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The policy for health insurance for Green Card holders in the US is similar to that of US citizens. Immigrants and citizens of the US have to purchase their health insurance through private companies because the US does not have a national healthcare system that covers all groups of people.
The existing public health care only covers limited groups of people, such as elders, children, or the disabled. As such, Green Card holders over the age of 65 are eligible to receive public insurance like Medicaid, but only after five years of permanent residency in the US.
Do Green Card Holders Need Health Insurance?
No, having health insurance for Green Card holders is not mandatory in the United States. However, it is highly recommended because the cost of healthcare in the US is very high. Just a consultation with a doctor can reach hundreds of dollars, whereas hospitalization can set you back thousands of dollars per night, without including the cost of the medical treatment itself.
We recommend Green Card holders and new immigrants in the United States purchase the GeoBlue Xplorer Premier plan.
Before January 2019, under the legislation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obama Care, all US citizens and immigrants had to get health insurance compliant with ACA, or they would have to pay a fine, alongside paying their medical expenses.
But as of January 1, 2019, the federal law does not require citizens and immigrants to have health insurance – instead, it is up to each state to decide whether or not they will request their residents to acquire medical insurance.
What are the Types of Health Insurance Plans Available for Green Card Holders?
As a Green Card holder, you can get health insurance through one of the following ways:
- Group health insurance plan
- Individual health insurance plan
Group health insurance plans
Group health insurance plans for immigrants in the US are usually purchased by companies or organizations and offered to the employees of the company or the members of the organization. These types of health insurance plans are cheaper because they are purchased for a larger number of people and the head of the company/organization covers part or most of the expenses.
Group health insurance plans in the US can be extended to include the dependents (spouse and children) of the Green Card holder as well.
If you have elderly immigrant parents, you won’t be able to add them to your group health insurance. Instead, you will have to purchase adequate health insurance for green card holders over 65.
Also read:
- Health Insurance for Seniors Over 80 in USA
- Health insurance for Canadian expats in USA
Individual health insurance plans
Individual health insurance plans are when you buy the plan yourself from a health insurance company, and your employer is not involved. For example, if the health insurance plan your employer has offered does not suit your needs, you can opt-out of it and purchase your own.
Green Card holders over the age of 65, who are not working and who do not qualify for public healthcare yet, will also have to get an individual healthcare plan.
Health Insurance for New Immigrants in the US
New immigrants in the US, such as the relatives or elderly parents of US residents or citizens can purchase health insurance plans under the new US healthcare marketplace – known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obama Care.
However, the type of health insurance plan you need depends on your residence status. For example, international student health insurance requirements depend largely on the school, while H1-B visa holders can get health insurance from their employers.
You can get a free health insurance quote for Green Card holders by clicking here:
You can get a free health insurance quote for new immigrants by clicking here:
Health Insurance For Green Card Holders Over 65
Senior Green Card holders over 65 have two options regarding health insurance in the US:
- Register with Medicare or other state-funded health plans. Medicare is available to senior Green Card holders if they have held their Green Card for over five years and have worked in the US for several others. If senior Green Card holders don’t qualify for Medicare, they may qualify for Obamacare or Medicaid, depending on their situation.
- Purchase a private health insurance policy. If senior citizens have not lived in the US or worked prior to receiving their Green Card, they must purchase a health insurance plan catering to seniors. Finding a plan specific for seniors over 65 can be difficult as many insurance companies raise the price for senior plans or don’t cover pre-existing conditions. But, with private health insurance, they have the option to purchase an international health insurance plan if they plan on traveling between the US and their home country.
Some of the most affordable and comprehensive plans for Green Card senior citizens or immigrant parents include the following:
| Patriot America (Platinum) | INF Premier | INF Elite | Visitors care | |
| Which insurance company offers the plan? | IMG (International Medical Group) | INF Insurance | INF Insurance | IMG (International Medical Group) |
| Maximum coverage | $2,000,000 | $200,000 | $150,000 | Up to $100,000 |
| Coverage areas | In-patient medical services, out-patient services, emergency services, Covid-19 coverage, etc. | In-patient and out-patient medical services. Other services with limitations, etc. | Repatriation, emergency services, intensive care unit services, etc. | Covid-19 coverage, some in-patient, and out-patient coverage, emergency services, etc. |
| Are pre-existing conditions included? | Acute onset issues of pre-chronic conditions. | Yes | Yes | Acute onset issues of pre-chronic conditions, including cardiac coverage for seniors over 70. |
| Average cost* | $321.38/month | $135.30/month | $337.80/month | $330.75/month |
*Please note that the average cost is most likely to change based on how long the insurance is purchased and what is the level of coverage.
Additionally, with new reforms, newly granted Green Card holders over 65 are eligible to find an individual private health insurance policy in the Marketplace. Furthermore, new laws state that private health insurance companies cannot charge senior customers more than three times the price they would charge an individual under 65 years old. As a result, finding a health insurance policy for seniors over 65 in the US has become much easier and more affordable.
Getting Health Insurance While Waiting For Green Card in the United States
If you are in the US, waiting for your application for a Green Card to be processed, you need valid health insurance. As mentioned previously, healthcare costs are quite expensive in America, and if you get sick or injured, you have to shoulder the costs on your own without insurance.
Because you still haven’t received your Green Card, you are considered a visitor in the US, which means you qualify for visitor health insurance or non-immigrant visa health insurance during your stay in the US.
Some of the most popular plans for visitors in the US, which are also available for future Green Card holders, include:
- Atlas America.
- Patriot America.
- Safe Travel US Comprehensive.
Please note that if you applied for your Green Card via status change while you were in the US, you might have valid health insurance if you were employed. Please make sure to check with your employer.
What Happens After I Receive My Green Card?
Once you receive your Green Card, you can look for a domestic health insurance policy on Marketplace or see if you qualify for state-funded health plans such as Obamacare, Medicare, or Medicaid.
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