If you were looking to find out more about health insurance for green card holders, you made it to the right spot to learn about it. This is a full guide to health insurance for residents. Can you even get coverage if you have your green card? What type of health insurance can you get? How does it work? So many questions, we understand.
From the type of health coverage options like Medicaid and Obamacare to how health insurance works and the benefits. Our job is to make sure you walk out of here knowing what you will do next. Let’s break down health insurance for residents/non-U.S. citizens.
Can you get health insurance in the U.S. if you are not a citizen?
Yes, you can get health insurance even if you aren’t a citizen. It all depends on your current immigration status. The ACA marketplace will need to verify who you are. So, if you have a social security number and have a green card, employment authorization, passport, etc., then you can qualify for Obamacare plans. Also, you cannot get health insurance if you are an undocumented immigrant. Only if your legal paperwork arrives soon, other than that it is a no. Residents, however, can get health insurance. If you want more info, check out the requirements needed for Obamacare.
The types of health insurance for green card holders
For permanent residents, there are 3 options you can take when choosing health coverage in the United States. The main 3 ways you can get covered are through Employer-sponsored plans, Medicaid, or through the health insurance marketplace. Now, this doesn’t mean that you qualify for all 3 and you can choose so you must learn how they work. Let’s dive into each of them to see which one you should go with.
Medicaid is a state and federally funded program for low-income individuals and families to get affordable health coverage. It has similar requirements to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) which means you need to be at a certain income level. Again, like the ACA with Medicaid you can get services like doctor visits, prescription drugs, hospital stays, and more. Lots of people are denied Medicaid and that’s why our next choice is the most popular one.
Out of all 3, this is the most common route for non-U.S. citizens to take. The health insurance marketplace is also known as Obamacare and has many insurance companies that offer affordable plans for everyone. Like Medicaid, it has similar requirements, mainly income. For example, if you are a single person, you must at least make $14,580 to qualify for ACA. It has more flexibility and is overall the best choice. If you have your green card, then make sure to contact us to get health coverage today!
This means that you can get health insurance through your employer. It’s important to check with your workplace because not all will offer this. Usually, they just get you a plan through the ACA marketplace at a discounted price, so they help you pay for it. Sometimes it can be more than what you would pay if you were to get it yourself, other times it is not as good as some other plans that are available in Obamacare. Make sure you compare your employer-sponsored plan to an actual ACA plan to see if it is worth it.
So, if you are a resident and have your green card just know that you can get health coverage and have many options available. Everyone is different and this is not a one size fits all choice. If you need help, make sure to contact us at Cuspide on (305) 970-8583.
What kind of health insurance can a green card holder get?
Aside from Medicaid, residents can get Obamacare plans (ACA). Just like citizens, green card holders can get access to the same marketplace. Inside the ACA there are many health insurance companies that offer many affordable health plans. When people say “medical insurance” they are referring to the Affordable Care Act.
To find the best one, it depends on your income, household size, location, and more. You can choose and compare plans from companies like Oscar, Ambetter, BlueCross & BlueShield, Molina, Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and more. Trying to get your own plan is hard and we recommend contacting an insurance agent/broker to help. Here at Cuspide we are available 24/7 to help you!
Best health insurance for green card holders
For permanent residents in the United States, the best health insurance usually is the most affordable. It’s important to know that the more your household makes, the more you will end up paying in health insurance premiums. The less you make, the less you will pay. For 2024, you can expect to pay around $50 a month for a plan with a subsidy and $400 for a plan without a subsidy. (Subsidy is the help the government gives you monthly to help pay for your plan, read about how healthcare subsidies work here.) As experienced insurance agents, let’s talk about how to select the correct health insurance plan.
How to choose a health insurance plan
The first question you must ask yourself is how frequently are you planning to use this plan? If you need frequent medical care, then you should try and pay a little extra. If it is something that you want for emergencies, then you can relax a little and not empty your wallet. Also, you must know that there are different types of plans like EPO, HMO, PPO, and POS. For example, if you want to see specialists directly and do not need a referral then an EPO health plan is your best option. Make sure to always aim for a plan with a $0 deductible so you don’t have to pay anything upfront! If this all sounds a little complicated, then the best thing to do is contact Cuspide!
Apply for health insurance for green card holders today!
If you are a U.S. resident you can qualify for an affordable health plan. Let us help you find the best plan for you and your family. Do not wait! Contact us Cuspide today via call, message, or email. (305) 970-8583.
