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Loreann Asked May 2015

Friend wants to bring his aunt from Brazil to the states but she needs medical care. How can he get help for her?

My friend is a citizen in the U.S. for 20 years. His aunt is in Brazil and he is caring for her there, but he wants to come back to the states and bring her with him, but she needs heart and medical care. She is 76 and has no insurance or income. I don't think she can get Medicare, but can he buy health insurance for her? Will a hospital admit her upon arrival into the states?

JessieBelle May 2015
She will have to have a green card and be here five years before she can receive Medicare. Then it is not a benefit. It will be something she has to pay for. I imagine the premiums would be high for an immigrant who had not worked in the US.

pamstegma May 2015
Read very carefully. The immigrant insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions. Like I said, her healthcare will all be on him. You don't just walk off the plane and go to a hospital.

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Loreann May 2015
Jessie Bell thank you so much for your suggestion about immigrant insurance. I googled it and will send him what I found. I really appreciate the help from everyone and will pass it along to my friend.

pamstegma May 2015
Bad move. She will not get Medicare nor will she get Medicaid. It will all be on him, since he has to sign as her sponsor and sponsors guarantee they will pick up the tab.

JessieBelle May 2015
I did locate one type of insurance that his aunt may qualify if she immigrates -- inbound immigrant insurance. I don't know anything about it, but your friend can do some research on it to see if it could help.

JessieBelle May 2015
This is a tough one. What you are asking is if she could immigrate with him and go immediately on public assistance. Since she is not a citizen and has not paid into the social programs, she won't qualify for many things. I don't know if any companies would be willing (or forced) to insure her, since she would be a source of money loss -- something insurance companies don't embrace.

Brazil has a good care system. Would it not make more sense for your friend to make arrangements for her there?

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