Recieving the public benefit. Will i get in trouble during the interview?

[kno_z 0]

Hello everyone,

I have some concern that i just can't get it out of my mind. I'm reciving the public benefit, Medi-Cal, since i'm pregnant and have applied for benefit before we got married. I did check on the box in the form, sorry i don't remember which form it is, that have a question about reciving a public benefit. Will i get in trouble during the interview? Any suggestion or similar case?

Another question is do we need to show joint bank account. To be honest, we don't have a joint account since we know each other online banking password and don't see any necessary to make a trip to the bank just to add another person to the account since we can do all the financial matter online; even transfer money to each other account.

We're going to have a green-card interview on the Sep 10th @ San Francisco downtown. I get really nervous, blame it on the hormone change in pregnancy. Please give us any advice. I really don't want to have any problem and want everything to go as smooth as it can be.

Thanks in advance

[JimVaPhuong 4,865]

Receipt of health related benefits (including Medicaid and Medical) is not supposed to be considered in making the public charge determination, unless the benefits are for indefinite or long term care. This is according to a 1999 policy memorandum from INS. Temporary receipt of non-cash health or nutrition benefits, or cash benefits not for income maintenance, is not necessarily an indicator that the immigrant will receive those benefits in the future, or that they are "primarily dependent" on the government for support. You may be required to prove to the immigration officer that your receipt of benefits is temporary, and is not likely to occur again in the foreseeable future.

Under federal law, you are not supposed to be eligible to receive those benefits until you've been in the United States for five years. I don't know if this applies to you.

The State of California can sue your husband for reimbursement of all medical expenses paid for by the State, based on the affidavit of support that he signed. USCIS cannot compel him to do this, though. It's up to the State of California.

AOS is a discretionary benefit. Each negative factor weighs against your being approved. You can expect this to be an issue at your interview. If there are other negative factors, you could be denied.

[Mountain Climber 186]

It begs the question of why you and your husband would have a child here without medical insurance, instead of in Thailand? Oh I forgot, it is the tax payers responsibility to pay for everybody's medical expenses.

Edited September 3, 2010 by Mountain Climber

[kno_z 0]

Receipt of health related benefits (including Medicaid and Medical) is not supposed to be considered in making the public charge determination, unless the benefits are for indefinite or long term care. This is according to a 1999 policy memorandum from INS. Temporary receipt of non-cash health or nutrition benefits, or cash benefits not for income maintenance, is not necessarily an indicator that the immigrant will receive those benefits in the future, or that they are "primarily dependent" on the government for support. You may be required to prove to the immigration officer that your receipt of benefits is temporary, and is not likely to occur again in the foreseeable future.

Under federal law, you are not supposed to be eligible to receive those benefits until you've been in the United States for five years. I don't know if this applies to you.

The State of California can sue your husband for reimbursement of all medical expenses paid for by the State, based on the affidavit of support that he signed. USCIS cannot compel him to do this, though. It's up to the State of California.

AOS is a discretionary benefit. Each negative factor weighs against your being approved. You can expect this to be an issue at your interview. If there are other negative factors, you could be denied.

Thank you so much for your advice. Regarding to restricted Medi-Cal for pregnancy, you neither have to be in the United States for 5 years nor being a US citizen. The benefit will be given to qualified applicant regardless to the immigration status, however, it will cover only pregnancy related issue. I'm not sure this rule applies to all Medi-Caid in every states or only in CA

Edited September 3, 2010 by kno_z

[kno_z 0]

It begs the question of why you and your husband would have a child here without medical insurance, instead of in Thailand? Oh I forgot, it is the tax payers responsibility to pay for everybody's medical expenses.

I understand it's the issue to point out that why all immigrant try to give birth in the states and taking advantage of public benefit. Let me explain my case to you. I would love to have my baby in Thailand and i would have more help than being alone without the family here. The problem is my husband is not Thai and we don't think he would be able to go through the culture experience during my pregnancy. I would have some help from my family in Thailand, however, i'd rather to stay with the father of my baby and building family together.

We had a choice to get a medical insurance, if my husband did not get laid off right after we found out that we were going to have a baby. My husband was one of tax payers who have been paid tax on time and never asked for any kind of benefit before.If my husband never paid tax or both of us just illegally immigrate to the states, that would be another issue to discuss.

In the near future, this baby ,who recieve the benefit when she's born, will be one of the tax payers who contribute part of her income to help and improve the community. It is not the tax payers responsibility to pay for EVERYBODY's medical expenses. It is time to exercise your right, if you are one of the responsible tax payers.

