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.
Yes, they can buy INF travel insurance as long as they have a residence outside the US.
US Resident Aliens, popularly known as Green Card holders are legal permanent residents in the United States. Green card holders live permanently in the US as opposed to tourists visiting the United States for a sojourn. Green card holders qualify for insurance under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare program) through the insurance marketplace. Obamacare which was passed during the Barack Obama administration made it mandatory for green card holders and every legal US resident to have health insurance coverage.
The PPACA which is Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires all 'applicable individuals' including legal Permanent Residents to maintain 'minimum essential health care coverage' and the failure to do so will result in a penalty.
This individual mandate has been repealed by the Trump administration from 2019. It is therefore not mandatory anymore to have ACA compliant health insurance for Green card holders. However we often get queries are from Green Card holders (US resident aliens) who live outside the US and make short term visits to the US. Green Card holders are eligible to buy domestic US health insurance, however, they can also buy the short term visitors medical insurance offered on our website.
At American Visitor Insurance, we do not offer health insurance for Green Card holders that satisfy Obamacare (ACA). However you can find both Best health insurance for Green Card holders as well as long term global insurance plans for US permanent residents living outside the US, or for those Green card holders who did not purchase an Obamacare plan during the enrolment period.
The only way for a new immigrant to get an ACA-compliant or domestic plan is to get it through an institution as a student or through an employer.
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 $50 per month.
| 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.
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:
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).
New Green Card Parents are not immediately eligible for Obamacare and other domestic US health insurance or Medicare. In this interim period till they get domestic health insurance coverage, it is important to buy proper Greencard holders medical insurance. America Visitors Insurance offers medical insurance for Green card holders in USA which are very popular among permanent residents. The US short term health insurance for Green Card Holders for parents over 65 years are: Patriot America Lite, Patriot Platinum, Safe Travel USA Comprehensive, Diplomat America, INF Standard and INF Safe Traveler USA
Health insurance for Green Card holders over 65 years
Know more »Medical insurance for Green Card holders over 70 years
Know more »Medical insurance for Green Card holders over 80 years
Know more »Pre-existing condition is a medical ailment that existed before the travel insurance became effective. Another term that we come across more frequently in insurance policies is "Acute onset of pre-existing condition". Acute onset of pre-existing condition is a sudden relapse of the pre-existing condition without advance warning which requires medical attention within 24 hours.
Travelers with pre-existing conditions always find it hard to buy travel health insurance. Some of the common conditions that are considered as pre-existing conditions are asthma, food & drug allergies, environmental allergies, heart related issues, high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, and diabetes. Typically all insurance providers have their terms and conditions for the pre-existing condition coverage provided. Most do not cover anything related to a pre-existing condition. Travelers can buy a travel insurance policy without a medical check, however chronic illnesses like cancer, parkinson's disease, Amnesia...which cannot be cured are not covered by the travel health insurance policies. With the pre-existing condition there is a "look back" period of 60-180 days to determine the claim. Most of the Insurance providers consider the age of the individual as a factor for providing this benefit. Most of the policies do not provide coverage for pre-existing conditions at the age of 70 and more.
Some US insurance providers offer senior citizen travel insurance for pre-existing conditions above the age of 80 with fixed or limited coverage. The Safe Travels USA, Safe Travels USA Cost Saver, and Safe Travels USA Comprehensive all offer $1000 coverage for pre-existing conditions without limitation to chronic illness. If travelers have a medical condition they are concerned about, it is very important for them to buy a policy that includes the illnesses in the coverage and to be aware of the terms of pre-existing condition coverage.
INF is one of the few companies which offers travel insurance plans for travelers with flexible coverage for pre-existing ailments. They define pre-existing conditions differently and do not exclude chronic illness. First of all, if the person has had no flare up or change in their condition, even if they take medication for it (as long as there has been no change in medication) for 12 months prior to the start of the plan, then the plan does not consider it as a pre-existing condition. If there has been a flare up or change in the condition, then it is covered but at a lower maximum than the overall maximum of the plan and may be subject to a higher deductible.
