Texas health insurance options : 79 years received GC last week

[SonaliShankar]

My mom (79 yrs) recently received her green card. We are in texas. What healthcare insurance options do we have for her?

ACA vs Texas medicaid vs CHIP

[angelica]

CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) is for children, so it is obviously not applicable to her. She is not eligible for Texas Medicaid until she has been a permanent resident for 5 years.

She can buy a plan from the ACA marketplace. Although it is not open enrollment right now, she gets a special enrollment period for 60 days after she moves to the US into a status that is eligible for ACA. If her income is below 400% of the poverty level, she can get a subsidy (Premium Tax Credit). Although normally the subsidy is only for people with income between 100% and 400% of poverty level, people with income below 100% of poverty level can still get the subsidy if they are ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status (which is the case for her).

[RichardGravener]

CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) is for children, so it is obviously not applicable to her. She is not eligible for Texas Medicaid until she has been a permanent resident for 5 years.

She can buy a plan from the ACA marketplace. Although it is not open enrollment right now, she gets a special enrollment period for 60 days after she moves to the US into a status that is eligible for ACA check out Medicaid Florida. If her income is below 400% of the poverty level, she can get a subsidy (Premium Tax Credit). Although normally the subsidy is only for people with income between 100% and 400% of poverty level, people with income below 100% of poverty level can still get the subsidy if they are ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status (which is the case for her).

For your mother in Texas:

• ACA (Obamacare): As a new green card holder, she can explore health insurance options through the Health Insurance Marketplace, with potential subsidies.
• Medicaid: She may be eligible based on her income and other factors.
• CHIP: CHIP primarily covers eligible children.

The best option depends on her specific circumstances, including income, and you should contact the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for guidance.

[r20230101]

For your mother in Texas:

• ACA (Obamacare): As a new green card holder, she can explore health insurance options through the Health Insurance Marketplace, with potential subsidies.
• Medicaid: She may be eligible based on her income and other factors.
• CHIP: CHIP primarily covers eligible children.

The best option depends on her specific circumstances, including income, and you should contact the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for guidance.

I am curious what all is covered as part of the ACA (Obamacare). Is it similar to the insurance (Aetna / Cigna) that we get from employer?

[gc4parents23]

I am curios on the financial portion. In the OP's case (similar to mine) parents do not have any work history in US. What to do in this case? How can they show income information? Do they need to file taxes and show Indian income tax returns?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience/expertise.