Will they think my mom will be a public charge?

[Doris2CA 0]

Filed 1-130 Last Aug 2019 for mom who is 63 years old. Never worked, no assets with severe asthma/COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Me and my husband will be the sponsors for AOS with $140k annual income and we are a family of 3. I am very concerned with some posts I read about getting a denial because the consular officer thinks the intending immigrant might be a public charge... maybe bec of age, health, work history etc. given my mom’s background, these are all negative factors but we have no intentions for her to be a public charge and will take full financial responsibility. Is there a way we can make them see that? Thanks in advance. 

[databit 328]

Breathing problem>>>Emergency Room>>>A few days in the ICU>>>A few days in hospital = $140k easy (Your entire yearly salary)

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

My father has COPD. Chronic illnesses are far from cheap in the US, luckily he has been a USC for many years so he has medicaid (plus top up). 

 

Well, to address public charge concerns, you can show that you have investigated the health insurance options for her, how much that plan will cost (as she is almost certainly not going to be able to be a dependent on your workplace plan expect anything from $600-1000 pm from what others have posted here for that age range), an understanding of what copays and other out of pocket expenses might be needed to cover it, not just for ER but for monthly medication, and proof that you can easily take care of all that. Given what you said I presume she will be living with you. 
fyi a few years old but maybe useful https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/the-cost-of-copd-and-the-affordable-care-act/  , obviously the bits about government assistance/using tax subsidies won’t work for you but there is info about costs etc

Edited February 22, 2020 by SusieQQQ

[SalishSea 17,593]

15 hours ago, Doris2CA said:

Filed 1-130 Last Aug 2019 for mom who is 63 years old. Never worked, no assets with severe asthma/COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Me and my husband will be the sponsors for AOS with $140k annual income and we are a family of 3. I am very concerned with some posts I read about getting a denial because the consular officer thinks the intending immigrant might be a public charge... maybe bec of age, health, work history etc. given my mom’s background, these are all negative factors but we have no intentions for her to be a public charge and will take full financial responsibility. Is there a way we can make them see that? Thanks in advance. 

So what is your plan to cover her health care, since she won't be eligible for medicare or anything here?

 

I would be concerned, too.  The US is not a great place to retire to if you are sick and have no money.

[Boiler 45,051]

Well it is going to be a big chunk of your annual income, I assume you can afford it and can document your calculations.

 

A shout out to your husband, many would not want to do this.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

6 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

My father has COPD. Chronic illnesses are far from cheap in the US, luckily he has been a USC for many years so he has medicaid (plus top up). 

 

...

Medicare. My dad is on Medicare. I always get those confused lol. Sorry! 

[Boiler 45,051]

I have thought one and typed the other, such is life.

[Lil bear 4,103]

9 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I have thought one and typed the other, such is life.

I just blame it on autocorrect ! 

[Boiler 45,051]

3 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

I just blame it on autocorrect ! 

I blame it on senile dementia.

[Lil bear 4,103]

18 hours ago, Doris2CA said:

Filed 1-130 Last Aug 2019 for mom who is 63 years old. Never worked, no assets with severe asthma/COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Me and my husband will be the sponsors for AOS with $140k annual income and we are a family of 3. I am very concerned with some posts I read about getting a denial because the consular officer thinks the intending immigrant might be a public charge... maybe bec of age, health, work history etc. given my mom’s background, these are all negative factors but we have no intentions for her to be a public charge and will take full financial responsibility. Is there a way we can make them see that? Thanks in advance. 

Demonstrate financial capacity to pay monthly premiums on at least a silver ACA plan .. I ran the numbers for myself (similar age to your mother but clear health history)  late last year as I need a 10 month cover between being covered by my husbands work plan (he is now retired and on Medicare and supplement ) and becoming eligible myself for Medicare. 
Quoted premiums were around $2400 per month with a $10,000 deductible. 

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

I blame it on senile dementia.

Yours or mine ? I cant remember how to spell that anyway ! 

Edited February 23, 2020 by Lil bear

[Boiler 45,051]

Mine

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

11 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

I just blame it on autocorrect ! 

 

7 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I blame it on senile dementia.

I blame it on being an immigrant who’s never used either of them 🤷‍♀️ 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

13 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

Quoted premiums were around $2400 per month with a $10,000 deductible. 

 

wow, that’s way more than I thought.  We ourselves saw the huge difference between self funding and employer funded plans. Obviously the mom will not have an employer funded plans. 

Even for a $140k per year family (presumably pre tax) that’s going to be felt. 

Edited February 23, 2020 by SusieQQQ

[Lil bear 4,103]

5 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

 

I blame it on being an immigrant who’s never used either of them 🤷‍♀️ 

Especially when Medicare means something else to me !! 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Not so fun fact: Harvard study found 62% of personal bankruptcies in the US are due to medical expenses. Noteworthy that 78% of those filers had health insurance.... https://www.investopedia.com/top-5-reasons-why-people-go-bankrupt-4773404