DCF Spouse Visa - Medical Insurance California?

[aaron2020 11,651]

Did you look at the links I put?

Yes, I did.

Did you read the parts where being a "public charge" is about admission to the US?

Someone who is already a green card holder is not subject to the public charge determination.

Neither of what you linked applies to someone like your spouse who is not seeking admission to the US because he has already been admitted.

------------

Your spouse getting Medi-Cal now is not about admission or deportability. It is about money. The I-864 is about repaying money.

Receiving Medi-Cal does not make your LPR spouse inadmissible or deportable. Receiving Medi-Cal means the government can come after you for money to repay the benefits.

Edited December 17, 2013 by aaron2020

[TomandCatie 7]

Ok - what about private insurance? That route is okay to go down, correct?

Sorry if I sound snippy, this whole thing has me very upset because we're just starting out as a couple and I can't afford the prices they're giving me.

That and I was insistent like you guys were about how I was right that medical was a means tested benefit, but when you have 30 people telling you you're wrong you start to question everything.

Here's a question as well. My mother sponsored him, but she went on Covered CA and they find her ineligible and she has to go on medi-cal (she earns more than enough per month with pay stubs, because she also has a self employed corporation. Covered california say she makes too little. She has more than enough to support all of us, which is why this is funny. When she goes on medi-cal, and we cant pay for medical insurance or if something happens before we're able to get it. How can she be held responsible for payment, if the government doesn't even deem her eligible for obamacare? She has to go on medicaid?... Ugh

Edited December 17, 2013 by TomandCatie

[AleGwi 11]

It can be extremely expensive, which is why most people get their healthcare through employment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_insurance_costs_in_the_United_States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_the_United_States

It's a very different system to the one we've become familiar with in the UK.

An article about the average cost of healthcare in California (couple of years old, but will give you an impression): http://news.ehealthinsurance.com/news/how-much-does-health-insurance-218305

And some more recent links for CA:

http://health.usnews.com/health-insurance/california

http://kff.org/other/state-indicator/individual-premiums/

http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-government/ci_24177252/obamacare-californians-will-pay-10th-highest-rates-country

I know it's crazy! But thanks, I'll keep this post for reference. Just had a quick look at one of them. $215 isn't too bad. Don't know where people are getting this $900+ a month from.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Ok - what about private insurance? That route is okay to go down, correct?

Sorry if I sound snippy, this whole thing has me very upset because we're just starting out as a couple and I can't afford the prices they're giving me.

That and I was insistent like you guys were about how I was right that medical was a means tested benefit, but when you have 30 people telling you you're wrong you start to question everything.

Here's a question as well. My mother sponsored him, but she went on Covered CA and they find her ineligible and she has to go on medi-cal (she earns more than enough per month with pay stubs, because she also has a self employed corporation. Covered california say she makes too little. She has more than enough to support all of us, which is why this is funny. When she goes on medi-cal, and we cant pay for medical insurance or if something happens before we're able to get it. How can she be held responsible for payment, if the government doesn't even deem her eligible for obamacare? She has to go on medicaid?... Ugh

Governments don't have to be sensible. Just look at our Congress. Our government is dysfunctional by design.

You and your mother are responsible to reimburse the government for means tested benefits used by your husband because you both signed the I-864 for him.

Life isn't fair. Sometimes things are just the way they are.

If your husband is in school, he can get health insurance through his school. If your husband is going to get a job soon, he might get insurance through his employer.

If your husband does not get health insurance for 2014, he pays a small penalty of something like less than a hundred dollars.

[TomandCatie 7]

Yeah, I'm just going to have to get private insurance…. pay for it through our savings. Ugh….

[TomandCatie 7]

Hey guys! Just received this from Covered California themselves and Senator Joel Anderson's office. Any thoughts on it????

Hello Catriona, to answer your question about your newly immigrated husband. An excerpt: Public Charge: In general, applying for health insurance coverage through Covered California, and receiving help to pay for a Covered California Health Plan or receiving low or no-cost coverage through Medi-Cal, will not make an individual a “public charge” – it will not affect your immigration status, chances of becoming a lawful permanent resident, or becoming a naturalized citizen.

