Health Insurance for permanent resident

[Kalehua 36]

Our background: My husband came to the United States on a K1 visa a year ago. We are married and he is a permanent resident now.

 

He recently got a part time job. (It took awhile for someone to give him a chance so this is his best option at the moment.) However, being part time, he does not receive any benefits with this job. He needs health insurance. I get my insurance through my state which is Oregon’s Medicaid. I have always been under the impression that he is not suppose to be on any type of government aid. That he is essentially 100% my responsibility.
 

Is this true regarding Medicaid? Or is it allowed for him to join Medicaid? 

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

He qualifies for health care through the marketplace:

 

OregonHealthCare.gov : Health coverage for immigrants : Blog : State of Oregon

[K1visaHopeful 2,850]

He won't qualify for government bennys anyways as a new resident. 

Shop the Marketplace.

Also, please complete your VJ timeline in reciprocity. 

Your stats help everyone. 

No stats help no one.

Edited October 15 by K1visaHopeful

[Kalehua 36]

Thank you for your replies. But my question has less to do if he will qualify and more to do if it is allowed.
 

In the paperwork that we signed for him to immigrate here, it said that the immigrant was not to be a ward of the state. Or something along those lines. I don’t recall the exact wording. But basically he wasn’t entitled to government benefits, like food stamps, etc. My concern is that Medicaid would be considered along these lines and that if he was to receive it, it could possibly cause problems in the future when he applies for his five year green card. 
 

We are really trying to do everything by the book and don’t want to do anything that could potentially causes issues in the future. However, if Medicaid is allowed in our situation, that would really be beneficial to us.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,471]

11 minutes ago, Kalehua said:

Thank you for your replies. But my question has less to do if he will qualify and more to do if it is allowed.
 

In the paperwork that we signed for him to immigrate here, it said that the immigrant was not to be a ward of the state. Or something along those lines. I don’t recall the exact wording. But basically he wasn’t entitled to government benefits, like food stamps, etc. My concern is that Medicaid would be considered along these lines and that if he was to receive it, it could possibly cause problems in the future when he applies for his five year green card. 
 

We are really trying to do everything by the book and don’t want to do anything that could potentially causes issues in the future. However, if Medicaid is allowed in our situation, that would really be beneficial to us.

 

 

USCIS does not consider Medicaid as grounds for public charge inadmissibility.   https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/public-charge/public-charge-resources

 

Quote

Q: What public assistance programs does USCIS not consider?

A: Generally, we do not consider noncash benefits in making public charge determinations. The only noncash benefit we consider is long-term institutionalization at government expense. We also do not consider special-purpose cash assistance that is not intended for income maintenance.

For example, USCIS does not consider any of the following public benefits when making a public charge determination:

Nutrition programs

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or other nutrition programs
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• School lunch and school breakfast programs
• Benefits under the Emergency Food Assistance Act (TEFAP)
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Health programs

• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Medicaid (other than support for long-term institutional care), including public assistance for immunizations and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases, health clinics, short-term rehabilitation services, and emergency medical services
• Health Insurance through the Affordable Care Act
• Any benefits related to immunizations or testing for communicable diseases
• Treatments or preventative services related to COVID-19, including vaccinations
• Home and community-based services (HCBS)

 

 

 

The bigger issue is that unless he has been here in the US for 5 years, your husband cannot get Medicaid.

 

Quote

To get Medicaid and CHIP coverage, many qualified non-citizens (such as many Lawful Permanent Residents, also known as LPRs or green card holders) have a 5-year waiting period. This means they must wait 5 years after getting "qualified" immigration status before they can get Medicaid and CHIP coverage.

 

https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/lawfully-present-immigrants/

[yuna628 9,687]

28 minutes ago, Kalehua said:

Thank you for your replies. But my question has less to do if he will qualify and more to do if it is allowed.
 

In the paperwork that we signed for him to immigrate here, it said that the immigrant was not to be a ward of the state. Or something along those lines. I don’t recall the exact wording. But basically he wasn’t entitled to government benefits, like food stamps, etc. My concern is that Medicaid would be considered along these lines and that if he was to receive it, it could possibly cause problems in the future when he applies for his five year green card. 
 

We are really trying to do everything by the book and don’t want to do anything that could potentially causes issues in the future. However, if Medicaid is allowed in our situation, that would really be beneficial to us.

No he cannot use it.

 

What you can do is head on over to the marketplace (Obamacare) and purchase a plan (these are not prohibited for immigrants). You can also go to any healthcare insurer directly and purchase. It will not be cheap nor free and that is one of the drawbacks of healthcare in the US.

[Kalehua 36]

Thank you for all the information. I’m going to look over all of links and suggestions that have been given when I’m off of work. I appreciate the help.

[carmel34 3,646]

18 hours ago, Kalehua said:

He recently got a part time job. (It took awhile for someone to give him a chance so this is his best option at the moment.) However, being part time, he does not receive any benefits with this job. He needs health insurance.

Cheapest solution is for him to get a different job that includes health insurance benefits.  Even catastrophic health insurance via the marketplace with very high deductibles and co-pays (if he is younger than 30) is expensive, $350+ per month in most states.  He may qualify for subsidies with Obamacare so check into that if your household income is low enough.

[ProbeGT 47]

See this post.  He will not be able to get medicaid due to the 5 year rule, but he can get ACA insurance and possibly get a subsidy: