There are many unique situations for new immigrants and green card holders to the USA that will have an impact on eligibility for various domestic health insurance policies, potentially making it tricky to find a right health insurance for green card holders or new immigrants that will still provide adequate coverage until you are eligible to enroll in domestic healthcare. If you are a new US immigrant and entering the US for the first time, or a green card holder but living outside of the US and will be visiting the US for a short duration, travel medical insurance will provide you with the temporary coverage you need to stay protected. Choosing a plan that best fits your needs begins with determining your own eligibility.
New immigrants to the U.S. or green card holders may be in any of the following situations:
- The green card holder frequently shuttle between home country and the united states.
- The green card holder, now permanently live in America
- New Immigrant just got a green card and arrived America
Green Card Holders who frequently shuttle between their home country and the USA
A number of parents, who already have the green card, but do not stay in the USA permanently. They may be visiting the USA every six months or one year. In that case, you would need to buy either an immigrant plan or a visitor's plan that satisfies the eligibility criteria for green card holders shuttling between the home country and the USA. For green card holders and permanent residents who spend over 330 days outside of the US, the Affordable Care Act requirements may not apply.
Green Card Holders, who now live in the USA permanently
Effective January 1, 2019, Americans are no longer required by the federal government to have healthcare under the Affordable Care Act. Moving forward, it will now be up to each individual state to decide if its residents are required to have healthcare. While you will no longer be penalized for failing to enroll, it is always best to have quality healthcare coverage for yourself and your family in the event of illness or injury.
If you have missed the ObamaCare deadline, are in between jobs, a dependent who is no longer covered under parent's insurance, a recent graduate or waiting on health benefits to begin, you can still insure yourself with short term health insurance plans during that brief period. Green card holders who fall under one of the following categories can insure themselves through the ways mentioned.
Below 65 years of age: If you are below 65 years of age, have green card and live in the USA permanently, you can consider domestic insurances like Blue Cross, Blue shield etc. For green card holders who have missed the healthcare enrollment period (November 15 to February 15 every year) or are waiting on their health benefits to begin can insure themselves with temporary health insurance.
Above 65 years of age: If you are a green card holder, above 65years of age , you may be eligible for federal Medicare, or state sponsored Medicaid or MediCal or any other US state federal supported health program.
Note: Medicare is a federal health program and has certain eligibility requirements. Follow this article to see which green card holders qualify for Medicare.
For more information, check with your federal health-care market place (health.gov) or contact your resident state's health market place. Learn more about Obama Care for Green Card Holders.
New Immigrant, who very recently got the Green Card
If you have recently got the green card, and will be in coming to the USA on immigrant visa soon, you can consider New Immigrants Health Insurance plan or Short Term Health Insurance plan that provides temporary coverage while you travel and settle down in the US. Some of the choices include: Inbound USA and HCC STM etc. To get quotes for temporary short term insurance visit immigrants insurance.
In the process of getting Green Card
If you are in the USA on a visitor's visa and your children or family has applied for a family sponsored green card, you are considered a visitor until your green card gets processed.
During this time, you would be eligible for any visitors health insurance plan like Liaison Travel Economy, Atlas America or Inbound USA. Once you get your Green Card approval, you should shift to a plan that offers coverage for green card holders.
Get Visitor Insurance Quotes here
Medicare or Government Sponsored Health Benefits Programs
If you are over 65 years of age, have been a green card holder for more than 5 years and are continuously living in the USA, you may apply for Medicare.
Read more information about temporary health insurance for green card holders
- Medicare for green card holders
- Medicare, Medi-cal and Medi-caid (Understand the difference)
- Insurance plans for green card holders
Please contact us for more information via email at support@visitorsCoverage.com. Our qualified, licensed Insurance Consultants can assess your situation and provide professional assistance.
