Affortable Care Act/Medicare while waiting for AOS

[shouldnthaveto 0]

I just submitted my AOS package and I am waiting for my EAD. I know that I will get a job that has good salary/benefits once that is approved, but I need some insurance in the meantime. My wife is currently covered by her parents insurance.

I just called Covered California and they claimed that since I don't have a job, and my wife only makes around $15000 a year I could apply for "emergency medicare".

We used her mom as Affidavit support while filing for AOS.

Will taking advantage of this affect either AOS/EAD applications in any way? Is it safer to just go for a private insurance?

[merkin&regine 18]

What's the emergency? Emergency medicare speaks for itself. It's only for life threatening emergencies.

Although pregnancy is part of it though.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K-1 Process to Family-based AOS Process Forum~

~Inquiry related to AOS process, not K-1~

[baron555 934]

No

[jan22 3,064]

Any time you see/hear something that starts with "...because your wife earns only XXXX...", you know you're talking about a means-tested program (i.e., a program that has something like a sliding cost scale based on the income level of the person). You do not qualify for any government-supported means-tested programs (Medicare/Medicaid/MediCal, etc.) for five years or until you become a U.S. citizen -- using one puts your sponsor and co-sponsor at risk of having to re-pay the cost of the government support you took.

[merkin&regine 18]

Any time you see/hear something that starts with "...because your wife earns only XXXX...", you know you're talking about a means-tested program (i.e., a program that has something like a sliding cost scale based on the income level of the person). You do not qualify for any government-supported means-tested programs (Medicare/Medicaid/MediCal, etc.) for five years or until you become a U.S. citizen -- using one puts your sponsor and co-sponsor at risk of having to re-pay the cost of the government support you took.

Not necessarily true, coz OP is asking about emergency Medicaid, here's a quote from I-864P:

Programs Not Included: The following Federal and State programs are not included as means-tested benefits: emergency Medicaid; short-term, non-cash emergency relief; services provided under the National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Acts; immunizations and testing and treatment for communicable diseases; student assistance under the Higher Education Act and the Public Health Service Act; certain forms of foster-care or adoption assistance under the Social Security Act; Head Start Programs; means-tested programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act; and Job Training Partnership Act programs.

Here's the link:

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864p.pdf

[belinda63 3,047]

But there is no emergency.

[merkin&regine 18]

Only the OP knows if there's an emergency or not, they are very stringent in determining if it is or not, and emergency Medicaid usually is after the fact or incident or admission, except for pregnancy.

Now, if the board determines, it's not emergency, then the patient needs to pay the full hospitalization.

Edited April 26, 2014 by merkin&regine

[EndlessStory 53]

I go to a clinic near the place I stay and they asked me a few questions about my background and they grant me 80% discount on medical fee for a year. Not sure if you have it in your town/state or not.

[QueenOfBlades 224]

I just submitted my AOS package and I am waiting for my EAD. I know that I will get a job that has good salary/benefits once that is approved, but I need some insurance in the meantime. My wife is currently covered by her parents insurance.

I just called Covered California and they claimed that since I don't have a job, and my wife only makes around $15000 a year I could apply for "emergency medicare".

We used her mom as Affidavit support while filing for AOS.

Will taking advantage of this affect either AOS/EAD applications in any way? Is it safer to just go for a private insurance?

What is Covered California? If she makes $15,000 a year, you should be eligible for subsidies, not Medicare. You can also put a guesstimate as to what you will earn this year and use that on your Obamacare application as well. Me and my husband do not have an income right now but we put figures down that we guessed we would earn for this year, and we will call back when I get a job after my EAD to update our information. The amount you guess will affect the subsidy you get, but it is not Medicare.

Medicare is a means tested benefit and will affect your immigration status. Obamacare will not affect your immigration status, however you do need a "qualifying period" to be able to enroll now as open enrollment ended March 31st.

See the below links. I would also advise calling the marketplace directly so you can be correctly advised.

https://www.healthcare.gov/what-do-immigrant-families-need-to-know/

https://www.healthcare.gov/how-can-i-save-money-on-marketplace-coverage/

https://www.healthcare.gov/what-income-and-household-information-do-i-provide-when-i-apply-for-marketplace-coverage/

[Soojung 4]

Do you mean Obamacare? I do not know exactly what emergency medicare is, and I do not know exactly your situation, but during your AOS process, I think you can apply for the affordable care. I applied for it in March and I got the insurance. It took some time to identify my status(I changed my last name, and I didn't got my EAD that time), but I got it anyway! Why don't you call the healthcare.gov (1-800-318-2596) and ask questions? Talking with them is not very pleasing and requires a lot of patience though.... :/