Taking Care of Your Health
People in the
Employers may offer health insurance as a benefit to their employees. Some employers pay all of your monthly health insurance fee, and some pay only part of the fee. This monthly fee is called a “premium.” You may need to pay part of the premium. Usually, employers will deduct the employee’s part of the premium from their paycheck.
Doctors send their bills to your health insurance company. The health insurance company will pay for some or all of your medical services. Often you must pay a portion of your medical bills. This is sometimes called a “co-payment.”
If you do not have health insurance, you may be able to get federal or state healthcare assistance. In general, most states provide some type of assistance to children and pregnant women. Check with the public health department of your state or town.
If you need urgent medical care, you can go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. Most hospitals are required by federal law to treat patients with a medical emergency even if the person cannot pay.
Federal and State Health Programs
Medicaid is a joint federal/state program for low-income people. Each state has its own Medicaid guidelines. Medicaid pays for medical services, such as visits to the doctor and hospitalization. Permanent residents who entered the
Medicare is a health insurance program for people 65 years of age or older or who have specific disabilities. Medicare pays for services if you are sick or injured, but does not pay for routine care (such as check-ups with your doctor), dental care, or eye care.
Medicare has several parts, including Part A, Part B, and prescription drug coverage. Part A is free and pays for hospital care and nursing homes certified by Medicare. Part B pays for visits to the doctor, ambulances, tests, and outpatient hospital care. For Part B, you pay a monthly fee. Prescription drug coverage helps pay for medications doctors prescribe for treatment. Enrolling in a Medicare prescription drug plan is voluntary, and you pay an additional monthly fee for this coverage.
Permanent residents can get Medicare Part A, Part B, and prescription drug coverage if they meet certain conditions. Those who are 65 and older are automatically in Medicare when they start getting Social Security retirement benefits. If you are not 65 but are eligible for other reasons, call the Social Security office near you for information about enrolling. Generally, you must have worked in the
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
Your children may be able to get free or low-cost healthcare if you meet certain conditions. Every state has a health insurance program for infants, children, and teenagers. The insurance pays for doctor visits, prescription medicines, hospital care, and other healthcare services. In most states, children 18 and younger without health insurance whose families meet certain income limits are eligible. Children can get free or low-cost healthcare without affecting their parents’ immigration status.
FINDING A CLINIC OR OTHER LOW-COST HEALTHCARE
Clinics are medical offices that provide free or low-cost services. Most communities have at least one clinic. Community organizations that work with immigrants may know of a low-cost or free clinic in your area.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also provides basic healthcare to immigrants. They have a website that lists clinics and other healthcare choices. To find a clinic or doctor near you, visit http://ask.hrsa.gov/pc/. Type in your state or zip code to get the information. You can also look in the yellow pages under “Social Services.”
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MEDICAID AND MEDICARE
Contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SCHIP
Each state has its own SCHIP rules. You need to find out about the program in your state. For information about SCHIP in your state, call 1-877-543-7669 or visit http://www.insurekidsnow.gov and enter the name of your state.
Source:U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services