Parents arrived from Nepal to Colorado on IR5 visa. What now?

[nepimmig 0]

Hi all, I am new to this. So please bear with me.

Dad - 64 years old Mom: 53 years old

Citizenship: Nepalese

My parents arrived from Nepal about 10 days ago on an IR5 visa. Their visa was issued on 04/27/2016 and they entered the country on 06/07/2016. We live in Colorado. My question is that what do I do now?

Here is what I have done so far:

Currently residing in:Colorado

- I already paid that $165 fee that they were supposed to pay for their plastic green card.

- We just received their social security cards also.

So here is my question:

- I have read that it takes 4-6 weeks to get the plastic green card. Should I call USCIS and verify that all is well on their end to avoid any potential delays or should I be more patient about this?

- What do I do about their Health Insurance? I believe they don't qualify for medicaid for 5 years. However my understanding is that they can buy health insurance through Colorado State Healthcare Exchange. Is this the only logical option here or are there more options about health coverage?

Please advise or point me to the right thread. I would be really grateful for your help. Thank you.

Edited June 24, 2016 by nepimmig

[Unlockable 7,306]

1. If you have paid the fee then you don't have to call right away. Wait until after 30 days have passed then you can inquire.

2. You are correct that they don't qualify for Medicad. They can try looking in the Affordable Healthcare market for plans for your parents. Or just buy a plan ine the Colorado exchange. There are no other options. They pay just like the rest of us. If they have any ailments that require treatment then prepare for sticker shock. Healthcare is extremely expensive here. It is one of the biggest difficulties when when elderly immigrate to the US.

[Jawaree 717]

The GC will come

Apply for their SS card at local office

Take them to local library & join a church or place of worship whichever applies,so they can assimilate

If they are able & want to work get them something part-time.

Have them registered at the local hospital that will put them in their clinics, and they will pay for their medical

treatments at a price set for them, or buy insurance....You will pay for medical for them

[Cathi 5,609]

You have to pay for their insurance, or they can get a full time job in which insurance coverage is covered by their employer. They will never qualify for Medicaid or Medicare unless they have pay into the system for 40 quarters(10 years) which they do by working. The affidavit of support you signed is a contract with the government stating they cannot become a public charge by using means tested benefits. Medicaid is a means tested benefit. Not sure where you came up with 5 years, that is not true.

[lacolinab13 86]

For now, you need to buy them a health plan on the Colorado exchange. I'm fairly sure you have 60 days of when they move to the US to enroll them as moving is a qualifying life event. Otherwise, they would have to wait until open enrollment at the end of the year, and pay a tax penalty (but not sure how this works if they are not working).

The prices on the exchanges have gone up quite a bit since the exchanges were launched. It's most certainly not cheap. If one of them starts working and has an employer who offers health care, that might be a better deal and they could both switch over.

For Medicaid, I believe they would just have to be US citizens and make less than 133% of the poverty line.

For Medicare, here is eligibility info - for them, it sounds like 65 years old, 5 years of residency and they will have to pay a premium as they won't have paid into the system.

In general, all persons 65 years of age or older who have been legal residents of the United States for at least 5 years are eligible for Medicare. People with disabilities under 65 may also be eligible if they receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Specific medical conditions may also help people become eligible to enroll in Medicare.

People qualify for Medicare coverage, and Medicare Part A premiums are entirely waived, if the following circumstances apply:

• They are 65 years or older and U.S. citizens or have been permanent legal residents for 5 continuous years, and they or their spouse (or qualifying ex-spouse) has paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.

or

• They are under 65, disabled, and have been receiving either Social Security SSDI benefits or Railroad Retirement Boarddisability benefits; they must receive one of these benefits for at least 24 months from date of entitlement (eligibility for first disability payment) before becoming eligible to enroll in Medicare.

or

• They get continuing dialysis for end stage renal disease or need a kidney transplant.

Those who are 65 and older who choose to enroll in Part A Medicare must pay a monthly premium to remain enrolled in Medicare Part A if they or their spouse have not paid the qualifying Medicare payroll taxes.^[18]

Edited June 24, 2016 by lacolinab13

[jan22 2,898]

For now, you need to buy them a health plan on the Colorado exchange. I'm fairly sure you have 60 days of when they move to the US to enroll them as moving is a qualifying life event. Otherwise, they would have to wait until open enrollment at the end of the year, and pay a tax penalty (but not sure how this works if they are not working).

The prices on the exchanges have gone up quite a bit since the exchanges were launched. It's most certainly not cheap. If one of them starts working and has an employer who offers health care, that might be a better deal and they could both switch over.

For Medicaid, I believe they would just have to be US citizens and make less than 133% of the poverty line.

For Medicare, here is eligibility info - for them, it sounds like 65 years old, 5 years of residency and they will have to pay a premium as they won't have paid into the system.

Please look carefully at the information on eligibility that was quoted. The final sentence about having to pay a premium is for those who qualify to enroll in Medicare Part A in the first place. People need to meet one of the three ways to qualify for Medicare first -- having worked or having aspouse who has worked for 40 quarters (which can't be done in 5 years), being under 65 and receiving Social Security or Railroad pension disability payments for at least 24 months (they will not meet this since they can't qualify for government disability payments), or being in end-stage kidney failure (a criteria which, hopefully, they will not meet in five years). Paying the premium only applies if you eet one of these three ways to qualify for Medicare. For most older immigrants, they will never be able to meet one of the three methods to qualify and will always need to have private medical coverage. Edited June 24, 2016 by jan22

[nepimmig 0]

Wow! Thanks for the response everyone. I did not expect this many helpful responses. This is great!

[lacolinab13 86]

Please look carefully at the information on eligibility that was quoted. The final sentence about having to pay a premium is for those who qualify to enroll in Medicare Part A in the first place. People need to meet one of the three ways to qualify for Medicare first -- having worked or having aspouse who has worked for 40 quarters (which can't be done in 5 years), being under 65 and receiving Social Security or Railroad pension disability payments for at least 24 months (they will not meet this since they can't qualify for government disability payments), or being in end-stage kidney failure (a criteria which, hopefully, they will not meet in five years). Paying the premium only applies if you eet one of these three ways to qualify for Medicare. For most older immigrants, they will never be able to meet one of the three methods to qualify and will always need to have private medical coverage.

I have to admit that's not how I understood it. I just went on to this site: https://medicare.oneexchange.com/medicare/medicare-eligibility and found this:

You should be eligible for Medicare at the age of 65 if:

1. You are a U.S. citizen or legal resident, and
2. You have resided in the United States for a minimum of five years
3. Worked at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment

If the above applies to you and you have had Social Security deductions taken from your payroll, chances are that you will automatically receive a Medicare card in the mail just prior to becoming eligible, showing benefits for both Part A (hospital care) and Part B (medical care). Part B is optional, can be declined, and requires most people to pay a monthly premium for participation.

U.S. citizens who are 65 and older but do not have enough Medicare-covered employment, as well as permanent resident aliens aged 65 and older who have lived in the United States for five years prior to applying for Medicare, are eligible for Medicare benefits. This is known as "voluntary enrollment." These individuals must pay monthly premiums for both Medicare Part A and Part B benefits.

I interpret to say they will be eligible but have to pay a premium (same info as I found before), but I could definitely be wrong.

[jan22 2,898]

I have to admit that's not how I understood it. I just went on to this site: https://medicare.oneexchange.com/medicare/medicare-eligibility and found this:

I interpret to say they will be eligible but have to pay a premium (same info as I found before), but I could definitely be wrong.

Hmmm....this site made it much clearer that it was I who was wrong, so I checked with a friend who works for Social Security. Things have changed from what I wrote earlier -- sorry to be the publisher of outdated information, folks! -- and after 5 years and 65 years of age, you CAN now pay a premium to enroll in Part A and another to enroll in Part B. She said that few people, however, choose to do so because it is very expensive and usually private insurance is cheaper. For example, Part A is currently almost $420/per month per person (no family plan, of course) so a couple would pay a minimum of almost $840, plus another $120 or so each for Part B -- almost $1100 per couple per month. Ouch!

