Health insurance pregnancy

[Boiler 43,429]

CA and NY are generous, not sure anybody else is.

[Mrsjackson 300]

11 minutes ago, Boiler said:

CA and NY are generous, not sure anybody else is.

Yes I noticed that. NY even recognizes pregnancy as a special qualifying event to get insured outside of open enrolment. Other states haven’t done that yet and just recognize having had the baby. It seems WA is not a bad place to be if you’re in my tricky position though either. 

 

https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/med-services-for-imms-in-states.pdf

 

Does anyone know if Medicaid is okay to use if your state will give it to you? I’ve been told that it will trigger the I864 is that not true? It’s just not available for a 5 year period unless you’re pregnant? 

Edited April 10, 2019 by Mrsjackson

[geowrian 22,335]

3 minutes ago, Mrsjackson said:

Does anyone know if Medicaid is okay to use if your state will give it to you? I’ve been told that it will trigger the I864 is that not true? It’s just not available for a 5 year period unless you’re pregnant? 

If no federal funds are used (as is the case for NY & CA within an immigrant's first 5 years), then there should be nothing to repay.

[Mrsjackson 300]

8 minutes ago, geowrian said:

If no federal funds are used (as is the case for NY & CA within an immigrant's first 5 years), then there should be nothing to repay.

Oh I see. It really seems to me like Apple Health for Pregnant Women in WA is okay for me to use. If we have to repay that’s fine I just don’t want this messing up my LPR stuff. But I’m going to get us on private health care on Nov 1 and will present that policy at my interview (which also helps with showing married life evidence as both our names will be on it) and and so hopefully that will help if the use of pregnancy Medicaid is questioned. It’s really the best I can do anyway. 

[Villanelle 4,121]

Im not sure what the Catholic Charities rep is going to say but heres some general info--- The US is very strange because there are federal laws and state laws. Different states have different laws that only apply in that state, however every state abides by federal laws. So you have to look at where the funding for the social service program comes from. You are bound by federal immigration policies which prevent federal funding from going to immigrants until they have been an LPR for 5 years. 

 

Several states use STATE funds to fund social service programs. The state decides who gets to use their state funds so some states offer medical or food benefits to immigrants. You can use those state funds if you qualify for them. Using those state funds do not violate the federal policy of not taking federally funded benefits (public charge).

 

Emergency Medicaid (handled in your state under Apple care) is specifically EXCLUDED from being considered a public charge according to USCIS. So you have absolutely nothing to worry about if you use it. 

 

For the future look into getting enrolled in Marketplace at the next open enrollment period. There is a chance you can get enrolled now if you do as advised before- go in person to a help center (locations found on marketplace website) and speak to someone in person. They may be able to get you enrolled under a special enrollment period (your immigration). Yes, you immigrated a while ago but you 'recently' got a NOA from filing AOS and its stretching the word recently but theres a lot of confusion about and in the marketplace and theres a chance they can get you enrolled now as a new immigrant (or they cant, but at least you tried). 

 

Some state medicaid programs are great. Some are not so great. Some are really bad. Everyone wants the best health care when pregnant and for a newborn and often you can get better care with a private plan from Marketplace or employer then what you get through the medicaid program. (unless you live somewhere where the medicaid is great).

 

Also Trumps public charge policy is still not implemented yet. There was an open comment period which has since closed and now its just been silence. IF it did take effect or a version of it take effect it was about consular processing. Does not impact anyone doing AOS in the states. There is also no public charge determination made at ROC nor N400. 

 

[Mrsjackson 300]

1 hour ago, username_taken said:

Im not sure what the Catholic Charities rep is going to say but heres some general info--- The US is very strange because there are federal laws and state laws. Different states have different laws that only apply in that state, however every state abides by federal laws. So you have to look at where the funding for the social service program comes from. You are bound by federal immigration policies which prevent federal funding from going to immigrants until they have been an LPR for 5 years. 

 

Several states use STATE funds to fund social service programs. The state decides who gets to use their state funds so some states offer medical or food benefits to immigrants. You can use those state funds if you qualify for them. Using those state funds do not violate the federal policy of not taking federally funded benefits (public charge).

 

Emergency Medicaid (handled in your state under Apple care) is specifically EXCLUDED from being considered a public charge according to USCIS. So you have absolutely nothing to worry about if you use it. 

 

For the future look into getting enrolled in Marketplace at the next open enrollment period. There is a chance you can get enrolled now if you do as advised before- go in person to a help center (locations found on marketplace website) and speak to someone in person. They may be able to get you enrolled under a special enrollment period (your immigration). Yes, you immigrated a while ago but you 'recently' got a NOA from filing AOS and its stretching the word recently but theres a lot of confusion about and in the marketplace and theres a chance they can get you enrolled now as a new immigrant (or they cant, but at least you tried). 

