emergency medicaid

[scooby06 0]

Hello,

My parents became green card holders in 2011. Everything was great until my mom got very sick suddenly in November 2015 and ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks. She had no insurance since they did not qualify for Obamacare. Making a long story short my mom ended up with an enormous medical bill. We want to apply for emergency Medicaid but my parents are afraid that this would come back as "means tested public benefits" and I as the sponsor would be responsible to have to pay it back.

Is this the case. Also another question They are here now just about 5 years and could qualify for Medicare/Medicate insurance at the end of this year. Would this be a problem as well and would I be responsible to pay for that as well.

I would appreciated any help any information in this reagrds. Thank you

Edited April 28, 2016 by scooby06

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Why didn't they qualify for obamacare?

Yes. They should qualify for emergency medicaid. However I would also call the hospital and find out if they have any sort of private funds that may be used for this bill if your parents do not have an income. Often they'll have specific charity funds set aside for things such as this.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

Have you checked into purcahsing private medical insurance?

Often hospitals have patient adovcates that can help with these types of situations.

[Boiler 45,399]

Also wondering why the do not qualify for Obamacare.

I believe after 5 years you can buy into Medicare.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Your parents can apply for Emergency Medicaid. Emergency Medicaid is not a means tested benefit that you as the I-864 sponsor have to pay back.

Ignore people asking why your parents didn't buy Obamacare because it doesn't matter in answering your question. Ignore people telling you that your parents need to buy health insurance because it would not pay for past treatment anyways and does not answer your question.

Here is the info from the US State Department; https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/support/i-864-frequently-asked-questions.html

The following types of assistance are not considered means tested public benefits and do not have to be repaid.

• Emergency Medicaid
• School lunches
• Immunizations and treatment for communicable diseases
• Student assistance to attend colleges and institutions of higher learning
• Some kinds of foster care or adoption assistance
• Job training programs
• Head start
• Short-term, non-cash emergency relief

[aaron2020 11,651]

My LPR brother received Emergency Medicaid and it paid for everything. There is no need to look into other methods of payment.

[Boiler 45,399]

You are assuming they qualify for Medicaid.

OP clearly stated that the reason they did not have O Care was that they did not qualify for it. I think it is much more likely that they did not understand how it operates.

[Merrytooth 5,748]

So it is ok to 'encourage' immigrants not to buy health insurance and just apply for emergency medicaid?

[scooby06 0]

Thank you for your information aaron2020. I really appreciated all the help and information.

Edited April 28, 2016 by scooby06

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I see, so they qualified but it was too costly for you.

[Boiler 45,399]

I do not know where they are but last time this discussion came up I thought Bronze at 65 was c$500pm?

Medicaid will not be cheap to buy in, sounds like they will be very close to being able to do that.

[newacct 688]

Also wondering why the do not qualify for Obamacare.

I think they mean they do not qualify for the subsidy. You have to be over 133% of poverty level to qualify for the subsidy. If they qualified for Medicaid then they are not at that level.

[Boiler 45,399]

If your income is to high you do not qualify for the subsidy.

[newacct 688]

If your income is to high you do not qualify for the subsidy.

Right but if they're getting Medicaid then their income is too low to qualify for the subsidy.

[Boiler 45,399]

Right but if they're getting Medicaid then their income is too low to qualify for the subsidy.

If.