Again, sorry for the old info!

[nepimmig 0]

The GC will come

Apply for their SS card at local office

Take them to local library & join a church or place of worship whichever applies,so they can assimilate

If they are able & want to work get them something part-time.

Have them registered at the local hospital that will put them in their clinics, and they will pay for their medical

treatments at a price set for them, or buy insurance....You will pay for medical for them

Thank you for the answer Jawaree.

I will most likely get some private insurance from Colorado State Healthcare exchange, unless it is prohibitively expensive for now. I don't plan to apply for any Means Tested Programs. However, is it okay if I go apply for charity based programs in Private or even public hospitals (e.g. where you apply to be able to get checked in that specific hospital and they check your income etc. and once approved you get virtually free medical service at that specific hospital and you repeat the process every year until you are able to get back on your feet).

I know programs like those exist, but would it be considered against me (The sponsor) as somehow taking advantage the system and will they make me pay for any care my parents might get from there?

[Boiler 43,428]

For Colorado currently and who knows how things will change:

Connect Colorado is about $500pm per person, varies, for a Bronze Plan. Make sure whoever they use accepts it, many Doctors/Hospitals do not.

After 5 years if they qualify you can sign up for Medicaid. Also after 5 years you can buy into Medicare, not sure why you would if you can go for Medicaid. Bit of a mystery that one.

Medicaid in Colorado depends on income, which I presume is low or will be. Not assets.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,368]

Thank you for the answer Jawaree.

I will most likely get some private insurance from Colorado State Healthcare exchange, unless it is prohibitively expensive for now. I don't plan to apply for any Means Tested Programs. However, is it okay if I go apply for charity based programs in Private or even public hospitals (e.g. where you apply to be able to get checked in that specific hospital and they check your income etc. and once approved you get virtually free medical service at that specific hospital and you repeat the process every year until you are able to get back on your feet).

I know programs like those exist, but would it be considered against me (The sponsor) as somehow taking advantage the system and will they make me pay for any care my parents might get from there?

No problem as those programs are not government-sponsored.

[nepimmig 0]

Thank you for the answer.

[nepimmig 0]

For Colorado currently and who knows how things will change:

Connect Colorado is about $500pm per person, varies, for a Bronze Plan. Make sure whoever they use accepts it, many Doctors/Hospitals do not.

After 5 years if they qualify you can sign up for Medicaid. Also after 5 years you can buy into Medicare, not sure why you would if you can go for Medicaid. Bit of a mystery that one.

Medicaid in Colorado depends on income, which I presume is low or will be. Not assets.

Thank you for the answer Boiler.

My parents will work mostly to kill time, but I am certain they will not make enough to make a decent living. So I am still debating whether to pay the fine with their yearly taxes or try to get a private insurance from Connect Colorado Health Insurance Marketplace. However if my parents get a tax subsidy while getting such insurance, will it count against me? Does anyone know about this?

Disclaimer: Before I come off as a "Scrooge", I would like to stress that I don't have any problem paying what I need to on behalf of my parents. I am just looking out for what's out there and proceed accordingly.

[Unlockable 7,306]

Nothing "Scroogy" (is Scroogy even a word?) about looking for more affordable means of healthcare for your parents. Like I mentioned earlier, sticker shock is what gets most immigrants when obtaining healthcare in the US. A lot of other countries have healthcare that is affordable or even free. There was a guy who posted here recently who was looking to bring a parent with an ailment here from Canada. After he discovered the cost of treatments, he started to weigh the option of having his parent remain in Canada where the healthcare is free.

If you want to forego insurance and pay the penalty then that is your prerogative. However, at their ages there would be a concern of an ailment or treatment that may need immediate care. This cost would outweigh any monthly premium cost for insurance.

Your parents working could contribute to the monthly cost as well.

Good luck.