Medical Insurance for Senior on Green Card
I want to understand the full implication of sponsoring a relative for green card.
The person is 65 years old, and has never worked in the US. If I sponsor them, in what ways would I be liable for their medical and other bills once they get the permanent residency?
Would they qualify for medicare and medicaid based on their age and permanent residency status, and no/low income group? To what extent would they be covered, and would I be liable in any case?
State: California
Re: Medical Insurance for Senior on Green Card
This link may help:
http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/public_cqa.pdf
Search the web; there are many discussions of the responsibilites of a sponsor of a family green card.
There is a significant financial commitment for the sponsor. The sponsored person will not qualify for a Medicare buy-in until they have been in the US as a LPR for 5 years and are over 65. The estimates cost this years is $600-700 per person. They do not qualified for Medicaid - other than emergency Medicaid during that period. The can be deported for becoming a public charge if they use it. They will not qualify for SSI or disibility payments during this period.
Some states have a high risk insurance pool that they might be able to use. Premiums vary by age. Premiums I have seen in my state can be $4,000 per person per month. Some states may allow health coverage in state specific programs. There are some insurance companies that will cover this period; pre-existing conditions will be excluded and the maximum benefit is relatively low. These are advertised on the web. As sponsor, you are responsible for their total support and are liable for their bills.
If this is not a close relative, don't consider it at all unless you are a multi millionaire.
So some reseach on the USCIS site at there is a document listing the responsibilities of a sponsor; I just don't have the link bookmarked any more.