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Medical insurance for green card holders over 65

Green card holders health insurance

Insurance for Green Card holders

Is medical insurance mandatory for Green Card holders?

There is no specific requirement for Green Card holders to have medical insurance under U.S. immigration law. However, it is highly recommended to have health insurance coverage to protect against unexpected medical expenses given the very expensive cost of US healthcare.

Which are the plans ideal for US Green card holders over 65 years?

Comprehensive plans

Patriot America Plus: Available for Non US citizens travelling to the USA. Green card holders who live outside the US can purchase this plan.
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Fixed benefit plan
Safe Travels Elite:
Available for non U.S. residents and non U.S. citizens, traveling including the USA. Covers up to $25,000 for cardiac issue or stroke up to 69 years and $15,000 for people age 70 to 89 years. Ideal for green card holders.

Can you get health insurance while waiting for Green card?

If one has applied for the Green Card and are waiting for permanent residency, they can buy visitor health insurance coverage that is ideal for them till they get the Green card and are eligible for other domestic US health insurance options.

Medical insurance for green card holders over 65

Medical insurance for green card holders over 65 can be challenging, especially if they are new US immigrants. Health insurance for green card holders over 65 years old is complex unless they have lived in the U.S. for at least five years and meet other specific requirements like having worked in the US for 10 years (40 quarters) to eligible for Medicare. If they have lived for 5 years in the US, they can pay higher premium and be eligible for Medicare coverage. If however Medicare is not an option, Green Card Holders over 65 years can buy travel health insurance available on American Visitor Insurance, which provide health insurance coverage but will not cover preventive care or has limited coverage for pre-existing ailments. For those ineligible for Medicare, American Visitors Insurance offers the best Green Card Holders over 65 years medical insurance plans. These plans work as interim options till they are eligible for Medicare.

Health insurance for Green card holders cost

Medical insurance cost for Green card holders varies based on several factors such as the age, medical maximum coverage, deductible for the plan, and the coverage for pre-existing conditions. There are cheap Green Card holders health insurance plans starting at $38 per month.

Cost of health insurance for parents over 65 years on Green Card

Travel insurance USA Coverage Deductible Provider Network Cost #
Safe Travels Advantage Trawick International $25,000 $0 First HealthCare $38
Safe Travels Elite Trawick International $25,000 $0 First HealthCare $50
INF Standard X INF $50,000 $250 United HealthCare $76
Patriot America Lite IMG $50,000 $250 United HealthCare $157
Safe Travels USA Trawick International $50,000 $250 First HealthCare $160
Patriot America Plus IMG $50,000 $250 United HealthCare $173
Safe Travels USA Comprehensive Trawick International $50,000 $250 First HealthCare $224
Diplomat America Global Underwriters $50,000 $250 No PPO $262
INF Safe Traveler USA X INF $150,000 $500 United HealthCare $341
Patriot Platinum IMG $1M $250 United HealthCare $379

# Approximate cost of Green Card holders health insurance is for a 65-year-old parent or seniors for a duration of 1 month.

Medicare eligibility for Green Card Holders

Green Card Holders (lawful permanent residents) can qualify for Medicare if they meet certain requirements related to age, residency, and work history.
To be eligible for Medicare, Green Card Holders must meet the following conditions:

  • Age: Be 65 years or older, or meet specific disability criteria if under 65 (such as receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months, or having end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)).
  • Residency: Have lived in the U.S. as a legal permanent resident for at least 5 consecutive years.
  • Work History: Have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) through employment in the U.S., or be married to someone who has.

If you haven't paid Medicare taxes for 10 years and don't qualify for premium-free Part A, you may need to buy Part A, but you will still be required to pay premiums for both Part A and Part B. If you've worked less than 30 quarters, you will pay approximately $505 per month for Part A (2024 rate). If you've worked 30-39 quarters, the premium is about $278 per month (2024 rate). For those who need to pay for both Part A and Part B, the combined premiums can be costly, so some Green Card Holders may opt for other private health insurance options until they qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A. Part B covers outpatient care, doctor visits, and preventive services. Unlike Part A, there is no work history requirement for Part B. Everyone pays a monthly premium for Part B, which in 2024 is approximately $174.70 (higher if your income exceeds certain limits).

