Talk To A Chicago Immigration Attorney
312-332-2550
Are New Immigrants, Who are Also Green Card Holders, Eligible for Medicare?
Looking for A Specific Post? Search Below
If you or your elderly parents are new to the United States, and if they hold green cards, you may wonder if you or they can receive Medicare benefits. After all, just because you or they are new to the country, does not mean that your health automatically restores itself. Unfortunately, however, the short answer to your inquiry is no, new residents are not eligible for Medicare benefits. This is true even if you or your parents possess green cards.
Who is Eligible for Medicare?
According to Insubuy, “regular residents” of the United States – “regular” meaning U.S. born, permanent residents, etc. – can get Medicare if they have worked and paid taxes in the United States for 40 consecutive quarters. This equates to 10 years. Individuals must also be 65 years of age or older to qualify for Medicare benefits. That said, if a person has lived in the United States for five consecutive years, has been a green card holder or lawful permanent resident for those five years, and is at least 65 years of age, he or she can buy Medicare Part A benefits. They may be able to purchase Part B and Part D benefits, as well, though everyone who wishes to have access to these benefits must purchase them from the U.S. government—U.S. natives included.
How Much Does it Cost to Buy Benefits?
As of 2018, the cost to purchase Part A benefits is $422.00 a month. This is about average for the cost of health insurance in the United States as of this year. To purchase Part B benefits, a person can expect to pay $134.90 a month. The cost of Part D benefits depends on a number of factors, including the plan one chooses and his or her income.
In short, if you or your parents choose to purchase benefits from the government when you become eligible to do so, you can expect to pay at least $556.00 a month, plus the cost of Part D benefits if you decide you need those.
It is important to note that Medicare Part A, B, and D does not cover every possible medical expense. Just like with private health insurance, there are additional add-ons for unique health concerns. That is why there are Medicare Supplement Plans, or Medigap Plans, sold by private health insurers and designed to cover an insured’s anticipated health costs outside of what Medicare would cover.
What Other Options Do You Have?
Unfortunately, you do not have many options for health insurance outside of purchasing a healthcare plan. VisitorsCoverage.com offers more information regarding how you can go about applying for healthcare as an immigrant and makes suggestions for which types of plans may be right for you.
At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, we understand that your life in the U.S. is bound to be full of complications and challenges that you will have to overcome. Our Chicago immigration lawyers are prepared to help you navigate those challenges and, if possible, work toward a viable solution. If you want to make your new life here as seamless as possible, contact our immigration law firm today.
What Our Clients Say
5-Star Rating | Based on 200+ Satisfied Customer Google Reviews
I had a wonderful experience working with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. From start to finish, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to guiding me through every step of the process. They made what could have been a stressful situation feel smooth and manageable, always answering questions quickly and keeping me updated. I especially want to thank Khabit for his outstanding support—he was patient, detail-oriented, and went above…
Many thanks to attorney Kevin A Raica and his assistant Rafael Rodriguez for all their help. My immigration case went very smoothly and quickly.
We worked with Kevin Raica from Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and I can confidently say he went above and beyond for us. Our process was very long and at times overwhelming, but Kevin guided us every step of the way with professionalism, patience, and dedication. He was always available to answer our questions, explained everything clearly, and made sure we understood our options at each stage. What stood out…
A family friend referred me to work with Maya Flores at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC to help me with my U.S. naturalization. Despite the current immigration tension, Maya helped make the process smooth and her familiarity with procedure helped ease my anxiety. She submitted the citizenship application on my behalf and let me know what to expect. I decided to retain her service for the civics interview as well,…
I really want to thank Justin and Kamila; they are the best. I waited almost 20 years and no one could help me get my green card and in 4 months they helped me get my permit, and I got my green card in less then 4 months. They are the best. I will always be grateful for what they did for me, thank you Justin and Kamila!!!!
I am writing this review to express my deepest gratitude for the hard work on our case by our Immigration Attorney, Lauren McClure and her Paralegal, Kamila Lada. My Green Card was approved! I know this wouldn't have been possible without their expertise and dedication. They both were extremely helpful, responsive, and guided us through every step of the way. Lauren took the time to train us for our interview…
I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Burton for his outstanding legal assistance in my immigration case, from my first consultation he heard me patiently demonstrating exceptional professionalism, expertise, and a genuine commitment to my case. Immigration process can be overwhelming and stressful, but he and his team provided clear guidance every step of the way, always answering my questions promptly and reassuring me with their deep expertise. Thanks to their…
I had an outstanding experience working with Brittni Rivera. From our very first consultation, she demonstrated deep expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for my case. Navigating immigration processes can be incredibly stressful, but Brittni made the entire journey much more manageable and transparent. She were always responsive to my questions, provided clear guidance at every step, and never made me feel like just another case. Thanks to her hard work…
Highly recommend this firm. I had the pleasure of working with Lauren McClure and she is absolutely the best. She was very helpful and walked me through every step of the process, she is patient and she got the job done. I am very grateful with her and her team for helping me with the process of my case. Thank you so much.
I have worked with Kevin Raica for my VAWA application. Let me tell you he has been AMAZING. Unlike other lawyers Kevin has always went above and beyond for me. Kevin is not in it for the money he is in it to HELP people and make a difference. He has walked me through the entire process and always answers any questions I have no matter what. This law firm…
Schedule A Consultation!
Libertyville
Attorney Advertising. This information is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Past results and testimonials are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of the outcome of your case, and should not be construed as such. Past results cannot guarantee future performance. Any result in a single case is not meant to create an expectation of similar results in future matters because each case involves many different factors, therefore, results will differ on a case-by-case basis. By providing contact information, users acknowledge and give explicit consent to be contacted via the methods of communication provided, including SMS. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency may vary. Reply STOP to opt out.
NUVEW | Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved | Accessibility Notice | privacy policy