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Health Insurance for Newly Approved Green Card Holders

Newly approved Green Card holders can get health insurance from Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, the ACA Marketplace, private providers, and state-run programs. They can also save money on various health insurance subsidies offered by the government.

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Have you recently obtained a Green Card? Congratulations! Are you looking to get long-term health insurance now that you’re a permanent U.S. resident?

Look no further. This Pacific Prime blog post will introduce you to over 10 ways you can get medical insurance, and save money doing it. We’ll introduce options for residents who plan to spend most of their time in the U.S., as well as for those who expect to travel frequently.

Don’t miss our article Green Card Holder Health Insurance to find all the articles in our series about health insurance for Green Card holders!

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Health Insurance After Recently Getting Your Green Card

Image of Brooklyn Bridge In New York City, USA, With Skyline In The Background with text overlay of "Health Insurance After Recently Getting Your Green Card"

Immigrants who have recently gotten their Green Card will want to choose between a long-term health insurance plan or a short-term health insurance plan. This choice will depend on how long you expect to spend in the U.S. during any given year.

Green Card Holders who Permanently Live in the U.S.

Recently approved Green Card holders who permanently live in the U.S. are considered Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR). Permanent residents of the U.S. may acquire U.S. health insurance through private insurance providers, employers, or government-funded programs.

So long as you don’t leave the country for more than 12 months at a time, you can retain your permanent resident status and qualify for U.S. health insurance. Later in this article, we will introduce you to 7 ways new Green Card holders can secure health insurance.

Green Card Holders who Travel Outside of the U.S.

New Green Card holders who choose to travel outside of the U.S. (to a home country or elsewhere) cannot stay out of the U.S. for more than 12 months. If they do, they forfeit their Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status.

You may apply for a reentry permit before leaving the U.S., thus getting permission to leave the U.S. for no more than 2 years. Newly Approved Green Card holders who plan to spend an extended period of time outside of the U.S. may not want to get traditional U.S. health insurance.

Instead, you may want to purchase either short-term travel insurance (also known as visitors insurance) or long-term international health insurance.

1. Short-Term Travel Insurance for Newly Approved Green Card Holders

Newly approved Green Card holders who want short-term health insurance for visits to the U.S. or another country may choose a travel insurance plan.

These short-term travel plans are typically less than a year and cover benefits such as:

  • Emergency medical services
  • Emergency hospitalization
  • ER visits
  • Ambulance use
  • Emergency medical evacuation and/or repatriation
  • Trip costs (flights, hotels, transportation, etc.)
  • Lost luggage or personal items

If you’d like to get a more robust health insurance plan, you can specifically seek out a travel medical insurance plan, such as those plans offered by GeoBlue and VUMI.

A travel medical plan also lasts less than a year, but it includes benefits such as:

  • Inpatient care/hospitalization
  • Emergency medical services
  • ER visits
  • Ambulance use
  • Emergency medical evacuation and/or repatriation
  • Office visits
  • Lab work
  • Outpatient prescription drugs
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Dental care due to injury or pain

Newly approved Green Card holders can compare travel insurance plans and quotes here. Speak to our travel insurance experts to get obligation-free advice.

2. International Health Insurance for New Green Card Holders

New Green Card holders who expect to travel outside of the U.S. may consider getting an international health insurance plan that covers them worldwide. If you know you’ll visit your country of origin, or anywhere else on the globe, global health insurance grants medical coverage wherever you go.

With one health insurance plan, Green Card holders can receive treatment anywhere they travel! Just make sure to return to the U.S. in under 12 months (or 2 years if you receive a reentry permit before leaving the country).

Here are some of the benefits that make international health coverage stand out:

  • One insurance plan covers you in every country of the world
  • You can get benefits for inpatient, outpatient, dental, and vision care
  • There are plans available for individuals, families, groups, and more
  • You can have virtual telehealth consultations with physicians no matter where you are
  • You can choose to include or exclude coverage in the United States

Pacific Prime specializes in international health insurance, so speak to one of our representatives to learn how we can help you.

7 Ways to Get Health Insurance for New Green Card Holders

Newly approved Green Card holders who plan to be permanent residents of the U.S. with or without infrequent travels to other countries should consider these 7 forms of U.S. health insurance:

  1. Medicare
  2. Medicaid
  3. CHIP (for children)
  4. Health insurance subsidies
  5. ACA Marketplace
  6. Private health insurance providers
  7. Local state insurance programs

Let’s discuss each form of medical coverage in more detail. Contact our insurance experts if you have questions or want further guidance.

1. Medicare for Newly Approved Green Card Holders Over 65

Medicare is designed for seniors in the U.S. over the age of 65. Newly approved Green Card holders over 65 may qualify for this government-funded health insurance if they have lived in the U.S. for a minimum of 5 consecutive years and contributed to the U.S. tax system.

Newly approved immigrants may qualify for Medicare under 65 if they have a disability, such as diabetes, stroke, or chronic heart failure, or a qualifying illness, such as End-Stage Renal Disease or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Newly approved Green Card holders can enroll in Medicare during their Initial Enrollment Period, which is the 3 months before their 65th birthday, their birth month, and the 3 following months. If they miss this period, they can also enroll in the General Enrollment Period which is from October 15 – December 7.

You can visit Medicare.gov to learn if you qualify for coverage.

2. Medicaid for New Green Card Holders and Pregnant Mothers

Medicaid is government-funded health insurance for low-income individuals and families. Parents, pregnant women, and individuals with Green Cards may qualify for Medicaid based on their state-specific income requirements. The 5-Year Residency Rule applies to Medicaid.

