When an overseas spouse arrives to America, is she eligible for public assistance or does she have to be a citizen first?

[yuna628 9,687]

An LPR is not eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, or other benefits like food stamps, for five years or unless becoming a citizen. Having savings does not prevent the OP or the OP's spouse from obtaining health insurance via the marketplace or any other insurer in the state that offers insurance privately. Of course, if one makes too much money, then a subsidy won't be qualified for (if qualified the Ocare subsidy doesn't count, so that's fine for an LPR - I repeat: Ocare with or without subsidy is not off limits for LPRs)... but most Americans don't qualify for the subsidy anyway. Having savings does not disqualify you from using Ocare. There is, iirc, some state Medi-type programs in NY (in a few rare states) that immigrants may be eligible for, however I can offer no further advice on that and it would be up to the OP to carefully explore. If the OP does not obtain health insurance for themselves and their spouse then the penalty in taxes will apply. The USC has a responsibility to find healthcare for their spouse if they can afford it, but there is no law that requires them to purchase it.

Edited November 18, 2017 by yuna628

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

Some clarification here, at least from my own experience.  The immigrant can receive Obamacare subsidies as a LPR, a LPR before 5 years can get on medicaid under certain circumstances (in your case this might be pregnancy on her part), and certain states do have an internal public insurance program that covers LPRs before 5 years and those who might fall into the too much for medicaid too little for obamacare gap.  My husband and I currently both pay an income adjusted amount monthly to receive health insurance through our state.  For people who are medicaid eligible (we make too much so we pay more), the LPR would pay something like $4-15/month.   There are, like PP said, very few states that have a program like this, so you'll need to do your research.

[cd37 229]

2 hours ago, Russ&Caro said:

Why are you judging this response so harshly? The first step associated with getting affordable insurance for the OP and his immigrant wife is through one of the Obamacare networks. Based on the income information provided, the OP may indeed qualify, himself, for a policy with a Medicaid subsidy and then he can go on to insure his wife through Obamacare via an non-subsidized policy.

 

I don't see where dnp2014 is advising anyone to violate laws.

My comment is not for OP who I believe a US citizen, I m sure he will qualify. The original question was for LPR spouse. No judging here, facts dont change so if you know more than that please add your thoughts. Please read other comments too....

[zandtee 0]

ok guys lets not derail the topic.  I'd like to thank everyone who participated.  You have all answered the question I asked and  have given me additional information regarding health insurance that I did not know about.  Thank you everyone.  I love this site and keep up the good work.

[Boiler 45,739]

I actually took and passed the Colorado Insurance Exam, a bit like the Colorado Driving test a joke.

[bakphx1 789]

Medicaid also gets federal money (the mix of who pays more--states vs. feds) and is not just a state program.  States have some freedom in how they run the programs, but to qualify for Medicaid dollars, they must also comply with certain federal requirements.

 

If you get someone on an assistance program that's not supposed to be on it, as a sponsor, they can come back and make you pay them back, and there's no real time limitation.  There is a statute of limitations but it's not from the date the dollars were first laid out, it starts from when they first discover someone received a benefit they shouldn't have.   If it takes them five years to discover it, that's the first date the clock starts ticking, so you're never in the clear in that respect.  

[mallafri76 1,012]

7 hours ago, jandtee said:

I think bad4tatt is righ tthough.  I dont think me and her would qualify for any health insurance or assistance.  I plan to sponsor my wife because I have 100k in savings.  I myself personally dont have health insurance because I didnt apply as my savings account would prevent me from being eligible.  I do make less than 28k but my money in my savings account would make me ineligible and would possibly make her ineligible as well.  Should I halt the process until I get a job with health insurance I guess?

You’re not ineligible for health insurance, neither is your spouse. You can buy your own health insurance from an insurance company, you just don’t get subsidies. 

 

I work for a small company and my salary is over the threshold so I have to buy my own health insurance from an insurance company. Everyone’s eligible for health insurance. The choice is whether or not you want to buy it, and for some whether or not they can afford it. 

 

Lord knows the premiums are getting ridiculous for those of us who don’t have insurance through work and who don’t qualify for Obamacare. 

Edited November 18, 2017 by mallafri76

[Algerianwife 11]

15 hours ago, jandtee said:

The CR1 visa has income requirements so that the spouse won't rely on government assistance right away I heard.  I plan to sponsor her by assets because my salary for 2017 was low.  Is it true that if she comes to America she won't be eligible for public assistance (such as health insurance) as a green card holder? I would have to wait until she's a citizen right?

She cannot apply for any assitance for 5 yrs i was told by a friend who is a GC holder

[pushbrk 12,999]

12 hours ago, jandtee said:

i can pay off certain  medical bills such as pills or prescription drugs. But healthcare in america is expensive.  I hear horror stories of people needing surgery or getting injured in car accidents and the surgery cost up to millions without health insurance.  Im working on getting a career that comes with great benefits such as healthcare for me and a spouse.

The entire purpose of requiring a qualified sponsor for the immigrant is to assure they don't become a public charge, meaning assuring YOU support your wife instead of the rest of us doing so.

[ashcashbananas 66]

Wow. This person only asked if their spouse could get assistance with health insurance. Not sure why people have to be SO rude.

 

Like, why are you all so mad?  Get a better job? Lol. Some people just think they know it all, don't they?

[pushbrk 12,999]

7 minutes ago, ashcashbananas said:

Wow. This person only asked if their spouse could get assistance with health insurance. Not sure why people have to be SO rude.

 

Like, why are you all so mad?  Get a better job? Lol. Some people just think they know it all, don't they?

Some people who are NOT mad at all actually do know all that is needed to know about this particular subject.  The OP asked about eligibility for public assistance, not specific to assistance with health insurance, in the first post of the topic.  A person need not be emotional about a subject in order to speak truth about it.

[ashcashbananas 66]

7 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Some people who are NOT mad at all actually do know all that is needed to know about this particular subject.  The OP asked about eligibility for public assistance, not specific to assistance with health insurance, in the first post of the topic.  A person need not be emotional about a subject in order to speak truth about it.

Wasn't referring to you, was referring to others who appear to be upset!

[pushbrk 12,999]

3 minutes ago, ashcashbananas said:

Wasn't referring to you, was referring to others who appear to be upset!

OK, but the OP did not only ask about assistance with health insurance.  Posting emotional responses are inappropriate even the emotion is in response to the emotions of others. 

Edited November 18, 2017 by pushbrk

[ashcashbananas 66]

1 minute ago, pushbrk said:

OK, but the OP did not only ask about assistance with health insurance.  Posting emotional responses are inappropriate even the emotion is in response to the emotions of others. 

"The CR1 visa has income requirements so that the spouse won't rely on government assistance right away I heard.  I plan to sponsor her by assets because my salary for 2017 was low.  Is it true that if she comes to America she won't be eligible for public assistance (such as health insurance) as a green card holder? I would have to wait until she's a citizen right?"

 

 

Maybe I'm wrong.

 

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[JFH 12,190]

14 hours ago, jandtee said:

i can pay off certain  medical bills such as pills or prescription drugs. But healthcare in america is expensive.  I hear horror stories of people needing surgery or getting injured in car accidents and the surgery cost up to millions without health insurance.  Im working on getting a career that comes with great benefits such as healthcare for me and a spouse.

So from your $100k savings you can pay a few hundred a month for medical insurance to ensure you don't face such nightmare bills, should anything happen to her. Where I work I can add a dependent onto my plan for a few dollars short of $400 a month. That should be achievable until she gets a job of her own with healthcare.