Parents Immigrate & Insurance

[ndjarrett]

We are in the process of preparing all the fun paperwork for Yaya's parents to stay here permanently. The only big concern is health insurance for them. So, I was just wondering if anybody knew if they would be eligible for Medicare/Medicaid after this process (I think one is 68 and the other is 63)?

[dnoblett]

Not unless they were in the USA on a green-card and employed at least 10 years.

 

Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years or older and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. If you aren¡¯t yet 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or with End-Stage Renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).

 

Here are some simple guidelines. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:

 

 

• You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
• You are eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but haven't yet filed for them.
• You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.

If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if you have:

 

 

• Received Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months.
• End-Stage Renal Disease and meet certain requirements.

While you don¡¯t have to pay a premium for Part A if you meet one of those conditions, you must pay for Part B if you want it. The Part B monthly premium in 2011 is $115.40. (Note: Most beneficiaries will continue to pay the same premium amount they pay today

http://www.medicare....rollment#TabTop

medicare is a SSA benefit, payable to persons who paid into the system.

 

I believe Medicaid is a means tested benefit that is part of the welfare system, if this is the case, the person sponsoring the immigrant may be held responsible to repay the benefit.

 

https://www.cms.gov/...ouEligible_.asp

[ndjarrett]

I have read other posts on the web that say that after they have lived here for 5 years they may be able to buy Medicare Part A & B which even this Medicare link aludes to. I guess that would be better than nothing...we just need to figure out what to do for 5 years.

[amberjack1234]

I have read other posts on the web that say that after they have lived here for 5 years they may be able to buy Medicare Part A & B which even this Medicare link aludes to. I guess that would be better than nothing...we just need to figure out what to do for 5 years.

 

I have read the same thing. I have no idea how this works in your community but where I live if you go to the emergency room you will be given treatment even if your are flat broke, can't pay and have no kind of insurance of any kind. The illegals and people that can not even afford a doctor go there for free treatment. The doctors will not take them because they have no insurance of any kind and have no money so the chances for them to get paid in almost 0. At 5 O'clock in the evening the emergency room is full and I mean full of these people until 12 midnight or so.

 

It does kind of tick me off sometimes as people that have insurance and have money have to wait and wait their turn. My 81 year old mother fell down and broke both bones in her arm two days before Thanksgiving. We took her to the emergency room by ambulance because we did not know what the extent of her injuries were. She was there for 5 hours before she was attended to and then it was a only a physicians assistant. Not even anything for pain and she was constantly throwing up during the 5 hours. I was fit to be tied but you can't get to rowdy because they have police officers right in the emergency room and they will not stand for anyone to start any kind of argument or they will escort your out or arrest you. So there you are with your hands tied or handcuffed.

 

My complaints were met with "sir everyone has a right to medical attention and your mother will just have to wait her turn".

 

It was not always like this. It just has gotten like this in the past two years.

[C4Racer]

I have read other posts on the web that say that after they have lived here for 5 years they may be able to buy Medicare Part A & B which even this Medicare link aludes to. I guess that would be better than nothing...we just need to figure out what to do for 5 years.

 

I believe this works through your State Health Department.

Oregon has their Dept of Health Services (DHS) which we sent in an application for my wife's parents.

They were disqualified. Reason, they have not been here for five years.

So once they have been here five years, look to your State for a Low/No income Health Plan.

My understanding is this is administered through the State Dept and tied to Medicare/Medicaid plan.

Edited March 16, 2011 by C4Racer (see edit history)

[yuehan123]

After reading this subject last night I sent an on-line question to SSA. A portion of their answer follows in italics: "If You Do Not Qualify Under These Rules

 

Certain aged or disabled people who do not qualify for Medicare hospital insurance under these rules may be covered by paying a monthly premium if they meet the following criteria:

 

-- They are age 65 or older, and

 

-- They are enrolled in Part B, and

 

-- They are a U.S. resident citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence who has lived in the United States continuously during the five years immediately before the month in which they apply.

 

The current Medicare Part A premium for those who are not eligible for premium-free hospital insurance and have less than 30 quarters of Medicare covered employment is $450 per month. For those with 30 to 39 quarters of Medicare covered employment, the premium is $248. People who pay for Medicare Part A hospital insurance must also enroll and pay for Medicare Part B medical insurance.

MEDICAL INSURANCE

 

Part B medical insurance for those entitled to premium-free Medicare Part A has a monthly premium of $96.40 or $110.50 for 2011 ($96.40 or $110.00 for 2010) for most individuals. Beneficiaries who currently have the Social Security Administration (SSA) withhold their Part B premium and have incomes of $85,000 or less (or $170,000 or less for joint filers) will not have an increase in their Part B premium in 2011.

 

For all others, the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $115.40 in 2011. If your income is above $85,000 (single) or $170,000 (married couple), then your Medicare Part B premium may be higher than $115.40 per month.

 

Even though there has been an increase in the Medicare Part B premium for 2011; the law contains a ¡°hold harmless¡± provision that protects about 93 percent of Social Security beneficiaries from paying a higher Part B premium, in order to avoid reducing their net Social Security benefit.

 

A person doesn¡¯t need Social Security earnings credits or government work credits for Part B.

 

Only those aged 65 or over can be entitled to Part B without being entitled to Social Security benefits or hospital insurance."

 

 

 

The bold highlight is mine. I have underlined the same section they did in their answer.

 

At the now current rate of $450 per month Hospital plus the required Part B at $115.40 each for a total of some $1130.80 for two, it may be cost effective to purchase and keep private insurance.