[obnancy 5]

I understand it's the issue to point out that why all immigrant try to give birth in the states and taking advantage of public benefit. Let me explain my case to you. I would love to have my baby in Thailand and i would have more help than being alone without the family here. The problem is my husband is not Thai and we don't think he would be able to go through the culture experience during my pregnancy. I would have some help from my family in Thailand, however, i'd rather to stay with the father of my baby and building family together.

We had a choice to get a medical insurance, if my husband did not get laid off right after we found out that we were going to have a baby. My husband was one of tax payers who have been paid tax on time and never asked for any kind of benefit before.If my husband never paid tax or both of us just illegally immigrate to the states, that would be another issue to discuss.

In the near future, this baby ,who recieve the benefit when she's born, will be one of the tax payers who contribute part of her income to help and improve the community. It is not the tax payers responsibility to pay for EVERYBODY's medical expenses. It is time to exercise your right, if you are one of the responsible tax payers.

I must admit I read your post and thought the same thing as Mountain Climber. You see, as a resident of California and a self-employed small business owner, I am taxed to death. My medical insurance premiums are sky high and will increase considerably when I add my husband. You see, I signed an affidavit of support for him and I believe that makes ME responsible for his care, not the tax payers. If he needs care that we cannot afford here in the US, I will have him return to Australia to receive it. Will it be a hardship on us, yes, but until I can add him to my insurance when he gets his social security number here, that is the way it is.

I am sorry your husband lost his job, there are mandatory insurance options available to him. Yes they will cost money, but they are there. If he can’t afford them, then maybe you should go to Thailand with the father of your child and start building your life there. I am sorry that the cultural shock would be hard for him to adjust to in Thailand, I imagine it is just as rough on you without family here to support you. If he is not working here now, why not go to Thailand together and have your child there? The cost will be much less, you will have your families support and your husband can learn about your child’s culture before it is born.

I think that you will find some resentment from people here who are struggling to pay their medical premiums and have agreed to be financially responsible for an immigrant to learn that others can just come her e and receive free care for themselves and their unborn child. Will medicad be responsible for the Child’s healthcare once the child is born?

These are some of the reasons California is going bankrupt. Why I have to pay extra for my child to have a science or art class after school, because the schools cannot afford to provide them. Why I had to spend over $100 on school supplies to give to my child’s classroom because of budget cuts.

You sound like a lovely woman and I wish you and your family the best in your new lift together.

[JimVaPhuong 4,865]

I must admit I read your post and thought the same thing as Mountain Climber. You see, as a resident of California and a self-employed small business owner, I am taxed to death. My medical insurance premiums are sky high and will increase considerably when I add my husband. You see, I signed an affidavit of support for him and I believe that makes ME responsible for his care, not the tax payers. If he needs care that we cannot afford here in the US, I will have him return to Australia to receive it. Will it be a hardship on us, yes, but until I can add him to my insurance when he gets his social security number here, that is the way it is.

I am sorry your husband lost his job, there are mandatory insurance options available to him. Yes they will cost money, but they are there. If he can’t afford them, then maybe you should go to Thailand with the father of your child and start building your life there. I am sorry that the cultural shock would be hard for him to adjust to in Thailand, I imagine it is just as rough on you without family here to support you. If he is not working here now, why not go to Thailand together and have your child there? The cost will be much less, you will have your families support and your husband can learn about your child’s culture before it is born.

I think that you will find some resentment from people here who are struggling to pay their medical premiums and have agreed to be financially responsible for an immigrant to learn that others can just come her e and receive free care for themselves and their unborn child. Will medicad be responsible for the Child’s healthcare once the child is born?

These are some of the reasons California is going bankrupt. Why I have to pay extra for my child to have a science or art class after school, because the schools cannot afford to provide them. Why I had to spend over $100 on school supplies to give to my child’s classroom because of budget cuts.

You sound like a lovely woman and I wish you and your family the best in your new lift together.

I also live in California, and also own a small business, in addition to being a full time employee of a large corporation. My employer provides my insurance, so I don't have the same problems you've got. However, it's not entirely fair that you dump on the OP for this. A larger share of the blame goes to the people of the state we live in who have long endorsed a "no questions asked" policy regarding the immigration status of people who collect public benefits. Many cities in this state consider themselves to be "sanctuary cities", and refuse to cooperate with the federal government in enforcing immigration laws. If it bothers you that one legal immigrant is receiving MediCal, it should bother you even more that there are tens of thousands of illegal immigrants also receiving it, and many of them will never pay any taxes to reimburse the state for it's expenses.

