Health Insurance for GC Holder Senior Immigrant Patent

[Sunnyland 639]

Hi! We are in the middle of getting health insurance thru the health marketplace /obamacare (we may get some tax credit).  I am a US citizen (naturalization) and was wondering if we can add, as a dependent, my senior mother (over 70s) to whatever health plan we decide to get. My mother has her green card already and doesnt work. We just dont want to do anything that is considered public charge. We live in Florida. Thank you!  

[IWander 589]

GC holers are eligible to participate in health plans offered by ACA.

[Vickys_Mom 225]

In my case (mother in law) the healthcare.gov web site sent her information directly to my state's Medicaid program.  They've contacted me and asked me for information as if she is applying for Medicaid and a "credit" for her health care premiums.  We told them we didn't think she qualified in our state for Medicaid (71 years old, never contributed to Medicare or Social Security, just got here and doesn't have five years' residency), but I think the healthcare.gov system just sends it off to the state agency regardless.

 

It is not a public charge issue.

 

I doubt my state (Nebraska) is going to provide any credit, and I suspect we will be paying full price for her insurance as we make enough money not to worry about credits, but since the state's process was already started we decided to wait and see what happens.  At present, the best quote from healthcare.gov I have for her is around $950 per month.  That's a very basic policy...pretty much catastrophic insurance only, high deductible, etc.

 

OP, check Florida rules about Medicaid.  Some states allow legal permanent residents to apply for Medicaid on arrival.  Others have waits.  Even if she doesn't qualify for Medicaid you can certainly add her to your healthcare.gov policy.

 

Regards,

Vicky's Mom

[Sunnyland 639]

19 minutes ago, Vickys_Mom said:

Even if she doesn't qualify for Medicaid you can certainly add her to your healthcare.gov policy.

Thank you for your input. We were thinking on adding her to our plan that we may get some tax credit / discount for next year plan but were not sure if that is allowed OR if we need to buy a separate plan for her.  We dont want to have any problem in the future because of that.
 

[IWander 589]

40 minutes ago, Sunnyland said:

Thank you for your input. We were thinking on adding her to our plan that we may get some tax credit / discount for next year plan but were not sure if that is allowed OR if we need to buy a separate plan for her.  We dont want to have any problem in the future because of that.
 

I don't think a 71 year old would be eligible to be added onto your plan.  I think the dependant age limit is 25.

[Sunnyland 639]

5 minutes ago, IWander said:

I don't think a 71 year old would be eligible to be added onto your plan.  I think the dependant age limit is 25.

do you know where I can find more official info about age limit? I was under impression that you can add your GC holder senior parent but was not sure. The healthcare advisor we talked to didn't seem to know much about this topic and they just were ok with my mother being added to whatever plan we get for the next year. 
She has zero income in the US, she doesnt work. She gets her retirement from Argentina but that converted to dollars is almost equal to nothing. if she has to purchase her own plan,  can it be with a reduced premium based on non-income?  Thanks.

[Vickys_Mom 225]

My wife and I have insurance through our respective employers.  Neither of our employers' policies would allow us to add my mother-in-law as a dependent.  They said a dependent had to be 26 or younger.  So I only asked healthcare.gov for an individual policy for her.

 

Healthcare.gov will insure all of you.  Whether it's a family policy with all of you or a separate policy for each...I don't know.

 

Regards,

Vicky's Mom

[IWander 589]

1 hour ago, Sunnyland said:

do you know where I can find more official info about age limit? I was under impression that you can add your GC holder senior parent but was not sure. The healthcare advisor we talked to didn't seem to know much about this topic and they just were ok with my mother being added to whatever plan we get for the next year. 
She has zero income in the US, she doesnt work. She gets her retirement from Argentina but that converted to dollars is almost equal to nothing. if she has to purchase her own plan,  can it be with a reduced premium based on non-income?  Thanks.

You need to apply at the healthcare markplace for your state.

[yuna628 9,671]

4 hours ago, Sunnyland said:

Hi! We are in the middle of getting health insurance thru the health marketplace /obamacare (we may get some tax credit).  I am a US citizen (naturalization) and was wondering if we can add, as a dependent, my senior mother (over 70s) to whatever health plan we decide to get. My mother has her green card already and doesnt work. We just dont want to do anything that is considered public charge. We live in Florida. Thank you!  

If you are not intending on purchasing her a plan directly, my suggestion would be to read through this thread carefully.

 

 

[Ontarkie 14,216]

~~MOved to Moving Here and YOur New Life, from Bringing Family of USC - the Topic is health care.~~

[Neonred 3,562]

6 hours ago, Sunnyland said:

Hi! We are in the middle of getting health insurance thru the health marketplace /obamacare (we may get some tax credit).  I am a US citizen (naturalization) and was wondering if we can add, as a dependent, my senior mother (over 70s) to whatever health plan we decide to get. My mother has her green card already and doesnt work. We just dont want to do anything that is considered public charge. We live in Florida. Thank you!  

Is your mother listed as a dependent on your tax return??

[Redro 4,611]

6 hours ago, Sunnyland said:

Hi! We are in the middle of getting health insurance thru the health marketplace /obamacare (we may get some tax credit).  I am a US citizen (naturalization) and was wondering if we can add, as a dependent, my senior mother (over 70s) to whatever health plan we decide to get. My mother has her green card already and doesnt work. We just dont want to do anything that is considered public charge. We live in Florida. Thank you!  

 

4 hours ago, Sunnyland said:

do you know where I can find more official info about age limit? I was under impression that you can add your GC holder senior parent but was not sure. The healthcare advisor we talked to didn't seem to know much about this topic and they just were ok with my mother being added to whatever plan we get for the next year. 
She has zero income in the US, she doesnt work. She gets her retirement from Argentina but that converted to dollars is almost equal to nothing. if she has to purchase her own plan,  can it be with a reduced premium based on non-income?  Thanks.

While your mother does not receive income from a U.S. source she does receive income from Argentina. She should research the tax obligations of reporting foreign pension in the US. Her income might not actually be 0. 
 

This link states children up to the age of 26 can be a dependent on parents insurance but nothing about parents being dependents for children

https://www.ncsl.org/health/dependent-health-coverage-and-age-for-health-care-benefits

[Boiler 45,445]

Well no Day one Medicaid in Florida.

 

I also agree a Parent is not a dependent.

 

She can certainly buy though OCare and yes her income is her World Wide income not US.

 

There are a variety of plans and even the most expensive does not cover everything by any stretch.

 

Welcome to America.

 

[Sunnyland 639]

21 hours ago, Neonred said:

Is your mother listed as a dependent on your tax return??

Yes, my husband was planning to add her as dependent in the 2023 taxes.  

[Redro 4,611]

On 12/14/2023 at 9:53 AM, Sunnyland said:

Yes, my husband was planning to add her as dependent in the 2023 taxes.  

You might want to research the cost difference between getting her on a health care plan where she files her own taxes vs claiming her as a dependent and the cost of healthcare.