Please refer to this link: https://www.coveredca.com/hbex/toolkit/PDFs-answers/immigration.pdf

Covered California^TM 560 J Street, Suite 290, Sacramento, CA 95814 CoveredCA.com

[TomandCatie 7]

aaron2020

or

Nich-Nick

Any thoughts about my last post????

[jan22 2,898]

Hey guys! Just received this from Covered California themselves and Senator Joel Anderson's office. Any thoughts on it????

Hello Catriona, to answer your question about your newly immigrated husband. An excerpt: Public Charge: In general, applying for health insurance coverage through Covered California, and receiving help to pay for a Covered California Health Plan or receiving low or no-cost coverage through Medi-Cal, will not make an individual a “public charge” – it will not affect your immigration status, chances of becoming a lawful permanent resident, or becoming a naturalized citizen.

Please refer to this link: https://www.coveredca.com/hbex/toolkit/PDFs-answers/immigration.pdf

Covered California^TM 560 J Street, Suite 290, Sacramento, CA 95814 CoveredCA.com

This was actually answered in what an earlier person posted -- the issue is not whether it will affect his immigrant status: it won't. The issue is whether using this means-tested program will result in you and your mother becoming legally liable to repay the costs of him using it. The reference to and definition of Public Charge is only is a very narrow part of what the I-864 commitment covers (it usually only is referring to cash welfare benefits) -- the I-864 is an agreement that the immigrant will not use any means-tested program for at least five years. I don't know all the details about Medi-Cal, but I have always been told it was a means-tested program. Sorry, I would not rely on the sources you have cited (DOJ, Senators, sorry -- can't remember the rest). None of the ones you listed were directly involved with immigration and all of the intricacies in the legalities of U.S. immigration laws. I would try to find someone in USCIS that would answer my question.

Good luck in your research efforts and finding an insurance program that works for you and your husband.

[TomandCatie 7]

Okay, but here's my question that never got answered. What if she's on Medi-cal herself??? If the government doesn't deem her able to pay for insurance, how can they deem her liable to pay for his? I'm on medi-cal as well.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Okay, but here's my question that never got answered. What if she's on Medi-cal herself??? If the government doesn't deem her able to pay for insurance, how can they deem her liable to pay for his? I'm on medi-cal as well.

Oh. Well, that's because of the I-864. That deems her financially suitable to cover the immigrant. Don't think for a second that these separate departments will be talking to each other. On paper (I-864) she agreed to be financially responsible for the immigrant, regardless of her own circumstances (even if they changed, and she no longer met the poverty guidelines, she'd still be responsible). That's why the I-864 is a big deal for someone to sign.

[TomandCatie 7]

Ok - thanks guys

[TomandCatie 7]

Hey guys,

I got my medical packet and this was on top.

http://mrsc-art.deviantart.com/art/Medi-Cal-427122484?ga_submit_new=10%253A1389809622

So????

[TomandCatie 7]

*

[TomandCatie 7]

Yes, I did.

Did you read the parts where being a "public charge" is about admission to the US?

Someone who is already a green card holder is not subject to the public charge determination.

Neither of what you linked applies to someone like your spouse who is not seeking admission to the US because he has already been admitted.

------------

Your spouse getting Medi-Cal now is not about admission or deportability. It is about money. The I-864 is about repaying money.

Receiving Medi-Cal does not make your LPR spouse inadmissible or deportable. Receiving Medi-Cal means the government can come after you for money to repay the benefits.

Hate to keep being a pain, but I received this in my medi-cal packet.

http://mrsc-art.deviantart.com/art/Medi-Cal-427122484?ga_submit_new=10%253A1389809622

[lost_at_sea 995]

Hate to keep being a pain, but I received this in my medi-cal packet.

http://mrsc-art.deviantart.com/art/Medi-Cal-427122484?ga_submit_new=10%253A1389809622

Oh! That's interesting. Good that you keep updating this thread.