Mother/Father coming to USA . Health insurance concerns / Cost

[Lazybones18 261]

Hello All - This is my husband's account

 

I (female) came to USA about 3-4 years ago, became a US citizen and filed I130 for my parents. The i130 just got approved and we will be entering the NVC stage

 

We live in California and have more than sufficient income for affidavit of support purposes. My father has many health problems including dementia and heart issues. my mother is fairly healthy. both are in their 50's - 60's

 

My parents will be staying with my brother who also lives in  California. my brother will be responsible for them financially and all health matters. 

 

What is our best options for affordable health insurance ? Can we utilize medical or affordable care act ? 

 

any advise appreciated

 

Thanks 

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

If your father has these chronic conditions it is possible they will be asked at the interview to show how the required treatment will be funded. Telling them you plan to use a publicly funded program will get them denied for public charge reasons. You say your brother will be responsible for their expenses, has he researched what these will likely be? People here have reported insurance costs for people in their 60s around $600-700 per month per person as I recall. Your father will clearly have higher expenses depending on deductibles etc.  Many people do not in fact bring their parents because of the prohibitive cost of healthcare in the US and the 10 years work requirement for Medicare and social security eligibility.  Does your mother plan to work? 

[milimelo 4,479]

If you are the petitioner, YOU are responsible for parents. Starts with I-864. You can’t just turn around and say oh my brother will take care of them. Embassy will want paperwork on how you plan to cover your parents so they’re not public charge. 

[Lazybones18 261]

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

If your father has these chronic conditions it is possible they will be asked at the interview to show how the required treatment will be funded. Telling them you plan to use a publicly funded program will get them denied for public charge reasons. You say your brother will be responsible for their expenses, has he researched what these will likely be? People here have reported insurance costs for people in their 60s around $600-700 per month per person as I recall. Your father will clearly have higher expenses depending on deductibles etc.  Many people do not in fact bring their parents because of the prohibitive cost of healthcare in the US and the 10 years work requirement for Medicare and social security eligibility.  Does your mother plan to work? 

Mother does not plan to work

We have high income so I864 / funding treatment is not an issue for the interview 

 

Is Medi-cal a option ?

 

from my research  its not a mean tested benefit

 

 

Edited June 30, 2021 by Lazybones18

[Ontarkie 14,224]

~~Moved to Moving Here and our New Lifer, from Bringing FAmily of USC - the Topic is health Care Plans~~

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

15 minutes ago, Lazybones18 said:

Mother does not plan to work

We have high income so I864 / funding treatment is not an issue for the interview 

 

Is Medi-cal a option ?

 

from my research  its not a mean tested benefit

 

 

If you have high income why are you wanting to use public funding for them? I’m not understanding this. I am almost certain that if you tell the CO that’s your plan, they’ll be denied.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

17 minutes ago, Lazybones18 said:

from my research  its not a mean tested benefit

https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/Pages/DoYouQualifyForMedi-Cal.aspx

[pm5k 129]

You can purchase insurance via the exchange

 

[Mike E 11,739]

Bronze and Silver ACA plans for low income folks are can be inexpensive (under $100 depending on the income). Income  is based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income. Lawful Permanent Residents are eligible for ACA.

 

The deductibles however are high. 

 

https://www.coveredca.com/learning-center/information-for-immigrants/

 

 

Per https://www.chhs.ca.gov/blog/2021/03/15/alert-important-change-to-public-charge-rule/ , Medi-Cal (except for long term care) is no longer public charge. This policy has changed several times.

[Boiler 45,516]

US is not an obvious place to move to if you have major Medical insurance issues.

 

California seems quite generous currently, however presumably they want to stay for sometime and who knows what the future will bring.

 

Also Insurance is limited, lots of other costs not covered.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

12 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Bronze and Silver ACA plans for low income folks are can be inexpensive (under $100 depending on the income). Income  is based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income. Lawful Permanent Residents are eligible for ACA.

 

The deductibles however are high. 

 

https://www.coveredca.com/learning-center/information-for-immigrants/

 

 

I imagine the deductibles for someone with more than one chronic condition is going to make a low cost plan unfeasible. And there are going to be plenty other costs. 

 

If OP and family are high income like they claim, they should pony up for healthcare like the rest of us. I don’t mind my taxes going to fund people in genuine need but I do mind people who game the system, like people claiming to be high income to sponsor someone then suddenly the new immigrants are “low income”.  
 

 

[Lazybones18 261]

26 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Bronze and Silver ACA plans for low income folks are can be inexpensive (under $100 depending on the income). Income  is based on Modified Adjusted Gross Income. Lawful Permanent Residents are eligible for ACA.

 

The deductibles however are high. 

 

https://www.coveredca.com/learning-center/information-for-immigrants/

 

 

Per https://www.chhs.ca.gov/blog/2021/03/15/alert-important-change-to-public-charge-rule/ , Medi-Cal (except for long term care) is no longer public charge. This policy has changed several times.

 

I was looking into ACA plans... they also have a platinum plan

 

4 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

I imagine the deductibles for someone with more than one chronic condition is going to make a low cost plan unfeasible. And there are going to be plenty other costs. 

 

If OP and family are high income like they claim, they should pony up for healthcare like the rest of us. I don’t mind my taxes going to fund people in genuine need but I do mind people who game the system, like people claiming to be high income to sponsor someone then suddenly the new immigrants are “low income”.  
 

 

 we are not trying to game the system. We would just like to utilize medi-cal if we are eligible and based on what I am reading we are more than likely eligible for medi-cal 

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

4 minutes ago, Lazybones18 said:

 

I was looking into ACA plans... they also have a platinum plan

 

 we are not trying to game the system. We would just like to utilize medi-cal if we are eligible and based on what I am reading we are more than likely eligible for medi-cal 

 

 

So the link above I gave you with income levels for eligibility doesn’t apply to you?

[Lazybones18 261]

1 minute ago, SusieQQQ said:

So the link above I gave you with income levels for eligibility doesn’t apply to you?

Medi-cal will look at my parents income as they are adults and not ours. 

 

We are not planning to claim them as dependents on our tax return either so our income is will not play a role in their medi-cal elibility

 

this is what I know but I might be wrong ? 

 

Lastly, Medi-cal is not a mean tested benefit so there is no violation of i864 here. 

 

 

[Boiler 45,516]

I believe they will look at their world wide income