Health insurance pregnancy

[geowrian 22,335]

3 minutes ago, ADW & JOP said:

I presume you live in California? My wife tells me medi-cal, is the California version of Medicaid.

Original post: " Does anyone know a good health insurance plan in the state of Washington?"

I would presume they asked about Washington because they live in Washington.

[ADW & JOP 146]

Just now, geowrian said:

Original post: " Does anyone know a good health insurance plan in the state of Washington?"

I would presume they asked about Washington because they live in Washington.

Alas, fooled by the profile information...thanks for clarifying

[geowrian 22,335]

1 minute ago, ADW & JOP said:

Alas, fooled by the profile information...thanks for clarifying

No worries!

Yeah, it would be simpler if in CA since Medicaid is a viable option. I don't know Washington's rules, but it sounds like general Medicaid is not an option for AOS applicants or new LPRs.

 

Emergency Medicaid - as noted ITT already - is a possible option.

[Mrsjackson 300]

3 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

There are certain select states where a sort of state emergency Medicaid is acceptable, I wouldn't recommend it personally, especially with this current administration, but it is available to those who live in a state that qualifies. WA might be one of them, I think NY or CA is another. It is possible you could apply for marketplace insurance through the state. Note I say it is possible. It will really involve talking to an actual person. Doesn't hurt to try. Hopefully filing AOS so late in the game won't be a factor and your pregnancy would be a SQLE.. but every state is different.

I know, and I certainly wouldn't entertain the thought when I brought my husband over here. However there was a point when we were at risk of losing our insurance due to circumstances beyond our control. Thankfully things worked out. As a younger person I couldn't afford health insurance long ago, and ended up with big hospital bills to pay. Wouldn't wish it on anyone, but I understand this happens, especially to the poor.

Everyone keeps telling me to apply for marketplace but I am not eligible for a qualifying life event that would allow me to enrol now. I would be if I lived in NY where they are smart enough to recognize pregnancy as one, but WA has not caught up. From what I gather, I basically can either move back to Canada (really tempted to be honest) or I hope and pray there is a decent way to pay out of pocket for this in instalments and such. If this were a different time I wouldn’t be so hesitant to touch emergency Medicaid but one thing I have researched is the current administration. 

[Mrsjackson 300]

5 minutes ago, ADW & JOP said:

Alas, fooled by the profile information...thanks for clarifying

Sorry about that. I thought I fixed it.

[Lemonslice 4,553]

1 hour ago, Mrsjackson said:

Everyone keeps telling me to apply for marketplace but I am not eligible for a qualifying life event that would allow me to enrol now. I would be if I lived in NY where they are smart enough to recognize pregnancy as one, but WA has not caught up. From what I gather, I basically can either move back to Canada (really tempted to be honest) or I hope and pray there is a decent way to pay out of pocket for this in instalments and such. If this were a different time I wouldn’t be so hesitant to touch emergency Medicaid but one thing I have researched is the current administration. 

If you're not afraid of moving back to Canada if needed, then don't be afraid to use the programs available to you in the US if you are currently eligible (such as emergency medicaid or the WA version).  You might also be eligible to WIC and other similar programs.  Please use them, if you're eligible / that's exactly why I am happy to pay our taxes/you pay taxes. 

 

https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily/WIC

 

Let's say something were to happen with the current administration, you could always return to Canada later. 

Edited April 10, 2019 by Lemonslice

[millefleur 5,035]

6 hours ago, Mrsjackson said:

https://www.hca.wa.gov/health-care-services-supports/apple-health-medicaid-coverage/pregnant-women

 

here is something. Although it is still Apple health (which is Medicaid in Washington). I have no idea how to tell if this program would cause a public charge concern or not. 

I recommend reaching out to this WA program directly and double checking about the public charge concern with them. I work at a non-profit in social services in the Pacific Northwest and we had trainings about what benefits count as public charge for immigrants and what do not, so people in this field are kept up to date on this given all the rumors going around about immigration and public benefits.

[Mrsjackson 300]

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.kff.org/disparities-policy/fact-sheet/proposed-changes-to-public-charge-policies-for-immigrants-implications-for-health-coverage/amp/

 

This article clarifies a lot. I love VJ but there can be a lot of contradictory advice sometimes. Here it states that the administration’s proposed harsher rules do not include emergency Medicaid. 

