Government Health Care Benefits I-864 & Future Application to Remove Conditions and Citizenship

[reeses16 8]

I had to take my husband to the ER last night (He's okay now!). During check in the lady told me that he was eligible for a (state?) program that would cover the cost of his visit and prescription medication and that we should call the hospital’s financial counselor on Monday. I told her that we were married, he’s in the US legally, but not a US citizen. She said that he was still eligible because the hospital was dedicated to serving immigrants and had no citizenship requirements.

If we enroll in the program will it affect is future applications to remove conditions and apply for citizenship? Does it matter if it’s a state program versus federal program? I’m very confused about what to do!

Page 6 of the I-864 states,

“If an intentind immigrant becomes a permanent resident in the United States based on a Form I-864 that you have signed, then until your obligations under the form I-864 terminate, your income and assets may be considered (“deemed”) to be available to that person, in determining whether he or she is eligible for certain federal means-tested public benefits, if the state or local government’s rules provide for consideration (“deeming”) of your income and assets to this person.

This provision does NOT apply to public benefits specified in section 403 © of the Welfare Reform Act such as, but not limited to emergency Medicaid, short-term, non-cash emergency relief; services provided under the National School Lunch and Nutrition Acts; immunizations and testing and treatment for communicable diseases; and means-tested programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.”

I take this to mean that he is eligible for the hospital program under the condition that if they ask about my income, I provide them with my income information. I’m not sure this is the correct interpretation. Also, we filled AOS in July, I haven’t even began looking at the removing conditions and citizenship paperwork in detail. Those of you who have been through these processes, is there anything that will cause a problem later on?

Thanks in advance,

-DA