Obamacare: New Permanent Residents Required to Get Health Insurance

[Ruark 4]

Even if the immigrant doesn't live in the same household as the sponsor, that income is still calculated.

If it's means-tested, it wouldn't be calculated, though, would it? Seems self-contradicting. I'd like to ask what your source is for that.

[WorldTravelers 5]

If it's means-tested, it wouldn't be calculated, though, would it? Seems self-contradicting. I'd like to ask what your source is for that.

I am sorry, but I don't understand what you are asking here; about does it matter if immigrant lives with the sponsor or not, or about is tax credit means-tested benefit?

I've visited so many sites recently, and didn't save all the links. Not all were for ACA, but after talking with healtcare.gov support people they basically said the income is calculated in the same way as for other government benefits, based on household income. But here is at least one place where it's mentioned that the sponsor's income is included in the calculations even if the immigrant doesn't live with the sponsor:

" the resources and support from the sponsor are considered in their initial eligibility determination. This is true regardless of whether an immigrant lives with the sponsor in the same household."

http://www.stc-law.com/immigrants/immigrant-eligibility.html

This is SSI benefits, same is for medicaid I believe.

The healtcare.gov folks also told me they always use household income when determining eligibility.

And from 864 form: sponsor's income is considered to be available to the immigrant when determining whether he/she is eligible for certain federal means-tested benefits.

I know I said I am not 100% sure that premium tax credit is not means-tested benefit - but I am 'pretty' sure it's not.

And another clarification, I never talked about means-tested benefits of the sponsor being included in the sponsor's income - that would be a contradiction. If that's where the confusion was, you are right - any means-tested benefits would not be included in calculating the income.

[livstrong 15]

It's been a while and I ahvent seen any movement snce laste year so I hope someone can guide me thorugh this question. Now that my parents have received their visa and will be coming to US in October this year, I have started looking into options for their health care. They are both abive 65 and even though they fall under seniors residents (and not citizens), I am cusrious to know the following:

I know for a fact that they dont qualify for Medicare. They dont qualify for Medicaid oratleast the first five years.

From tax point of view I am just in a limbo what to dof or next year. I would love to claim them as dependents on my returns but then if I do claim them then my income (or the household income) will be used to determine their income for any benefits. Not even that but lets say God forbid there is some emergency then the hospital would use the total household incoem to see their eligibility for any forgiveness.

Now if I do file their returns separate and show zero income, would it really help i terms of them getting a lower rate or benefits or would my incoem still play into effect even though for tax purposes they are not part of my household. Should I just file them as depedents for next year?

I tried calling healthcare and they told me that it depends. They cant give me exact figures but they told me this that they dont qualify for Medicaid or Medicare but they maybe able to qualiy for something else. And the premium would depend on whether I am claim them as dependents or they file their own return. I giess there is upsight to both. Claiming them on my return would be great as I can take advantage of tax credits or have them file and show zero income and then see what to do from there.