health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

Hello everyone,
My MIL is thinking about immigrating to the USA. She's never worked in the States before. She'd be immigrating on her own, thru a petition from her son. What kind of health insurance/coverage is available to someone in her situation?

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

Her savings...

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

I agree with the above. The premiums and copays are going to be substantial, and are liable to eat up most of her monthly income.

Unless she is independently wealthy, I would advise against because not only is she not eligible for Medicare, but if she were to need nursing home care soon (anyone can have a stroke, so don't rule it out) she would not be eligible for Medicaid depending on the State.

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

California you can get Medicaid, Medi Cal from Day One.

Buy through the Exchange. Limits how much can be charged due to age.

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

There are strict eligibility criteria to get Medi-Cal for new immigrants. (there are different rules for undocumented and legal immigrants)
Based on the fact that those sponsoring have to have a certain level of income and have to sign Affidavit of Support agreements, the likely hood of their parent then being eligible for Medical is quite low.
The income level and assets level taken into consideration are extremely low.

https://www.insubuy.com/medi-cal-eli...ew-immigrants/

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

An ACA policy through an exchange appears to be the way to go and has much improved the situation for older immigrants. Of course, any subsidy is income dependent and there is the gotcha of if their income is low enough to qualify for Medicaid they are out of luck in states that don't provide Medicaid to new immigrants.

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/med...FAQs2014b.aspx

I know that it is income restricted not savings, insubuy is a dubious source at best. Somebody here with a GC is a legal immigrant.

Affidavit of Support has nothing to do with this, Federal issue and CA fund this from their own resources.

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

Thanks for all your replies! You've been so helpful!

I'll look into ACA insurance policies. She would be moving to Washington state if she came. We'd likely be paying her premiums and copays, etc.

Another option is for her to come visit for up to 6 months at a time, but I'd like her to have traveler's health insurance in that case. Can anyone recommend a good one? I would want it to cover hospitilization in the case of an emergency.

Thanks again :)

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

Travel insurance is like car insurance something she would be buying and who the best is will change. At 70 there might well be Insurers who would quote a 6 month trip assuming no pre existing issues the older you get etc the harder it will get especially for long visits

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

Don’t old people become eligible for Medicare after being resident for five years? They have to pay full premiums for BOTH Part A and Part B, but still a good deal for an older person.

Maybe I’m misremembering though.

Yup. Looks like premiums would be about $700 a month, not bad. (After 5 yrs residence)

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

Depending on their income ACA could be much cheaper

Now what the situation could be in 5 years who knows, Medicare went up substantially this year

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

Plus the cost of prescription drug coverage? So, yes, maybe cheaper than an ACA policy after the first five years depending on the income of the recipient and the ACA subsidy they get, if any.

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

https://www.hca.wa.gov/health-care-s...e/non-citizens

It seems Washington does have some cover for new Immigrants, somewhat limited but better than nothing. And this of course could change, will take some time if they decide to go the Immigrant route.

I am assuming as the OP mentioned they were paying MIL has limited income so would qualify and/or benefit from ACA subsidies. There is something for over 65's so they get the benefit even if they can not take it as a tax credit, basically for people who would otherwise be pushed into Medicaid which they do not qualify for due to 5 year bar.

There are plenty of people who sponsor parents with zero income, just need to know how to work the system.

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

She would need to get this in the UK - some airlines offer you travel insurance when you book the tickets. You'll need to read the details very carefully, because most do not cover pre-existing conditions.

Re: health insurance for 70-year-old immigrating to USA?
 

Try a company called world first - very good for seniors and people with significant pre-existing conditions. Used them for a visit of then 94 YO grandfather with multiple issues (heart bypass, pacemaker, prostate cancer).