Can you get health insurance while waiting for green card?
Yes, you can get health coverage while you are waiting for your green card to arrive. If you are waiting for your residency card and you know it will arrive soon then you can apply. After it does arrive, contact your insurance agent, and update the application with your new information. However, you must at least have some sort of verification like a social security number to apply. The main info that is needed for ACA coverage is full name, date of birth, address, social security number, phone number, income, and immigration status. As well as list any dependents if you have. If you are a non-U.S. citizen and don’t have health coverage, then apply!
Health insurance for green card holders over 65
If you are a U.S. resident over 65 and have your green or employment authorization card and want health insurance there are a few options, you can choose from. Depending on your circumstances and goals you can see which direction you want to take. Let’s go into the different health coverage options.
Medicare
One of the most common choices for those over 65 is Medicare. It is a federal program that gives individuals health insurance (or younger people with disabilities). It has 4 different parts which are Part A (hospital insurance). Part B (medical insurance). Part C (medicare advantage). Part D (prescription drugs coverage). You can also have both Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibility) to help cover the premiums. Learn more about Medicare and how to enroll here.
Medicaid
While many confuse this for Medicare, they are not the same thing! Since you can have both, usually Medicare focuses more on hospital and medical services, while Medicaid can help fill in the gap in coverage. One of the good features about Medicaid is that it offers long term care services like nursing home care and in-home care help. It can help with medications as well as many preventative services. Check with your state to see if you qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare. If you don’t then there is still more options available!
Affordable Care Act
For U.S. residents over 65, you can still qualify and get coverage through the ACA. As long as you meet the income requirement, you can compare and choose from the many affordable plans in Obamacare. This is perfect if you do not qualify for Medicare and have income that is above the Medicaid limits. Since there are hundreds of plans available you can find one that suits your needs without a problem. Just like the other 2, you will get services like doctor visits, hospital stays, emergency rooms, prescription drugs, and many more benefits. This is our recommended choice.
Green Card Holders FAQ
Cuspide answers the web’s most asked question regarding health insurance for residents and non-U.S. citizens!
A U.S. resident can get an Obamacare plan through the health insurance marketplace. This is the most common type of health coverage in the United States. As long as they have a social security number and have an income, they qualify for a health plan. Non-us citizens can also apply for Medicaid or get insurance through their employer. Medicaid also has requirements and employers sometimes do not offer medical insurance for their employees. The most consistent and common type is ACA health insurance. Contact us at Cuspide at (305) 970-8583 to learn more!
Yes, medical insurance can be free for green card holders but only if you fall around the 100% of the FPL (Federal Poverty Level). To qualify for a free health plan, you must have a low income that is relative to your household size. For example, the minimum for a family of 3 is $24,860. The closer your income is to that number the cheaper your plan will be. According to the official healthcare.gov website, 4 out of 5 people will be able to get a plan for $10/mo or less! And if your household makes less than $50,000 a year then you will be able to find a $0/mo health plan. If you have your residency card, make sure to contact us and we can quote you at no cost to you!
Yes, a U.S. resident can get health insurance as long as they have an income and have a social security number. Your current immigration status does not matter as long as you meet those 2 requirement criteria. Health insurance is based on income, so if you meet the minimum income needed then you can qualify. The marketplace also asks for verification so if you have a green card, employment authorization card, passport, or anything like that, you are good to go. Just like citizens, permanent residents can shop at the ACA marketplace and find affordable health plans.
The next steps for green card holders to take
If you have your U.S. resident card, now you know that you can apply for Obamacare. We suggest applying through an insurance agent/broker so you can compare and choose a plan that is right for you. Have your information ready (social security, green card, taxes, etc.) as they will be needed for the application. You will receive your insurance card in a week or 2 after you enroll. Lastly, your policy will become active on the 1st day of the following month. So, if you applied in January, it will be ready on February 1st. As always, if you have any questions or are ready to signup for Obamacare, contact Cuspide at (305) 970-8583.
How Cuspide will help you find an affordable health plan
My name is Carlos, and I am a licensed insurance professional and founder of Cuspide. Our goal from the start was to find affordable coverage for everyone. We search the ACA marketplace and find you the best plan for you. Since we have partnerships with all the health insurance companies, we can do just that. After, we provide services like helping you find doctors, making payments, and more (which not a lot do!) We hope you learned something about health insurance for green card holders!
Share!