They have two plans which have this coverage: INF Premier and INF Elite. The Premier plan is a fixed plan which has limitations on the coverage of each medical expense. The Elite plan is an 80/20 comprehensive plan (the plan pays 80% and the insured 20% after the deductible). INF offers the best travel insurance for pre-existing medical conditions but the difference is reflected in the cost, particularly in the Elite plan. Note that regularly needed maintenance medications or treatments are still not covered with these plans, only if there is a new problem will there be coverage. However, the problem does not need to be life-threatening or acute. Travelers with pre-existing conditions should weigh these options to reduce their risk of high medical costs should they suffer from one of their conditions while traveling. Note that the plans need to be purchased for at least 90 days, so these are more suitable for longer term stays in US, Canada, and/or Mexico. Also, the plans may be purchased by green card holders as long as they have a non-US residence address. The Elite plan has several variations: INF Elite, Elite Plus and INF Elite 90.
To compare the best travel insurance for seniors visiting USA for flexible pre-existing conditions plans offered by INF, use this link: INF Premier & INF Elite best travel insurance for pre-existing conditions.
The cost of health insurance is directly proportional to the age of the Green card holder. The older the US permanent resident and greater will be the cost of the Green card holder health insurance.
Comprehensive insurance which provide exhaustive coverage are more expensive than fixed benefits insurance.
The price of Green card holder medical insurance is directly dependant on the maximum medical coverage and inversely proportional to the deductible of the plan chosen.
The longer the duration of Green card holder medical insurance required, the higher will be the cost.
The longer the duration of medical insurance required, the higher will be the cost.
Additional add-on benefits like adventure sports coverage will increase the cost of coverage.
Complete the Green card holder health insurance quote form with relevant details.
Compare price and benefits of the Green card holder insurance options to find what fits your needs best.
Buy the plan that best fits your needs and budget using a credit card and completing the online application.
Review the US Green Card medical insurance policy documents received by email for coverage details and contact numbers.
Yes, Green card holders can get the medical insurance that we offer if they have a permanent address outside the US. Green card holders can get medical insurance quotes and buy the insurance on our website. The short term medical insurance will cover unanticipated medical conditions, but will not cover preventive care and regular treatment for pre-existing conditions. Getting a medical insurance quote is easy by providing the age of the Green card holder and the dates that they need the insurance coverage. We display the different medical insurance for Green card holders and you can compare the different plans based on price as well as the coverage benefits. After choosing the best Green card holder insurance for your needs, you can complete the application online and buy it using a credit card. The policy will be emailed immediately after completing the transaction.
Green card holders may be eligible for Medicaid after meeting certain criteria, such as income and residency requirements, set by each state. Medicare eligibility typically requires being a Green card holder for at least five years and meeting other qualifications (age 65 or older, or having certain disabilities). If there are new Green card holders who are not eligible for domestic health insurance or Medicare, they can buy the Visitors Insurance that we offer during this interim period.
Green card holders who are employed in the United States are generally eligible to participate in employer-sponsored health insurance plans, similar to U.S. citizens. It's advisable to check with the employer to understand the available options and any eligibility requirements.
New immigrants or recent Green card holders may have a waiting period before becoming eligible for government programs or employer-sponsored health insurance. It is important to explore alternative options during this waiting period, such as short-term health insurance plans like those offered on American Visitor Insurance.
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Compare popular US immigrant insurance plans suitable for immigrants regardless whether permanently in the US or traveling out or waiting for Green Cards.
Click here to read more »Find out the difference between US visitors insurance and new immigrant insurance. Compare and buy the best immigrant insurance for USA!.
Click here to read more »The US government has made it compulsory for new immigrants coming to the US to have proper US immigrant health insurance coverage.
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