Are You Eligible for Health Insurance? A GUIDE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

Transcription

1 Are You Eligible for Health Insurance? A GUIDE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

2 It s easy to get started. Under the federal Affordable Care Act, more people are getting free or low-cost health insurance than ever before. Many immigrants and refugees are able to get health insurance, and it is safe to apply. The information you share is private and cannot be given to immigration enforcement. If you are an immigrant or refugee living in Washington State, it s easy to find out if you are eligible. If you have questions, you can get free, expert help in your language and translated documents if you need them. 4 Steps to Getting Health Insurance 1 Find out if you re eligible. What is the Affordable Care Act? The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a federal law that changes the way people get health insurance. You may have heard of it as Obamacare. More people are eligible for free or low-cost health insurance plans, even if they were not eligible in the past. In Washington State, these health insurance plans (called Qualified Health Plans) are available through Washington Healthplanfinder Gather the documents that verify your identity and income. Get free help if you need it. Apply for your health insurance. b WAFINDER wahealthplanfinder.org

3 1. Find out if you re eligible. What if you re not eligible? Your immigration status will determine whether you are able to get health insurance. You may also be eligible if you are applying for any of these statuses: Adjustment to LPR status If you are not eligible for health insurance at Washington Healthplanfinder, you may use Many immigration statuses are eligible for coverage, including: Legal Permanent Resident (LPR/green card holder) Asylee Refugee Cuban/Haitian entrant Conditional entrant Battered spouse, child or parent Nonimmigrant Status includes worker visas, student visas, and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau Administrative order staying removal issued by the Department of Homeland Security Member of a federally recognized Indian tribe or American Indian born in Canada Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) Deferred Action Status (Exception: individuals granted deferred action under Temporary Protected Status with employment authorization Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Victim of Trafficking Visa Asylum Withholding of Deportation or Withholding of Removal under immigration laws or the Convention Against Torture (CAT) Employment authorization may make you eligible: other health care resources that are available to all people, including: Apple Health (Medicaid) for limited emergency services CHIP coverage for pregnant women Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) Migrant and Community Health Centers Hospital charity care Trafficking survivor and spouse, child, sibling or parent Granted withholding of deportation or withholding of removal under the Immigration Laws or the Convention the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals [DACA] program are not eligible.) Registry Applicants Order of Supervision Applicant for Cancellation of Removal or Suspension of Deportation Health insurance coverage outside of Washington Healthplanfinder Against Torture (CAT) Application for Legalization under the Immigration Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Reform and Control Act (IRCA) Lawful Temporary Resident Legalization under the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act (LIFE Act) If you need help confirming your immigration status, please call WAFINDER ( ). Free help is available in your language. Source: WAFINDER wahealthplanfinder.org

4 2. Gather your documents. Important Protection When you apply for health insurance, you will need to provide some information about yourself, your income, and others in your household. This information is needed to find out if Pay stubs or a W-2 form you are eligible for free or low-cost health Insurance cards or policy numbers for any insurance, or tax credits. The immigration household members who already have status of others in your household cannot insurance cause you to be denied coverage. You may also need one or more of these documents to show your immigration status: Social Security Numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants) Employer and income information for each household member who needs coverage It is safe to apply. It is safe to apply for health insurance coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder, including free and low-cost state programs such as Apple Health (Medicaid) and Children s Apple Health (CHIP). Information given by applicants cannot be used for immigration enforcement purposes. The documents you share can only be used to determine eligibility for health insurance coverage. To find out if you are eligible, we need to prove your identity, income and lawful presence in the U.S. It is important to know that you are protected by law: Both citizens and undocumented children under the age of 19 are eligible to enroll. This is true even if their parents are undocumented. You cannot be denied benefits because a household member, who is not applying, has not provided information on their immigration status. Choosing who applies for coverage. Households can name the members of their household who are nonapplicants. These household members do not have to share their citizenship/immigrant status. But nonapplicants must supply information that helps determine the applicant s eligibility, such as income and tax filings. This information is private. It is not shared with immigration enforcement. Requests for Social Security Numbers. Some applicants do not have to give a Social Security Number (SSN). Non-applicants do not have to give a Social Security Number (SSN) unless all of the following are true: They or their tax dependents are applying for premium tax credits. They have an SSN. They are taxpayers WAFINDER wahealthplanfinder.org

5 3. Get free help if you need it. Questions? We have answers. Get free help to determine your eligibility and apply for health insurance. Health insurance now covers more people, and many people need help finding out if they are eligible for free or low-cost coverage. If you have questions or need support, expert help is free. For free, in-person help: Call WAFINDER ( ) or visit wahbexchange.org/how-enroll/ customer-support-network/ to find a Navigator or Insurance Broker near you. It is safe to trust these advisors with your information and questions. They are certified and, by law, must help without discrimination or threats of reporting to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Homeland Security. For free, private help by phone, in your language: Call WAFINDER ( ). Translator services in your language are free.???? If I apply for health insurance, will the government find out that my spouse (or child) is undocumented? A: No; it is safe to apply. The Affordable Care Act includes strong privacy protection to encourage mixed-status immigrant families to apply for the health insurance they need. No information is shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Is it safe to ask questions and get help from advisors? A: Yes, it is safe. All Washington Healthplanfinder employees and contractors must follow strict privacy rules. Contractors include: Qualified Health Plan (QHP) issuers, Navigators, insurance agents and brokers. If I apply for Apple Health (Medicaid) or for help with health insurance costs, will our application for a green card or citizenship be denied? A: No, your application for a green card or citizenship will not be affected. Washington Healthplanfinder subsidies, Apple Health (Medicaid) and Children s Apple Health are not used in screening green card applicants. There is only one special case: if you get long-term care in a nursing home, or other facility, paid for by the government. How am I protected from discrimination? A: All entities that get federal financial assistance (including all Qualified Health Plans sold on Washington Healthplanfinder) are held accountable to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and ACA Section 1557, which prohibits discrimination based on race, ethnicity and national origin WAFINDER wahealthplanfinder.org

