Medicaid and AOS

[chimichanga 3]

Hello everyone!

My USC wife and I will be applying for AOS soon. When my wife was filing for her taxes, the tax agent at H&R Block advised her to apply for a Publically funded health insurance(she did not have any medical insurance then and she was desperately searching for jobs). Along with my wife the tax agent enrolled me as well(as an F-1 international student, apparently my state allows F-1 students to have state funded Medicaid). I was not there and I did not want to have any form of "welfare" as I already purchased health insurance through my university(it's mandatory for international students).

My question is

1. How should I answer on the form I-485, there is a question in part 3 (2):

"#2 Have you received public assistance in the United States from any source, US government, or any State, county, city, or are you likely to receive public assistance in the future? "

2. Do I need to repay the state for the medical insurance?


I did use that insurance to get vaccines for I-693. Now the I-693 is expired as it is good for one year. I also got a couple of chiropractic adjustments from the insurance. I voluntarily got it canceled by calling the state and did not have it since the end of December last year. I used it because my university insurance was not accepted at those places(vaccinations and chiropractic care)


Also, I saw something at USCIS website

Quote

Q. What publicly funded benefits may not be considered for public charge purposes?

A. Non-cash benefits (other than institutionalization for long-term care) are generally not taken into account for purposes of a public charge determination.

Special-purpose cash assistance is also generally not taken into account for purposes of public charge determination.

Non-cash or special-purpose cash benefits are generally supplemental in nature and do not make a person primarily dependent on the government for subsistence. Therefore, past, current, or future receipt of these benefits do not impact a public charge determination. Non-cash or special purpose cash benefits that are not considered for public charge purposes include:

• Medicaid and other health insurance and health services (including public assistance for immunizations and for testing and treatment of symptoms of communicable diseases; use of health clinics, short-term rehabilitation services, and emergency medical services) other than support for long-term institutional care
• Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Nutrition programs, including Food Stamps, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, and other supplementary and emergency food assistance programs
• Housing benefits
• Child care services
• Energy assistance, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Emergency disaster relief
• Foster care and adoption assistance
• Educational assistance (such as attending public school), including benefits under the Head Start Act and aid for elementary, secondary, or higher education
• Job training programs
• In-kind, community-based programs, services, or assistance (such as soup kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term shelter)

Here is the link to the website https://www.uscis.go...s/public-charge

[newacct 688]

1. How should I answer on the form I-485, there is a question in part 3 (2):

"#2 Have you received public assistance in the United States from any source, US government, or any State, county, city, or are you likely to receive public assistance in the future? "

Say yes and attach the card and information about the Medicaid.

2. Do I need to repay the state for the medical insurance?

No