Your Initial Enrollment Period lasts for 7 months which starts 3 months before your 65th birthday month, then includes the month of your 65th birthday and finally ends 3 months after your birthday month. If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period, you can sign up during the General Enrollment Period, which runs from January 1 to March 31 each year. You may face a late enrollment penalty for Part B (and sometimes Part A) if you delay enrollment without having other creditable coverage (such as employer insurance). You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you delayed enrolling in Medicare due to having other creditable coverage (e.g., through an employer or union).

Health Insurance for Senior Citizen parents who are Green Card Holders

  • The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) also known as Obama Care or Affordable Care Act (ACA), made it mandatory for all US residents to have health insurance. This individual mandate has however since been repealed and it is now not mandatory anymore to have PPACA compliant insurance.
  • The ideal medical insurance for parents on Green Card will depend on the insured's age, the length of stay in the US, and your budget for the health insurance for elderly parents on green card.
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What does Green Card Visa insurance cover?

Health care expenses

Covers hospital expenses for sickness or accidents.

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Doctor visit

Insures Doctor visits for sudden injury or sickness.

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Pharmacy drugs

Doctor prescribed eligible pharmacy drugs expenses.

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Pre-existing conditions

Some plans insure acute onset of pre-existing conditions.

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Medical evacuation

Medical evacuation expenses to nearest facility included.

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Repat of remains

Repatriation of remains to home country included.

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Steps to buy US Green Card insurance for parents online

Step 1

Find Green Card holders health insurance plans
Complete the Green card holder health insurance quote form with relevant details.

Step 2

Compare Green Card holders medical insurance cost
Compare Green Card holders medical insurance cost.

Step 3

Buy the best us green card health insurance for your needs
Buy the plan that best fits your needs and budget using a credit card and completing the online application.

Step 4

Review the policy documents and save them for future use
Review the US Green Card medical insurance policy documents received by email for coverage details and contact numbers.

Health insurance for Green Card holders senior citizen parents options

Renewal of medical insurance for Green Card holder senior citizen parents

Can buy health insurance for elderly Green Card immigrant parents from a few days up to 5 years.

Health insurance for elderly immigrant parents purchasing options

Available as monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annual increments.

Buying health insurance for Green Card holders senior citizen parents eligibility

Health insurance for elderly immigrant parents available even 24 months after arriving in the US.

Interim health insurance while waiting for green card

Health insurance for Green Card holders senior citizen parents till they are eligible for domestic US health plans.

Green card holders senior citizen parents - FAQs

01. Can I find cheap medical insurance for Green Card seniors over 65?

Yes, it is possible to find cheap health insurance for Green Card senior over 65. Ideally older Green card holders should be enrolled in Medicare, however this might not be an option for new Green card holders who have lived less than 5 years in the US. American Visitor Insurance offers travel health insurance which provide health coverage in the US, but exclude preventive care and have limited coverage for pre-existing conditions.

By comparing quotes from different insurers and considering factors such as coverage options, deductibles, and pre-existing condition coverage, Green card holders over 65 years can find affordable medical insurance for those over 65 years to suit their specific budget and requirements. It is recommended that one compares plans both for price as well as benefits on American Visitor Insurance to find the most cost-effective Green card insurance for seniors over 65.

02. How much is Green Card insurance for 65 year old cost?

The cost of short term health insurance for Green card holder over 65 years which focuses on the health of the Green card holder depends on the following:

  • The age and health of the Green card Holder (older the Green card holder, higher the cost)
  • The length of coverage that you are buying the insurance.
  • The medical maximum coverage limit chosen (higher the coverage, higher the cost)
  • The deductible and co-insurance of the insurance.
  • Any add-on benefits (pre-existing conditions coverage etc.. cost more)
03. Is medical insurance mandatory for Green Card holders?

There is no specific requirement for Green Card holders to have medical insurance under U.S. immigration law. However, it is highly recommended to have health insurance coverage to protect against unexpected medical expenses given the very expensive cost of US healthcare.

04. Which are the plans ideal for US Green Card holders over 65 years?

Patriot America Plus and Patriot Platinum Insurance for Green Card holders over 65 years are available as long as they maintain a residence outside the US. These plans offered by IMG are specifically designed for short term travel to USA.

Popular travel insurance providers

You can find reliable US insurance providers like International Medical Group(IMG), Seven Corners, WorldTrips, Global Underwriters, Travel Insure and INF insurance.

US visitors insurance providers


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