I944 AND RETIRED PARENT

[Trizimani 0]

Hi All, I am filing for an adjustment of status for my mom who is currently visiting in the USA. She is retired and 75 years old. I have filled out all the relevant forms but I am stuck at the I944 for the following reasons, I would love some guidance:

 

Let me give you some background:  I am not working now due to Covid 19, but YTD March, I earned $34,000 and with unemployment, I will be at $55K if I don't work for the remainder of the year. To play it safe I decided to use my husbands income as a joint sponsor, just in case they have an issue with my current unemployment status. That brings us to $130K for the year.

1. On the I944, it is asking for her assets and for them to be in US dollars. She has her house, land, pension and money in the bank, but they are all in local currency and not USD. Neither is a bank going to provide a statement in USD when the money in the bank is not in USD.

2. How do I answer to the part about health insurance? She is 75, so she is not going to work and obviously does not qualify for medicare. She has been to the doctor twice since she has been here in March and she has paid her own medical bills each time. She has also paid for the I-693 exam using her own debit card and the payment shows on her bank statement in JMD dollars.

3. Should I say she is going to self pay and show her ability to do that as she has the proof that she has been paying her own bills while here? Or should I say she is going to enroll in health care? If I say she is going to enroll, do I have to provide proof of a plan that she will enroll in?

4. Finally, does any of it matter if we show that we are obviously way above the poverty limit even with me not working? Meaning, should I just not put any assets for her on the I944 and say she will self pay? I hate the I944!!!

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

1 Assets must have their value listed in US dollar with the applicable documents, if you are unable to prove this, in my opinion, you are unable to include the assets on the I-944.
2 & 3- it is impossible for your mom to be forever self pay and show funding for that- an ED visit can easily bring you a $10,000 bill never mind a Hospitalization. I suggest going to your state marketplace and purchasing her insurance today if possible. You can include the confirmation of coverage with the document.

[Trizimani 0]

@Luckycuds  My mom does not have a SSN number so she cannot get health insurance through the marketplace. I really am at a loss as to what to do here.

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

27 minutes ago, Trizimani said:

@Luckycuds  My mom does not have a SSN number so she cannot get health insurance through the marketplace. I really am at a loss as to what to do here.

You should be able to get “quotes” after you enter in basic info - all states are different but in CT I can browse different plans after entering some basic info 

[Trizimani 0]

I see private visitor's insurance out there that will cover my mom. It's not great,  but there were not many options for a 75 year old on a B1 visitor visa. I hate that you have to pay for the entire insurance plan upfront. I'm wondering if purchasing a 6 month plan would be considered enough. I believe I can enroll her in the marketplace once it reopens in November and I have NOA to prove the immigration process. Please advise.

[Trizimani 0]

I am doing adjustment of status for visiting 75 yr old parent. I cannot find any insurance that complies with the Healthcare proclamation to file I-944. Because of age, there are only a few private health insurance that she would qualify. The proclamation wants insurance of no less than 364 days. Those insurance are $4000 -$7000 that has to be paid upfront and they literally cover nothing.. about $100,000 per year and $30 towards doctor visit and minimal if any pre-existing condition coverage. I don't think that it will meet ACA guidelines. 

If this was meant to deter everyone but the very rich from entering this country, it surely will work. Only plan that I see that would meet ACA guidelines is $17,500...which again has to be paid upfront.

Has anyone since this law came in effective Feb 24 been able to successfully get private insurance and have USCIS accept it?

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

I know you posted the other day- did you go to you states health insurance exchange/marketplace? that is where you need to buy the health insurance. Yes, health insurance is the main reason why a lot of people can't immigrate their parents to the US and the older they are the worse it is. The average cost for an elderly person should  be approx $1,000 a month but you should only have to pay the first monthly premium up front so I am curious as to what website you are looking at. 

[Unlockable 7,314]

It is not to deter people but the rich. It is to ensure that the elderly does not use public benefits. Healthcare in America is expensive. And this is something that has to be accounted for when people want to bring over elderly relatives. Especially if the elderly has preexisting conditions. Depending on what is needed for your parent, the costs will vary but there is still an expectation of high cost. For example, if a elder requires a few medicine per month, the costs will be lower. But if a parent requires a full chemotherapy treatment per month, obviously the cost is going to skyrocket.

 

The healthcare marketplace should provide more options. But still be prepared for sticker shock. We have people on this forum that reported getting the cheapest plans at $800 per month per person for parents over 65. And those are parents that were in relatively good health.  

[databit 328]

Visitor policies are now not covering coronavirus, and she is in the most vulnerable age group. Call an insurance broker. You may need to purchase private health insurance.

[Trizimani 0]

@Luckycuds I am not able to sign up on healthcare gov. as it is not allowing me to progress to the next page without a SSN number

 

Social Security Number (SSN) 

That's not a valid SSN

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

7 minutes ago, Trizimani said:

@Luckycuds I am not able to sign up on healthcare gov. as it is not allowing me to progress to the next page without a SSN number

 

Social Security Number (SSN) 

 

That's not a valid SSN

Were you rerouted to your states health exchange? For example in CT it is https://www.accesshealthct.com/ and I can find plans without putting in a SSN; for example I plugged in a 75 year old and the plans range from  $795.15 per month for the worst coverage up to $2,250 per month I can compare, look at the detailed benefits, out of pocket max, deductibles, etc.

Edited June 17, 2020 by Luckycuds

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

48 minutes ago, databit said:

Visitor policies are now not covering coronavirus, and she is in the most vulnerable age group. Call an insurance broker. You may need to purchase private health insurance.

And non-covered covid costs can be scary, in the hundred of thousands of dollars...see article. When they say people aren’t supposed to be charged for Covid in this article, I’m sure that doesn’t include visitors. 
 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/14/nyregion/coronavirus-billing-nyc.html

 

[millefleur 5,046]

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