Ewan

I came to the US in 2021 on an IR5 parent visa. I am a self-employed, home-based contractor (I brought my work with me) and ALL of my income comes from OUTSIDE the US. On the contrary, ALL of my spending is done INSIDE the US. My earnings from foreign clients are paid into my US bank and are used to pay my income tax (the US gets all the taxes on my worldwide earnings), property, utilities, car insurance, food, leisure etc etc. As well as that... Being self-employed, I have to pay for my own health insurance and whatever part of my medical bills that I owe. I also am paying Social Security taxes but will not be eligible for Medicare until I have been paying in for 10 years, which will mean having to work until at least the age of 70. Apart from the above, my daughter petitioned me and agreed to be responsible for me financially if I am unable to do so myself. So the impression given of immigrant parents as getting everything and giving nothing is way off course for me - and, I'm sure, for many other parents.

My timings just seemed to work out. I did my first port of entry in September 2021, then went back to my home country soon after to sort out some things. I re-entered the US in November, by which time my physical green card had been delivered. I got short-term medical insurance for six weeks (called a local agent and asked about plans) and then my ACA started. As for Medicare, I believe you have to pay into it through your taxes for 10 years before you become eligible. Although you can purchase Medicare Part A after residing legally in the U.S. for five years continuously. That's where my knowledge of the system ends.

I moved to Tennessee in late 2021 on an IR5 and have been on ACA since the start of 2022. I qualify because I'm self-employed and earning under the maximum limit of $54,360 per year. It was very easy to apply for it and to report on my annual tax return. Like you, I would have been paying about $1200 a month but instead the ACA tax credits mean I'm paying under $300 (although that doesn't include dental).