As a legal immigrant, or even as a lawful permanent resident, you may come to terms with the fact that you are not afforded some of the same privileges as a United States citizen. That is, you may not be fully protected from deportation, unable to possess a U.S. passport, and even barred from running for a federal, state, or local political office. But you may wonder if these restrictions extend to the government-funded programs you can apply for, such as Medicaid. Well, if this is your top concern, please read on to discover whether you are still eligible for Medicaid as a non-citizen and how one of the seasoned Lancaster, PA family based immigration lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can help you get the medical coverage you require for your health.
Are non-citizens eligible for the Medicaid program?
First of all, as a lawful permanent resident, you are eligible to apply for the Medicaid program. But this eligibility covers other legal immigrant categories, such as refugees, asylees, and immigrants granted parole for at least one year. And also, Cuban and Haitian entrants, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants, and Afghan and Ukrainian parolees who are treated as refugees. Lastly, certain abused spouses and children, victims of human trafficking, and citizens of the Freely Associated States in U.S. states and territories.
It is worth mentioning that, even if you fall under one of these qualified non-citizen categories, you must have legally entered the U.S. or enrolled in Medicaid before August 22, 1996. Also, you may be subject to a five-year waiting period, unless you are eligible for an exemption as a refugee, asylee, Cuban or Haitian entrant, human trafficking victim, or member of a Veteran family. Now, with all that being said, here are the non-citizens impeded from Medicaid coverage:
- Nonimmigrants.
- Unauthorized immigrants.
- Asylee applicants.
- Immigrants granted parole for less than one year.
- Individuals with Temporary Protected Status.
- Individuals granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
What are the other eligibility criteria for Medicaid?
Besides meeting the immigration requirements, you must satisfy the Medicaid program’s own set of eligibility criteria. They read as follows:
- You must have a valid form of identity (i.e., driver’s license or state identification card) and a Social Security Number.
- You must be a legal resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with no minimum timeframe required.
- You must be within the enforced income and resource limits, based on your household size.
Understandably, this may all seem like a headache during this especially overwhelming time. Well, to alleviate some of the pent-up stress, please turn to the legal aid of one of the competent family-based immigration lawyers. Contact our office, Lupton Law LLC, right now; someone will be more than happy to speak with you.
