Green Card and Health Insurance (California)

[Shannon and Olga 0]

My parents are going thru the green card process in California (they were just fingerprinted) and are 64 and 63. In California we have medi-cal which is low cost and/or free insurance for people without an income. If my parents sign up for medi-cal can this negatively impact their green card application in any way? Any past experience for anyone on the board with medi-cal and green card? Will I as a sponsor be responsible for any costs of their medical insurance thru the state?

 

thanks!

 

 

[Hypnos 6,578]

From what I was able to find, including at https://www.cahba.com/advice/2015/01/medical.html

 

"the essential program is no longer means-tested for adults age 19-64 who do not require assistance with the cost of “institutional” care.

 

However, if an adult requires Medi-Cal to pay some or all of the cost of institutional/long-term care, that could trigger the “public charge” status for a permanent resident alien". 

 

So since one of your parents is about to turn 65, they may run into public charge issues, yes. If this was the case, their application may not be approved. 

 

In general, older potential immigrants are often asked to demonstrate that they have sufficient resources in order to be able to afford the cost of healthcare in the US, which can be expensive for those who have leveled-up a lot in life. 

 

You aren't supposed to come here and immediately obtain taxpayer-provided assistance, even in California. 

Edited November 23, 2017 by Hypnos

[Shannon and Olga 0]

It seems that it would only be if they were "public charge" and needed long term care (90 days plus). Not short term for potential emergency and routine medical care.

[SteveE 25]

18 hours ago, Shannon and Olga said:

My parents are going thru the green card process in California (they were just fingerprinted) and are 64 and 63. In California we have medi-cal which is low cost and/or free insurance for people without an income. If my parents sign up for medi-cal can this negatively impact their green card application in any way? Any past experience for anyone on the board with medi-cal and green card? Will I as a sponsor be responsible for any costs of their medical insurance thru the state?

 

thanks!

 

 

This link has information from 2014

[SteveE 25]

18 hours ago, Shannon and Olga said:

My parents are going thru the green card process in California (they were just fingerprinted) and are 64 and 63. In California we have medi-cal which is low cost and/or free insurance for people without an income. If my parents sign up for medi-cal can this negatively impact their green card application in any way? Any past experience for anyone on the board with medi-cal and green card? Will I as a sponsor be responsible for any costs of their medical insurance thru the state?

 

thanks!

 

 

This link has information from 2014

 

http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Pages/Medi-CalFAQs2014b.aspx

 

I think they need to have met certain criteria regarding residency in state to qualify.

 

Apologies for the duplicate posts‚ not sure why that happened and I don't seem to be able to delete them

 

Edited November 24, 2017 by SteveE

[Shannon and Olga 0]

Which link? Are you speaking of Hypnos posting? Do you have any updated info?

[Shannon and Olga 0]

Check out page 5. 

 

https://wclp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/WesternCenter_2016_HCGuide_Chapter1.pdf