 

Some state medicaid programs are great. Some are not so great. Some are really bad. Everyone wants the best health care when pregnant and for a newborn and often you can get better care with a private plan from Marketplace or employer then what you get through the medicaid program. (unless you live somewhere where the medicaid is great).

 

Also Trumps public charge policy is still not implemented yet. There was an open comment period which has since closed and now its just been silence. IF it did take effect or a version of it take effect it was about consular processing. Does not impact anyone doing AOS in the states. There is also no public charge determination made at ROC nor N400. 

 

I understand there is a difference between something being state funded and federally funded that we need to watch out for and make that distinction. I thought in every state (maybe excluding California) Medicaid was both state and federally funded? 

[SalishSea 16,770]

1 hour ago, Mrsjackson said:

I understand there is a difference between something being state funded and federally funded that we need to watch out for and make that distinction. I thought in every state (maybe excluding California) Medicaid was both state and federally funded? 

Not necessarily.  Some states (like Washington) have generously funded state plans and some have nothing at all. 

[Mrsjackson 300]

1 hour ago, Jorgedig said:

Not necessarily.  Some states (like Washington) have generously funded state plans and some have nothing at all. 

Do you know if Apple Health is state funded? Or just the Apple Health for pregnancy (pregnancy medical)? 

[SalishSea 16,770]

1 minute ago, Mrsjackson said:

Do you know if Apple Health is state funded? Or just the Apple Health for pregnancy (pregnancy medical)? 

I believe it is.  

 

Our state's Apple Health is routinely cited as being one of the better plans by state.  When the ACA was first unveiled, there were states that opted to do no state Medicaid whatsoever.   I have had patients tell me they came to Washington from states where they did not have coverage.

[geowrian 22,335]

I didn't do a full review, but general Medicaid in Washington (Apple Health) is not available for immigrants within the first 5 years. An alternative, state-funded program under Alien Emergency Medical is available. Different name, different source of funds (not federal funds), but otherwise similar eligibility criteria.

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

 

Edit: And as noted, there may be similar state-specific programs for certain conditions like pregnancy. I didn't look specifically for that.

Edited April 11, 2019 by geowrian

[millefleur 5,035]

As mentioned earlier, best course of action is to reach out to Apple Health in WA either by phone or in person (if that's an option), explain your situation and worries and have them advise you from there. This is very much a local situation with your state and they will be the best person to talk to about this.

Edited April 11, 2019 by millefleur

[Mrsjackson 300]

36 minutes ago, geowrian said:

I didn't do a full review, but general Medicaid in Washington (Apple Health) is not available for immigrants within the first 5 years. An alternative, state-funded program under Alien Emergency Medical is available. Different name, different source of funds (not federal funds), but otherwise similar eligibility criteria.

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

 

Edit: And as noted, there may be similar state-specific programs for certain conditions like pregnancy. I didn't look specifically for that.

Apple Health for Pregnant Women. Washington provides this to a pregnant woman regardless of immigration status if you’re a WA resident and you (or spouse) make less than 200% of the poverty level for your household size. I believe it is state funded, but will be calling HCA tomorrow to see if I can confirm that. 

[Mrsjackson 300]

33 minutes ago, millefleur said:

As mentioned earlier, best course of action is to reach out to Apple Health in WA either by phone or in person (if that's an option), explain your situation and worries and have them advise you from there. This is very much a local situation with your state and they will be the best person to talk to about this.

I actually also mentioned in an earlier post that I’ve already spoken with them and they’ve referred me to an immigration specialist because they didn’t know anything about the public charge risk. They’re not immigration specialists themselves. 

[millefleur 5,035]

2 minutes ago, Mrsjackson said:

I actually also mentioned in an earlier post that I’ve already spoken with them and they’ve referred me to an immigration specialist because they didn’t know anything about the public charge risk. They’re not immigration specialists themselves. 

Really? That's surprising to me because here in Oregon people across the board in public service have been prepped for these kinds of questions about public charge issues. Just goes to show how one state is more on the ball about this than the other, even if they are right next to each other.

 

What kind of "immigration specialists" did they refer you to? Lawyers/legal aid services?

Edited April 11, 2019 by millefleur

[Mrsjackson 300]

Just now, millefleur said:

Really? That's surprising to me because here in Oregon people across the board in public service have been prepped for these kinds of questions about public charge issues. Just goes to show how one state is more on the ball about this than the other, even if they are right next to each other.

 

What kind of "immigrant specialist" did they refer you to? Lawyers/legal aid services?

As mentioned in the last post they referred me to a local church that has an immigration specialist who works with them. I’m still waiting to hear back. Of course I’ve spoken with the Health Care Authority here. I’ve spoken with hospital financing departments and insurance agents that’s all I’ve been doing for two days straight is talking to loads of different people.