This means that individuals who have recently obtained a Green Card must have lived in the U.S. for 5 years before they qualify for Medicaid.

There are states that have chosen to waive this waiting period and still provide coverage for eligible children and pregnant parents who are lawfully present in the U.S.

Review this list of the 35 states and territories that waive the 5-year waiting period for Medicaid.

Low-income immigrants who are covered by Medicaid receive coverage for:

  • Hospitalization costs
  • Physician services, labs, medical equipment, and other outpatient services
  • Medicare Advantage Plan
  • Prescription drugs

3. Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for Green Card Holders

CHIP, or the Children Health Insurance Program, provides health coverage to children in families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to afford private insurance. Children from parents who have recently gotten Green Cards can qualify for CHIP.

To qualify, children must meet state income and residency rules. CHIP also covers pregnant individuals.

Many qualified non-citizens (such as Green Card holders) need to live in the U.S. for a minimum of 5 years before they qualify for CHIP. This is called the 5-Year Residency Rule. 28 states have chosen to waive this waiting period, however, and provide CHIP and Medicaid coverage to eligible children and pregnant people.

View this list of the states that offer Medicaid and CHIP regardless of how many years the legally present parent and child have lived in the country.

Newly approved Green Card holders can read the eligibility requirements for CHIP here.

4. Health Insurance Subsidies for Low Income Green Card Holders

New Green Card holders who don’t qualify for Medicaid may still qualify for other government health insurance subsidies. Obamacare (or the Affordable Care Act) offers Advanced Premium Tax Credits and Cost Sharing Reductions as options to individuals and families with low incomes.

  1. Advanced Premium Tax Credits
    This subsidy helps lower the monthly premiums of health insurance for low-income individuals. New Green Card holders who qualify will receive a premium tax credit they can use to pay for medical premiums.
  2. Cost Sharing Reductions (CSRs)
    Newly approved Green Card holders who qualify for cost-sharing reductions pay less out-of-pocket fees each time they receive medical services. These extra savings only work for a health plan in the Silver category.

Use this link to see if you qualify for Advanced Premium Tax Credits, Cost Sharing Reductions, Medicaid, or CHIP.

5. ACA Marketplace for New Green Card Holders

The Marketplace is a service center that helps families, individuals, and businesses compare and apply for health insurance. It is available in every state of the U.S. and is either run by the local or federal government. Open enrollment for New Green Card holders is from November 1 – January 15

Any U.S. citizen and lawfully present immigrant can enroll in Marketplace medical coverage. Immigrants who recently got a Green Card but don’t have insurance through another means may get coverage in the Marketplace with lower costs. All plans offered include the 10 essential health benefits, per the ACA.

These 10 essential health benefits include:

  1. Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care you get without being admitted to a hospital)
  2. Emergency services
  3. Hospitalization
  4. Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care
  5. Mental health and substance use disorder services
  6. Prescription drugs
  7. Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
  8. Laboratory services
  9. Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
  10. Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)

If you qualify for Medicaid, you can enroll in the Marketplace any time of the year and start coverage immediately. Visit HealthCare.gov to learn if you qualify for coverage.

6. Private Insurance for Immigrants with New Green Cards

Immigrants who recently got a Green Card in the U.S. can purchase medical coverage from private insurers in the general market. To do this, they will research local and national health insurance companies in the U.S., compare plans, and select the package that fits their needs and budget.

7. State Insurance Programs for Newly Approved Immigrants

Immigrants who have recently been approved for a Green Card should look for local insurance programs offered in their state of residence. An example is the Health Insurance Benefits for Immigrant Seniors in the state of Illinois.

If you are aged 42-64, Illinois also has the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program.

These two particular programs are for non-legal residents (immigrants who do not have a Green Card), so you will want to look for programs that match your level of status in the country.

Use a Broker to Secure Health Coverage Today

Immigrants who have recently obtained a Green Card can get insurance advice from a broker like Pacific Prime. We specialize in international health insurance, though other brokerages will specialize in U.S. insurance. A broker walks you through the entire application process.

Learn how a broker can help you today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of insurance can I get soon after getting my Green Card?

Recently approved Green Card holders can get health insurance from Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, the ACA Marketplace, private providers, and state-run programs. They can also save money on various health insurance subsidies, such as Advanced Premium Tax Credits and Cost Sharing Reductions.

Do newly approved Green Card holders qualify for Medicare?

Immigrants who have recently obtained a Green Card can qualify for Medicare if they are over 65, have lived in the U.S. for at least 5 consecutive years, and have contributed to the tax system. If you are under 65, you can also qualify for Medicare if you have a disability or certain illnesses.

Conclusion

We’ve now introduced you to at least 10 ways you can get health insurance as a newly approved Green Card holder. We recommend you also read our blog posts Insurance While Waiting for Green Card Processing and U.S. Health Insurance for Non-Citizens.

If you’d like to consider getting international health insurance through a private insurer, check out our obligation-free health insurance quote generator. With it, you can compare over 50,000 international plans in the same place!

If you have questions about your health insurance options, contact one of our brokers today.

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Head of Content at Pacific Prime
Serena Fung is the Head of Content at Pacific Prime, a global insurance brokerage and employee specialist serving over 1.5 million clients in 15 offices across the world. With 6+ years of experience writing about the subject, she aims to demystify the world of insurance for readers with the latest updates, guides and articles on the blog.

Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).

Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
Serena Fung