My Mother (68) has a green card and has only arrived to the USA 2 month ago. Can she apply for Medicaid?

In order to get Medicaid, many qualified non-citizens (such as many LPRs or green card holders) have a 5-year waiting period. This means they must wait 5 years after receiving "qualified" immigration status before they can get Medicaid coverage. There are exceptions. You need to check with your State Medicaid office.

My best friends in-laws came to visit on a Visa and stayed a year. They finally found a good plan with Kaiser.

A social worker at any hospital can explain your options. I don't know enough to help, but a social worker at a hospital or someone at your state Family Services Office will know. Good luck.

If she is not ill or have medical issues, what makes you think she needs medical checkups? I am a senior and have medical insurance that pays everything, but I only see my female doctor to get refills on my migraine meds, and my every two year mammogram and DEXA (bone density) exams. Green cards do not permit resident status until after years of living here and abiding all laws.

If a US citizen moved to the country your mom comes from would that citizen immediately qualify for free medical care?

Did she escape from a war torn country such as Syria? I have not idea if there are any special stipends or arrangements for refugees, but you might contact your legislative reps and ask that question.

Also, some ethinic groups might have assistance to offer. After the USSR broke up, I met a woman in one of my classes who had been supported for refuge and emigration from the USSR, brought here by that organization, assisted with housing and finding a job.

Most hospitals have programs that offer reduced or free medical services to the indigent. You should check with YOUR doctor; in the days before ACA, my doctors often saw my uninsured adult daughter for a reduced fee ( I think it was $75.00 per visit). It kept her in good health in the short term.

Your mother does not have a "right" to Medicaid. And the reason why she doesn't have a "right" to Medicaid is because she is not a legal citizen of the United States.

Why do illegal immigrants think they can get medical coverage because they've stepped foot into this country?

Your mother is only 68 & has a green card---she can still work. She can get a job & pay the doctors when she visits them. Just because she is a "senior" doesn't mean she can't get a job. Plenty of 68 year old people in this country are still working their behinds off.

vkate12, curious why you didn't check on the health insurance issues PRIOR to your Mom coming to the U.S.?

I am older than your Mom and I am still employed, and my boss is even older than I am. As TooYoungForThis above had pointed out, see if your Mom can find job [even part-time] which she can use for health care and to help you with room/board.

Does she get Medicare? Medicaid would be a supplimental. You need to call your local Medicaid dept. They will be able to give you info. My Mil lived here 65 yrs on a greencard.

One can only get Medicare if they had worked paying U.S. payroll taxes into Social Security/Medicare.

She would have to work 10 years to qualify for medicare. You have to have what tge government call work credits equal to 10 years of filing tax returns with income that paid into the medicare system.

Medicare is for people who have actually WORKED in the U.S. for at least 10 years. This woman does not get ANY benefits and family, church is her only resource. The government is NOT a blank check for everyone.

Tooyoungforthis: no need for snark. She was asking a simple question. Most people on this site want to help not insult, thankfully.

Vkate12 I symphatize with Your Mother for being in this awful position. I emigrated to Boston Mass in 1985 as a young 25 year old. I began work immediately since I had employment all set up. After only five weeks I collapsed at work and became unconscious. After being examined at the Mount Auburn Hospital it was decided immediately that I should be returned home to Cork, Ireland. Subsequently I was diagnosed with a BRAIN TUMOR, and I was operated on immediately at CUH, a wonderful Hospital. I had the same operations in 1991 and 1992. Thank God I am well since.
IF YOUR MOTHER NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENSION BRING HER HOME TO HER HOME LAND, AS WITHOUT MEDICAL INSURANCE IN THE USA IT WILL BREAK YOU, MENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY.
NIL AOIN TINTEAN MAR DO THINTEAN FEIN.

If you got her a green card and signed that you are sponsoring her, she cannot apply for Medicaid. Part of the sponsorship means that you agreed to be fully responsible for all her needs.

Sorry, I missed she has only been here 2months.

This should help a lot. It is always best to check directly with the source. Good luck in getting some type of coverage. Help is available for qualified immigrants. This can include Medicaid under some circumstances.

https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/lawfully-present-immigrants/

I should add that the circumstances that Medicaid can be obtained is very limited for new residents. But this can help you get lower cost insurance.

Vkate-is mom coming from Cuba? A lot are right now due to the thaw & there are a huge amount of instant benefits for anywhere in the US:
- immediately qualify for food stamps
- immediately qualify for Medicaid
- if over 65, get up to $ 733 a month in SSI
They can also get priority in subsidized housing lists and a move-in allotment (this one varies by state & by county, like Miami-Dade waives any utility deposits). SSI amount is NOT dependent on the income of whomever they are staying with either. Cubans can get these for 7 years after arrival without needing to apply for US citizenship. If they do eventually apply for citizenship, the benefits seem to run till forever if they reside in the US. You can go back & forth to the island too as the Cuban pension will be below any income or asset test in the US.

