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Are New Immigrants, Who are Also Green Card Holders, Eligible for Medicare?
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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.
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My aunt was recently detained by ICE and sent to El Paso, Texas to the East Montana Detention Facility. This place is essentially a prison in the middle of the desert, and the majority of the detainees here get deported. My family and I interviewed a dozen immigration attorneys around the country to help my aunt, and we decided to hire Kevin Raica, an attorney with Kriezelman Burton and Associates.…
Our case was very difficult, and at times it felt like there was no way out. My wife was detained for a long period of time, and it was an extremely challenging experience for our family. Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC truly changed our situation. I would especially like to thank our attorney, Brittni Rivera, as well as Natalia. They were attentive, honest, and always ready to help. It was…
I cannot recommend Kevin Raica highly enough. He helped me successfully obtain my U.S. green card, and the entire process was smooth and stress-free because of his expertise and dedication. From start to finish, Kevin was professional, organized, and extremely knowledgeable about immigration law. He made sure every document was prepared correctly and took the time to explain each step clearly. Anytime I had questions, he responded promptly and made…
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We contacted Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, based on a recommendation, when my wife was detained by ICE. Attorney Khiabett Osuna handled our case, and it turned out to be the right choice. From the very beginning, she proved herself to be a caring and competent professional, clearly explaining the process. You can tell she's truly invested in each case and achieving results for her clients. We've also heard of…
I would like to express my gratitude to Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and especially to attorney Khiabett Osuna, who handled my case. I contacted them based on a recommendation and have never regretted it. From the very beginning, she demonstrated high professionalism. I could tell she was genuinely committed to the outcome and was doing everything possible to protect her client.
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I highly recommend Brittni Rivera. We are very grateful to her and the entire team at Kriezelman Burton & Associates. Your dedication, responsiveness, and compassion made an enormous difference during an incredibly difficult time. Serving as the liaison between Brittni Rivera and our friend in ICE detention, I saw firsthand how tirelessly she worked guiding us through the process, answering every question, and never losing sight of the humanity at…
Andrea C. Ochoa is truly the best of the best. ❤️ Our family went through one of the most difficult and frightening experiences of our lives when Feruz was detained by ICE. We felt lost, scared, and unsure of what would happen next. From the very beginning, Andrea brought us not only her professionalism and deep legal knowledge, but also something even more important — hope. She guided us through…
Thank you Matthew for all your help with my case. Highly recommend
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