Aca insurance tax subsidies (public charge?)

[Alex123 0]

i researched the forum and found several threads on this issues but still wanted to clarify something and hear some opinions. I am a conditional resident. Received green card in sep. 2015. Currently my wife has her insurance with her mother because she is under 26 years old. We are going to try applying for marketplace or private insurance for 2016. Our household income is low and is around $17000 for 2015. We may possibly qualify for subsidies to help us pay our premiums. My wife signed an affidavit of support for me but she didn't make enough, so her grandpa signed one as a joint sponsor.

If we get to qualify for those insurance subsidies and use them am I going to be considered a public charge? Is it going to have any negative effect on my immigration status (when I remove conditions and later apply for citizenship) and cause any problems to my wife and her grandpa who is a joint sponsor?

[Alex123 0]

Could anybody give their opinion on this?

[Elf 146]

No, the ACA health insurance subsidies will not be considered in the public charge. From the National Immigration Law Center website:

12. Will getting health coverage under the ACA be considered in the “public charge” determination when I apply for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status? No. Buying insurance through the health care marketplaces and obtaining tax credits or cost-sharing reductions to make health insurance affordable will not be considered in the public charge decision when a person adjusts to LPR status. Use of Medicaid, CHIP, or other health services similarly does not raise public charge issues, with the exception of long-term care services received under Medicaid.

and from healthcare.gov

Medicaid, CHIP, and “public charge” status

Applying for Medicaid or CHIP, or getting savings for health insurance costs in the Marketplace, doesn’t make someone a "public charge." This means it won’t affect their chances of becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident or U.S. citizen.

Edited October 19, 2015 by Elf