That said, because she's a legal immigrant with a sponsor, the state of California will probably squeeze her husband to pay back every dime they pay for her care, while those who walked across the border will never have to pay back anything.

[Dakine 26]

Hello everyone,

I have some concern that i just can't get it out of my mind. I'm reciving the public benefit, Medi-Cal, since i'm pregnant and have applied for benefit before we got married. I did check on the box in the form, sorry i don't remember which form it is, that have a question about reciving a public benefit. Will i get in trouble during the interview? Any suggestion or similar case?

Another question is do we need to show joint bank account. To be honest, we don't have a joint account since we know each other online banking password and don't see any necessary to make a trip to the bank just to add another person to the account since we can do all the financial matter online; even transfer money to each other account.

We're going to have a green-card interview on the Sep 10th @ San Francisco downtown. I get really nervous, blame it on the hormone change in pregnancy. Please give us any advice. I really don't want to have any problem and want everything to go as smooth as it can be.

Thanks in advance

and don't see any necessary to make a trip to the bank just to add another person to the account

YOU may not but the more evidence of a bonafide ongoing marriage the better.

[kennym 275]

It begs the question of why you and your husband would have a child here without medical insurance, instead of in Thailand? Oh I forgot, it is the tax payers responsibility to pay for everybody's medical expenses.

Mountain Climber.. I hate when the big kids pick on the little kids..

Does it make you feel important to kick someone when they're down?

This couple along with countless other people in the US were caught up in some bad luck and usually that comes without warning.. I hope you understand that.. Don't be so in-sensitive and give people the benefit of the doubt in your posts instead of trying to make people feel real crappy when they're already having thier own struggles.

Kno_Z, your expanation was excellent! I hope you are able to get through the interview...

Good luck

Kenny

Edited September 5, 2010 by kennym

[kennym 275]

I must admit I read your post and thought the same thing as Mountain Climber. You see, as a resident of California and a self-employed small business owner, I am taxed to death. My medical insurance premiums are sky high and will increase considerably when I add my husband. You see, I signed an affidavit of support for him and I believe that makes ME responsible for his care, not the tax payers. If he needs care that we cannot afford here in the US, I will have him return to Australia to receive it. Will it be a hardship on us, yes, but until I can add him to my insurance when he gets his social security number here, that is the way it is.

I am sorry your husband lost his job, there are mandatory insurance options available to him. Yes they will cost money, but they are there. If he can’t afford them, then maybe you should go to Thailand with the father of your child and start building your life there. I am sorry that the cultural shock would be hard for him to adjust to in Thailand, I imagine it is just as rough on you without family here to support you. If he is not working here now, why not go to Thailand together and have your child there? The cost will be much less, you will have your families support and your husband can learn about your child’s culture before it is born.

I think that you will find some resentment from people here who are struggling to pay their medical premiums and have agreed to be financially responsible for an immigrant to learn that others can just come her e and receive free care for themselves and their unborn child. Will medicad be responsible for the Child’s healthcare once the child is born?

These are some of the reasons California is going bankrupt. Why I have to pay extra for my child to have a science or art class after school, because the schools cannot afford to provide them. Why I had to spend over $100 on school supplies to give to my child’s classroom because of budget cuts.

You sound like a lovely woman and I wish you and your family the best in your new lift together.

You are saying that they either Pay for Cobra or just take your chances and have the baby in the bathtub.. you must be just kidding around.. Unemployed Americans are popping up everywhere because of lots of complex issues, but no one ever expects people caught up in this bad luck to leave the country... They're married, Husband & Wife, a family, having thier baby.. Maybe not your family, but never the less a family of an american who like 100's of thousands of other american, lost thier job after the pregnancy, and unexpected lost their insurance... Like the OP said, it would be diferent if they came here ilegally, but that didn't happen..

Clearly your suggestion to leave the country and have your kid, was clearly NOT thought through very well, or if it was, you must be one of the most insensitive people in the planet..

You know it's easy to sit behind your computor and make insensitive and thoughtless comments about someone else's life and then feel "look at me" I showed them.. but this couple is going through a rough time, and your thoughtless insensitive comments are hurtful...

What you beleive and california's issues IS NOT THE POINT OF THIS TREAD! if you want to start a thread about how people down on luck are causing all of california's problems, use the "NEW TOPIC" button, otherwise if you can't help the OP with thier issue, stay out of the thread... We dont care about off-topic opinions here just helpful information for the OP!

To the OP, if you lost your insurance after you became preganant, can you still be covered for the term of the preganancy? I am definitely no expert here, just a question though..

Kenny