 

I’m going to use emergency Medicaid for pregnant women if my husband can not get some kind of work insurance (he is self employed) to add me to. Then come Nov. 1 I will be enrolling our family in a private health insurance plan. Hopefully, with the emergency Medicaid not something that is supposed to be considered as a public charge risk, combined with a current private health insurance policy I will be okay adjusting to an LPR. 

Edited April 10, 2019 by Mrsjackson

[Unlockable 7,306]

59 minutes ago, Mrsjackson said:

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.kff.org/disparities-policy/fact-sheet/proposed-changes-to-public-charge-policies-for-immigrants-implications-for-health-coverage/amp/

 

This article clarifies a lot. I love VJ but there can be a lot of contradictory advice sometimes. Here it states that the administration’s proposed harsher rules do not include emergency Medicaid. 

 

I’m going to use emergency Medicaid for pregnant women if my husband can not get some kind of work insurance (he is self employed) to add me to. Then come Nov. 1 I will be enrolling our family in a private health insurance plan. Hopefully, with the emergency Medicaid not something that is supposed to be considered as a public charge risk, combined with a current private health insurance policy I will be okay adjusting to an LPR. 

Hi @Mrsjackson,

 

I'm not sure about the contradiction you speak of but Emergency Medicaid has been mentioned on VJ many times as an option. If you do a search for "Emergency medicaid" you will find many topics about it.

 

Just be aware that this form of medicaid may have limitations. It is possible that you may not receive things like prenatal care and such. 

[Mrsjackson 300]

1 hour ago, Unlockable said:

Hi @Mrsjackson,

 

I'm not sure about the contradiction you speak of but Emergency Medicaid has been mentioned on VJ many times as an option. If you do a search for "Emergency medicaid" you will find many topics about it.

 

Just be aware that this form of medicaid may have limitations. It is possible that you may not receive things like prenatal care and such. 

Emergency Medicaid for pregnant women. Specifically for pregnant women. So prenatal care is a part of it. 

Edited April 10, 2019 by Mrsjackson

[Ontarkie 13,916]

It has been mentioned in this thread that you could use emergency medicaid.

[Mrsjackson 300]

12 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

It has been mentioned in this thread that you could use emergency medicaid.

It has also been mentioned that I maybe shouldn’t use it under the current administration hence why I found it to be contradictory. Could be I read too much into the comment it’s really not that big of a deal. Thankful for everyone who posted something helpful. 

[Mrsjackson 300]

https://www.uscis.gov/news/fact-sheets/public-charge-fact-sheet

 

okay this is what really, really confuses me. It says that not even Medicaid itself is considered in terms of public charge risk. Why are non citizen immigrants not supposed to use Medicaid? 

[Boiler 43,434]

1 minute ago, Mrsjackson said:

https://www.uscis.gov/news/fact-sheets/public-charge-fact-sheet

 

okay this is what really, really confuses me. It says that not even Medicaid itself is considered in terms of public charge risk. Why are non citizen immigrants not supposed to use Medicaid? 

Usually you are not eligible until you have been resident for 5 years, does vary by State. Emergency Medicaid is different.

 

Medicaid is like a loan anyway, anything paid they look to get back out of your Estate.

 

Does beg the question if you are eligible, means tested.

 

[Mrsjackson 300]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Usually you are not eligible until you have been resident for 5 years, does vary by State. Emergency Medicaid is different.

 

Medicaid is like a loan anyway, anything paid they look to get back out of your Estate.

 

Does beg the question if you are eligible, means tested.

 

I spoke to Washington Health Center support today. It’s easy to meet income when you’re pregnant you’d have to be very wealthy not to qualify. He said I do qualify for pregnant woman Medicaid. Which is short term. In Washington, the Apple Health for Pregnant Woman program disregards immigration status. Idk if other states do that or not. He referred me to a local immigration specialist (a Catholic Church organization) to double check the public charge thing because he just wasn’t sure. I’m waiting to hear from them. So to understand, it’s not that Medicaid is a no-no for recent immigrants, but rather that they just don’t normally qualify for it based on how long they’ve been here?