachusetts resident tax form.
• Declare on mortgage documents that a Massachusetts property is your principal residence.
• Declare on a homeowner's insurance policy that a Massachusetts property is your principal residence.
• File a certificate of residency with a Massachusetts city or town to take a job with a public agency or department.
• Pay in-state tuition rates for you or a dependent at a community college, state college or university.
• Apply for public assistance from the state for you or a dependent.
• Are the custodial parent or guardian of a child or dependent who is enrolled in a public school in a Massachusetts city or town.
• Register to vote in Massachusetts.

https://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/menuitem.afc6a36a62ec1a50dbef6f47d7468a0c/?fiShown=default

I dont think i can show any of those things if her parents just come in. Hmm, they will be living with us permanently, so they are Massachusetts Residents...How can I show them that.

[Umka36 781]

Here is a link for additional list of acceptable documents.

http://www.massrmv.com/rmv/regs/Acceptable_Documents_for_Proof_of_Massachusetts_Residency.pdf

[Tanya&momsIR5 0]

Take your parents to your local DMV office and apply for their ID cards. The ID card looks just like driver license, but it is used for identification purpose only. So their residency address will be shown on the ID card. Although parents will need to recieve their SSNs first.

hope it helps,

Tanya

[vartanarsen2 2]

Tanya and Umka..THANK YOU So Much...I will do the Mass ID thing, plus try to open up Bank of America in their name, etc. This way, we'll be able to apply for my wife's parents through Mass Health connector:)))))))

[letmein 0]

Hi there,

I'm also in MA and was wondering what health insurance options are available for older parents who have a green card but are not working? Is Health Connector offering some options for those folks? Please let me know, I will be grateful. I hope it worked out for you.

Best regards.

[jan22 3,056]

Tanya and Umka..THANK YOU So Much...I will do the Mass ID thing, plus try to open up Bank of America in their name, etc. This way, we'll be able to apply for my wife's parents through Mass Health connector:)))))))

Be very careful with this -- make sure what you are planning is in keeping with your in-laws status for accessing means-tested programs. Per the Mass Helath website, it doesn't seem to me that they will be eligible for the first five years of their residency (but I've been wrong before!). Read the at the end of the section carefully. This is from the Mass Health website (http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/insurance/masshealth-apply/overview/us-citizenship-and-immigration-rules.html). Good luck.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Rules

When deciding if you are eligible for MassHealth, we look at all of the requirements described under each coverage type and program. We also look at your U.S. citizenship/national status and immigration status to decide if you may get a certain coverage type.

People who are U.S. citizens/nationals or qualified aliens who meet one of the following statuses may be eligible for MassHealth Standard, CommonHealth, Family Assistance, Basic, Essential, or Prenatal.

Qualified Aliens

1. *People admitted for legal permanent residence (LPR) under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). But see starred (*) paragraph below.
2. *People granted parole for at least one year under section 212(d)(5) of the INA. But see starred (*) paragraph below.
3. *Conditional entrants under section 203(a)(7) of the INA as in effect before April 1, 1980. But see starred (*) paragraph below.
4. People granted asylum under section 208 of the INA.
5. Refugees admitted under section 207 of the INA.
6. People whose deportation has been withheld under section 243(h), or 241(b)(3) of the INA, as provided by section 5562 of the federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
7. People who entered as Cuban/Haitian entrants under section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980.
8. Native Americans with at least 50 percent American Indian blood who were born in Canada pursuant to section 289 of the INA or other tribal members born in territories outside of the United States pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 450b(e).
9. Amerasians admitted pursuant to section 584 of Public Law 100-202.
10. Veterans of the United States (U.S.) Armed Forces with an honorable discharge not related to their alien status. (b) Filipino war veterans who fought under U.S. command during WWII. © Hmong and Highland Lao veterans who are admitted for legal permanent residence (LPR) and who fought under U.S. command during the Vietnam War. (d) Persons with alien status on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, other than active duty for training. (e) The spouse, surviving unremarried spouse, or unmarried dependent child of the alien described in (a) through (d).
11. Aliens or their unmarried dependent children, as defined in federal law, who have been subjected to battery or extreme cruelty by their spouse, parent, sponsor, or a member of their household, and who no longer live in the same household as the batterer.
12. Victims of severe forms of trafficking.
13. Iraqi Special Immigrants granted special immigrant status under Section 101(a)(27) of the Immigration and Nationality Act pursuant to section 1244 of Public Law 110-181 or section 525 of Public Law 110-161, for a period not to exceed eight months.
14. Afghan Special Immigrants granted special immigrant status under Section 101(a)(27)p of the Immigration and Nationality Act pursuant to section 525 of Public Law 110-161, for a period not to exceed six months.

*People described in 1, 2, and 3 above must have entered the United States before August 22, 1996, or have entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996, and completed the five-year bar, to be eligible for MassHealth Standard, unless they also meet a status in 4 through 14 above

[vartanarsen2 2]

Thanks Jan.... I'm not really concerned with MassHealth...I just wanted to actually be able to use thee Mass Exchange for them...I don't mind actually paying monthly premiums for them..as long as they can get on to a "real" health insurance plan..

[letmein 0]

Does this mean in MA, there aren't relly any good options for older parents who are new immigrants and have not accrued 5 years of residency?