Medicaid insurance for temporary resident

[Dantrolene 15]

Hello. I have a question regarding whether or not I am eligible and allowed to apply to Medicaid health insurance while I am a temporary resident waiting to remove conditions based on marriage. I work part time and I don't afford private insurance and there is no way to ne insured through my employer or my wife. I am thinking of Medicaid to be insured and avoid paying tax penalty. What is the cost benefit of applying to such federal benefits while I'm still temporary resident ? Thanks

[Laura. 90]

You're not a temporary resident. You're a permanent resident with a conditional green card.

[yuna628 9,726]

Hello. I have a question regarding whether or not I am eligible and allowed to apply to Medicaid health insurance while I am a temporary resident waiting to remove conditions based on marriage. I work part time and I don't afford private insurance and there is no way to ne insured through my employer or my wife. I am thinking of Medicaid to be insured and avoid paying tax penalty. What is the cost benefit of applying to such federal benefits while I'm still temporary resident ? Thanks

Immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid/Medicare unless they have been here for five years.

Your options are to either go without and pay the penalty, buy insurance privately, obtain insurance through finding a job of your own, or via your spouse employer (you said this isn't an option for you), or applying for insurance through the federal exchange (Obamacare/ACA). Keep in mind the federal exchange (or state exchange if you have one) is NOT Medicaid/Medicare. They are completely different things. Applying through the federal exchange is not free, and there are premiums, just like any obtaining any other insurance.

[Dantrolene 15]

Please give me more info about the exchange federal programs. Is it worth it to be insured or to just pay penalty fee ? Which is cheaper ? Where to find the laws that state it is not allowed for permanent residents less than five years to apply for Medicaid/Obamacare ? Thanks

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Please give me more info about the exchange federal programs. Is it worth it to be insured or to just pay penalty fee ? Which is cheaper ? Where to find the laws that state it is not allowed for permanent residents less than five years to apply for Medicaid/Obamacare ? Thanks

That's the whole point of the I-864

[yuna628 9,726]

Please give me more info about the exchange federal programs. Is it worth it to be insured or to just pay penalty fee ? Which is cheaper ? Where to find the laws that state it is not allowed for permanent residents less than five years to apply for Medicaid/Obamacare ? Thanks

I cannot personally speak as to what is cheaper for you. On the face of it, yes paying the penalty is cheaper, in fact it's roughly the price of a few months worth of premiums. For example this year's penalty is roughly $600+ for the entire fiscal tax year. For me and my husband to be insured it costs roughly $400 per month. So you might say, 600 per year vs 400 per month is a huge savings right? Sure, in fact plenty of people are comfortable with not having insurance. But then you've got to weigh other factors: for instance what happens if you need to see a doctor, require medication, or require an emergency room visit, a hospital stay, or are in an accident and require surgery? All of these things are unpredictable of course and will cost you thousands of dollars, and you never know when any of these may happen.

That is why most people find some way to purchase insurance. Every insurance provider in every state is different and the costs wildly vary depending on what sort of plan and what it covers. Many of the same plans and providers you can purchase privately can be found on the federal exchange. There are some scenarios where a lowered rate may apply depending on the situation, but not always.

I assume that you live in Washington State and they most likely have their own state exchange. You can always give them a call.

As for eligibility for Medicaid/Medicare, the law is very clear on this: immigrants are NOT eligible until after five years or under very specific criteria and attempting to use it will land you in a lot of trouble.

In order to get Medicaid and CHIP coverage, many qualified non-citizens (such as many LPRs or green card holders) have a 5-year waiting period. This means they must wait 5 years after receiving "qualified" immigration status before they can get Medicaid and CHIP coverage. There are exceptions. For example, refugees, asylees, or LPRs who used to be refugees or asylees don’t have to wait 5 years. https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/lawfully-present-immigrants/

[Dantrolene 15]

So I can not apply for Medicaid but Obamacare. What else I cannot apply to until I become citizen ? If there is a link or resource talking about these things ? Thanks

[Transborderwife 4,666]

So I can not apply for Medicaid but Obamacare. What else I cannot apply to until I become citizen ? If there is a link or resource talking about these things ? Thanks

Food stamps, welfare, section 8 housing

[NikLR 13,232]

Federal means tested benefits. Some state means tested benefits are okay but others aren't. You have to do some research.

[Cheezees 1,514]

So I can not apply for Medicaid but Obamacare. What else I cannot apply to until I become citizen ? If there is a link or resource talking about these things ? Thanks

Google is your friend.

[newacct 688]

Immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid/Medicare unless they have been here for five years.

Not true. In many states permanent residents do not have to be here for any number of years to be eligible for Medicaid.

[Yard man 2016 0]

If you apply for any means tested benefits (Medicaid, food stamps, section 8, etc) your sponsor on the I 864 (your wife) may have to pay the government back for any benefits that you receive and can be sued if she does not pay. Read the I 864 Affidavit of Support again before you apply for anything.

[Cathi 5,794]

Federal means tested benefits. Some state means tested benefits are okay but others aren't. You have to do some research.

Not just federal means tested benefits, but also state. Medicaid is state-Medicare is federal.

[Cathi 5,794]

Not true. In many states permanent residents do not have to be here for any number of years to be eligible for Medicaid.

Medicaid has some federal funding even though it's on the state level so it falls under the affidavit of support. Because of that, the sponsor and joint sponsor(if any) would be on the hook for paying it back. I have a friend who works for the Department of Health and Human Services in the state we live in(she is a case manager) and she told me that Medicaid falls under federal means tested benefits.

Edited March 22, 2016 by mimolicious

[Penny Pincher 11]

Hello. I have a question regarding whether or not I am eligible and allowed to apply to Medicaid health insurance while I am a temporary resident waiting to remove conditions based on marriage. I work part time and I don't afford private insurance and there is no way to ne insured through my employer or my wife. I am thinking of Medicaid to be insured and avoid paying tax penalty. What is the cost benefit of applying to such federal benefits while I'm still temporary resident ? Thanks

Not asking to be mean, but is there any way you can get a full time job or try different company? I feel your pain as I jumped to another company to get the full benefits for me and my wife. I only work for 36 hours just to comply the FULL Time Job. In that way, paying for health insurance for your family is not that expensive.