Medicaid for baby = public charge?/ how does insurance work!

[violetandrichard 1]

Hi, I hope this is in the right section.

I'm currently in AOS from a K1 visa. My husband makes just above the 133% limit for us, by a couple of hundred $, so was able to act as my sponsor. Realistically though, our joint income has gne down by about 70% in the past 2 years, and, whilst he works an honest job, we are struggling.

Recently we got surprise news that I am pregnant. While we are really happy about the pregnancy, the timing is hard (basically, we had hoped to wait until I had my US teaching license and a job and he was back in school, thus doubling our income). I have my EAD, but am limited in the amount I can work because I have severe morning sickness and typically throw up multiple times a day (the dr prescribed me a drug for it, but the insurance company only agreed to pay for 12 for the month, so I work part time and save my drugs for those days). I have also been having complications that, whilst fine now, have put me back.

We are looking at our options for when baby is born. We have ok insurance through my husbands work. My biggest issue is that our out of pocket maximum is 4.5k, which for us is a lot. While we diligently save, and have a few k saved, I can't realistically expect to have 5k sitting there when the birth happens, especially as I have student loan payments due. We will absolutely have the 2k left to hit my out of pocket maximum if need be, but I am worried about what happens if baby ends up in the NICU.

So here are my 2 questions. If baby stays on our insurance, do hospitals usually allow payment plans for the coinsurance portion. For example, if we owed 4.5k, and could pay 3 upfront, are they likely to do a payment plan with us for the other 1.5k? We currently save about $200/ month, so could put that in a payment plan. Otherwise we would look at taking out a loan etc.

I had some friends say, however, that baby is most likely eligable for medicaid because of our income. If this were the case we would be really interested, because being able to only pay for me and not baby would be a huge help. If we did this and baby were approved, would it count as me baing a public charge because my US citizen baby was on Medicaid? We expect to have our 2 year greencard by the time baby is born. Would having a baby that has been on medicaid be a problem when we apply for my long term greencard, because it indicates that my husband couldn't pay for us?

Thanks.

[blk 87]

Hi the poverty guideline is 125% & not the 133% that you put.

Brian

[TimeTravel 78]

May be, consider to sign up for 0% APR credit card to pay remainder $1.5k

[violetandrichard 1]

May be, consider to sign up for 0% APR credit card to pay remainder $1.5k

I'll have a look at one of those. I didn't realise 0% existed...

[blk 87]

Google 0% cards & it should show some comparison sites.

[TimeTravel 78]

I'll have a look at one of those. I didn't realise 0% existed...

Plus you may get sign up bonus between $100 to $250 if you are looking for no annual fee card. This sign up bonus can be used to pay your card bill.

[violetandrichard 1]

Thanks everyone, I've been looking. I also found a card specifically for medical bills.

Does anyone know if getting Medicaid for baby affects my husband's sponsorship of me?

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

The baby is a USC, so no, it will not affect your I-864 public charge clauses.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

My biggest issue is that our out of pocket maximum is 4.5k, which for us is a lot. While we diligently save, and have a few k saved, I can't realistically expect to have 5k sitting there when the birth happens, especially as I have student loan payments due. We will absolutely have the 2k left to hit my out of pocket maximum if need be, but I am worried about what happens if baby ends up in the NICU.

So here are my 2 questions. If baby stays on our insurance, do hospitals usually allow payment plans for the coinsurance portion. For example, if we owed 4.5k, and could pay 3 upfront, are they likely to do a payment plan with us for the other 1.5k? We currently save about $200/ month, so could put that in a payment plan. Otherwise we would look at taking out a loan etc.

I would suggest calling the hospital near you and ask for the billing department - ask them directly and explain your hypothetical situation. I am sure its perfectly normal for them to be asked this and there are many folks who come out with a large bill that is hard to pay all at once. They are probably happy to have someone pay regularly. Getting the answer will put your mind at rest.