Cubans are special status refugees.

For others, you have to become a citizen to get SSI which is about a 5 year process.

Vkate - also google to look to see if there are any Hill-Burton Act built hospitals or outpatient clinics in your area. The Hill burton act created & funded facilities all over the US. At one time there were thousands all over the US but maybe now under 200. Hill Burton requires the facility to provide free or minimal cost care for the lifetime of the entity to anyone who presents with a medical need.

Tooyoungforthis, try to apply empathy in your remarks.

There are many low cost clinics that may see your mother for a small fee. Usually you can find one for under 50.00 an office visit. Call AreaAgency on Aging they have resource info for seniors and may be able to giude you.

The best and fastest way to find out is to make application for Medicaid. They will be able to assist you in finding out what your mother will need to be qualified. States differ in their requirements and you didn't mention what state you're in so you may have to look in the phone book and find out the number of your state Medicaid office and call them. They should be able to help you with your questions.

You also need to look up the number for the low income medical clinic for her to be seen by a doctor. Some of the fees may be waived or may be a small amount depending on her income or lack of income.

ferris1, you sound just a tad testy in your answers. Maybe his mother has some medical issue that he doesn't want to discuss with everyone. Your problems is not his mother's problems and he may need something different.
laurabutler28, what good was your answer to his problem? you were being tacky and no one needs that on here.
tooyoungforthis, you were just being hateful and he doesn't deserve that. He just asked a question about Medicaid. People in foreign countries hear about our medical system and they remember names to ask for or about if they get a chance to come here but there's no need to be insulting. If you don't want to help give him an answer, then just don't answer. I'm sure he isn't asking if he can get it for FREE as many of our legislators have spouted about. Maybe he just wants a simple answer for his mother. Be sure to search the files though for his name so you can make sure they aren't getting something for free that you aren't.

There are over 1,000 Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) run through the Bureau of Primary Health Care. Go to HRSA.gov and look up the nearest health center in your zip code. These low cost centers ask you to pay what you can afford. Most important, they will provide your mother with a medical home. Medical homes are important because they help prevent poor people from landing in the ER with no insurance or ability to pay the bill. Good luck.

Some people are so wrong in here. America need a better health coverage. Some countries especially in Europe or next door Canada you do not need to stay for 5 yrs to be qualify. To answer to some people here you do not know the condition of her mom why she is not working. freqflyer you really think she needs money from her mom to help her with rend and others?? Some others nationality when parent get old children should take care of their parent no matter what. Just for your information you do not need to work in US to get medicare. My aunt is 70 years old never work in US and green card holder has medicare. TooYoungForThis, you should learn more about immigration because having a greencard does not mean illegal immigrant. Instead of helping the person I just found most of those comment disrespectful, and discrimination people need to do better. We are ALL immigrant in USA except Indian American and your ANCESTOR were immigrant in this Country.

Well, I can see by the answers that there are many people who attack at a moment's notice if someone even asks a question about medical help. This question was asked 2 years ago and I'm assuming that vkate12 already has an answer but sometimes AgingCare.com puts an old question on here anyway. Rather than wonder what and why, make a list of your questions that you need answered and either call Medicaid or make an appointment with them and talk with them about your questions. Usually this forum gives great answers to questions like what to do about a wound, etc. but anything dealing with the government or a department of it only gets you in deeper and you wind up with more questions than you had at the beginning. Just go see them or sit on the phone and ask questions until you are satisfied you know what you need to know to get her some help. And for some of you who was snarky, yes a 68 year old needs checkups especially if they came from another country because she may not know the status of her health with respect to diabetes, high blood pressure and many other issues. Once she gets checked out, she may be fine and not need another doctor for a year but she needs one if she didn't see one before coming over here. Stop showing your fangs and ready to bite.

Regarding Medicare:

Medicare for Green Card Holders... an United States citizen or legal permanent resident aged 65 years or more usually qualify for Medicare. One of the eligibility criteria is that the person or spouse must have worked in the United States and have paid Medicare taxes for minimum 40 quarters.

FF is correct. A person has to have worked & paid taxes in the US to receive Medicare. Some collect Medicare from their spouses having worked the required quarters.
I would hope his mom has been seeing doctors and taking care of herself way before coming to the US at 68.
Unfortunately the US has a rather large deficit now & there is barely enough funds to take care of US citizens. It is what it is.
My mom collected Medicare and paid almost $800 every quarter for her medigap coverage by the time she passed away @ 89. She had no other income but made sure to pay that premium ( on top of Medicare B premium). And we were poor. 
Sorry if a few of you don't like the truthful answers some posted. Those posters are allowed to speak as well.
And a good question was why her family didn't research what the mom was eligible for prior to coming here.
There are several clinics that will charge a nominal fee for people with no coverage, as cited about.
Empathy is nice but the reality is everyone pays for their healthcare in the US. We take care of our poor but we can't take care of everybody. Touchy subject, I know. Reality can stink sometime.