Healthcare in the U.S. is notoriously expensive. Without insurance, even minor medical procedures or emergency treatments can lead to significant financial burden. Best health insurance for Green Card Holders helps protects from these high costs by covering a portion or all of the expenses associated with medical care. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), most U.S. residents, including Green Card Holders, are required to have health insurance. This law was enacted to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare and to reduce the overall cost of medical services by spreading the risk among a larger pool of insured people.
Medical insurance for permanent residents and Green Card Holders allows access to a wide range of healthcare services, including preventive care, routine check-ups, and treatment for illnesses and injuries. Regular access to healthcare is essential for maintaining good health and addressing medical issues early, which can prevent more serious complications. Green Card holder health insurance offers peace of mind, knowing that if a medical emergency or serious illness occurs, you are covered and will not face overwhelming medical bills. This financial protection allows you to focus on recovery rather than worrying about how to pay for care. Maintaining health insurance for new Green Card Holders can also be important when renewing their residency status or applying for U.S. citizenship. The U.S. government expects permanent residents to demonstrate that they can support themselves, including having access to healthcare. Without health insurance, Green Card Holders may be subject to penalties when filing their taxes, depending on their income and the duration of time they were without coverage. The penalties were designed to encourage compliance with the ACA's insurance mandate.
Persons which hold Green Cards have particular options for visitor health insurance. Unfortunately, these options (more like limitation) are not obvious from the brochures and information about the many visitor insurance policies that are available. The worst situation would be to purchase a policy and then come to find out that you will not be covered because you were not eligible for the policy in the first place.
Most visitor policies are only temporary insurance (from 5 days to 12 months only; although some are renewable for more time) for temporary visitors. A green card holder is considered a US permanent resident (whether or not the person actually does reside here permanently) and therefore is often NOT eligible for a short-term health insurance for Green Card Holders.
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 can find cheap medical insurance to suit their specific budget and requirements. It is recommended to compare Green Card health insurance plans on American Visitor Insurance based on both price and benefits to find the most cost-effective option for seniors.
While details of the new immigrant insurance requirements are still to be announced, the best US immigrant insurance or best health insurance for Green Card Holders plans that we offer on American Visitor Insurance work as short term health insurance which US immigrants can use till they are eligible for domestic US insurance plans.
It is because of this reason that we, at American Visitor Insurance, have specifically asked our providers about the eligibility of the green card holder and medical insurance for new Green Card Holders.. The best health insurance policy for Green Card Holders in USA are three policies. Two policies, Patriot America Lite,Patriot America plus (and actually any of that family of product: Patriot Platinum) is available ONLY if the insured can put down a legitimate address outside the US as a home country.
So, for persons who travel back and forth from a foreign country and spend some time in the US, this is often the most economical option which offers comprehensive coverage. You can buy Patriot America Lite Insurance policy and look at Patriot America Lite Brochure for more plan details.
Trawick International offers both comprehensive and fixed travel health insurance for green card parents for ages up to 89 years. The best comprehensive health insurance policy for Green Card Holders in USA are three policies Safe Travels USA, Safe Travels USA Comprehensive and Safe Travels USA Cost Saver insurance. Both Safe Travels USA and Safe Travels USA Cost Saver plan covers unexpected recurrence of a pre-existing conditions up to 89 years and Safe Travels USA Comprehensive covers acute onset of pre-existing medical conditions up to 70 years and includes cardiac conditions.
Safe Travels Elite is the fixed policy from Trawick International which has limits on benefits for each medical expense. However, this plan is a very economical option for Green Card Holders. You can buy Safe Travels Elite Insurance and for more plan details look at the Safe Travels Elite Brochure.
INF insurance offers good health insurance for green card parents, mainly those who are above age 65. These USA healthcare insurance for Green Card Holders also offer ancillary benefits such as dental and telemedicine which are usually separate policies under domestic US health insurance.
Review the list of INF health insurance plans avaiable for US Green Card Holders:
If you have other questions or concerns about finding short term health insurance for Green Card Holders, please
contact us and we can give you a specific quote and/or recommendation for health insurance for senior Green Card Holders or medical insurance for Green Card Holders over 65 years. As ever, we wish you safe and happy travels!
Cost of health insurance for parents on Green Card
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 Green Card Holders Over 65
#Approximate cost of Green Card Holders health insurance is for a 65-year-old visitor for a duration of 1 month
Source: American Visitor Insurance®
Are Senior Green Card Holders Eligible for Medicare?
Green Card Holders (lawful permanent residents) in the U.S. can qualify for Medicare, if they meet certain requirements related to age, residency duration, and work history.
To be eligible for Medicare, Green Card Holders must meet the following conditions:
Age Requirement
- Be 65 years or older, or
- Be under 65 with a qualifying disability (such as receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least 24 months, or having End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)).
U.S. Residency
- Must have lived in the United States for at least 5 consecutive years as a lawful permanent resident before applying for Medicare.
Work History or Spousal Eligibility
- Must have worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) in the U.S., or
- Be married to someone who meets this work history requirement.
Medicare Costs for Green Card Holders
If you don’t have enough work history to qualify for premium-free Part A, you can still enroll by paying premiums:
Part A (Hospital Insurance)
- $518/month if you worked fewer than 30 quarters
- $285/month if you worked 30–39 quarters
Part B (Medical Insurance): Standard premium of about $185/month
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).
