Author Topic: Possible complicated immigration question  (Read 2435 times)

MustardTiger

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Possible complicated immigration question
« on: February 16, 2015, 03:55:37 PM »
Ok, my wife is a permanent resident who will be applying for citizenship soon.  After completed, we are going to complete the process for her mother to immigrate to the states.  From my understanding she will be giving a permanent residency with an option to apply for citizen after a time (3 years I think).  She will be retiring and has enough of a nest egg to cover all of her expenses for the foreseeable future.  My only concern is how to go about health insurance.

She will be ~60 years of age, and will have no income in America. 

What kind of insurance can you get as a permanent resident with no income?  I know the ACA has income limits but it seems that you can't quality for Medicaid as a PR?

Since she will never get social security, once she is a citizen she would be eligible for Medicaid?

Thanks for any help

epipenguin

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Re: Possible complicated immigration question
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2015, 05:39:32 PM »
There is a time lag after applying before your MIL will able to immigrate. I don't know if you've included the estimated time lag into her expected age on arrival or not. Once she has been a permanent resident for 5 years and is over 65, she can buy Medicare Part A. Before Medicare age, presumably she'd have to buy a non-subsidized individual insurance plan (ACA).

I don't know about Medicaid. That is also means tested, even for Citizens. So it's possible if after many years here, and obtaining citizenship, if she becomes destitute. But if your wife is signing an affidavit of support to bring her over, I'm not sure how that plays in.

Jacana

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Re: Possible complicated immigration question
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2015, 07:55:37 PM »
Having recently helped my mother in law get health insurance, I can give you estimate numbers! In Maryland at least.

My MIL is a little under 60, a small business co-owner with no group coverage options, and she now has a very good plan through BCBS as an individual. It is pricey at ~900/month, but has no deductible, 10% coinsurance, 1800 annual in-network out of pocket limit, and 3600 annual out-network. This is an individual plan with no government subsidy (since she makes too much) and nothing to do with medicaid or medicare.

There were cheaper options for her, one at ~$400/mo, another at ~750, with corresponding higher deductibles and coinsurance.

My MIL never had insurance in this country prior to last year. Thanks to ACA laws she was able to get full coverage with no exclusions or anything despite lack of prior coverage. I don't know anything about what would happen with different immigration statuses but I never remember seeing anything about ins. plans being restricted to citizens only in our research. Your MIL simply will not qualify for the gov subsidy. Unless she reports low interest/dividend income to the IRS maybe? Does she have reportable retirement income from her country? Might be worth looking into laws about filing income as a resident.

MustardTiger

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Re: Possible complicated immigration question
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2015, 10:18:05 AM »
She will have a reasonable amount of money, but a good portion is in property.  I was thinking about having her gift us her retirement nest egg before she immigrates to America and just sticking it into our own retirement accounts.  Whatever I can do legally to insure she has health insurance coverage at a reasonable cost.  We are in Texas btw.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!