6 4. Apply for health insurance. Identity Documents Congratulations! If you are eligible for health insurance, you can begin to enroll. You can enroll in a high-quality health insurance plan online using Washington Healthplanfinder, by phone, or in-person. Set up an online account. To apply for a health insurance plan on Washington Healthplanfinder, you will need to create an online account. You must have an address to establish your account. You can also look at health insurance plans online and find the best one for your needs. Your application ID Healthplanfinder creates a unique application ID number when you or the person helping you sets up your online account. You will need this application ID to track your application. Verifying ID and income. If you are not able to complete ID verification: You can complete the application using a paper form, or over the phone. You can speak to someone in your language. Free translator services are available by phone. You will need to make copies of and mail or upload documents to your Washington Healthplanfinder (website: wahealthplanfinder.org) account to complete your application: Include your application ID number or a copy of the application with all mailed documents. Do not send your originals. Mail copies to: Washington Health Benefit Exchange PO Box 946 Olympia, WA To verify income: If you don t know your Social Security Number (SSN), or if you don t have a Social Security Number, your income cannot be verified through a match with SSA or IRS. You may have to make copies of and mail or upload paper documentation showing your income. Your ITIN is not needed in the application process. It is not used to match with IRS data. When applying for health insurance, applicants can prove their identity by mailing or uploading: One of these: Driver s License School ID Card Voter Registration Card U.S. Military Card or Draft Record Military Dependent ID Card Tribal Card Authentic Document from a Tribe U.S.C.G. Merchant Marine Card ID Card issued by the federal, state or local government, including immigration document and U.S. passport Or two of these: U.S. Public Birth Record Social Security Card Marriage Certificate Divorce Decree Employer Identification Card High School or College Diploma Property Deed or Title WAFINDER wahealthplanfinder.org

7 When you apply, we will tell you if you are eligible for: Cost savings or free coverage based on your income. 85% of people who got insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder have qualified for premium tax credits. These tax credits lower the cost of health insurance coverage. All plans cover essential health benefits, pre-existing health problems, and preventive care. Apple Health (Medicaid) coverage, which now covers more people in Washington State. Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) and its Children s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free or low-cost coverage to families with limited incomes. You can apply for Apple Health and CHIP any time of year. There are no deadlines. If you are eligible, coverage can start immediately. By mail, phone, or online you can: Ask for paper notices and letters in your language. Get free, expert help from the Customer Support Center in your language. Report changes and complete renewals through the website by calling the Customer Support Center or by mailing the information to: Washington Health Benefit Exchange PO Box 946 Olympia, WA Real People, Real Health Care Coverage. Each individual and family has different health insurance needs. Here are four stories that show how families with different incomes and immigration statuses are eligible for health care insurance now WAFINDER wahealthplanfinder.org

8 STORY 1 Viktor, Miriam and Anton STORY 2 Ricky, Eva and Karina Viktor and Miriam are married and live in Washington State. Miriam became a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) 2 years ago. Viktor became a citizen last year. Their son, Anton, was born in Washington. He does not yet have a Social Security Number (SSN), but his parents have applied for it. The family income is $17,577. Viktor and Miriam file taxes jointly, and claim Anton as a dependent. Ricky and Eva are not married, but they live together with their daughter, Karina. Ricky has a student visa and plans to complete his studies at Washington State University in He has no income. Eva has Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). She earns $37,107 a year. She plans to file federal taxes and will claim Ricky and Karina as dependents. Their daughter, Karina, is a citizen. Eligibility Eligibility Based only on citizenship/ Based only on citizenship/ immigration status immigration status VIKTOR AGE: 27 MIRIAM AGE: 27 ANTON AGE: 2 RICKY AGE: 24 EVA AGE: 24 KARINA AGE: 1 APPLYING FOR COVERAGE? APPLYING FOR COVERAGE? CITIZEN? CITIZEN? IMMIGRATION STATUS SUBJECT TO THE 5-YEAR WAITING PERIOD? Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) IMMIGRATION STATUS Visaholder (student) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) RESIDENCY FOR QHP ENROLLMENT? SATISFIED THE 5-YEAR WAITING PERIOD? May be eligible for: May be eligible for: for payment of limited emergency services CHIP (Children s AppleHealth) CHIP (Children s AppleHealth) WAFINDER wahealthplanfinder.org

9 STORY 3 Mei, Michael and Lin STORY 4 Nadif, Fatima and Amina Mei lives with her son, Michael, and her father, Lin. She has been a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) for 6 years. Michael is a citizen. Lin has been a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) for 2 years. He has not worked the 40 quarters needed to be eligible for Medicare. He is Mei s dependent. Mei earns $26,942 a year. Nadif and Fatima entered the U.S. as refugees 4 years ago. They are married and have a daughter, Amina. The couple became Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) 1 year ago. Amina is a citizen. Nadif earns $18,553 a year. Fatima has no income. Nadif and Fatima file taxes jointly and claim Amina as a dependent. Eligibility Eligibility Based only on citizenship/ Based only on citizenship/ immigration status immigration status MEI AGE: 33 MICHAEL AGE: 5 LIN AGE: 72 NADIF AGE: 33 FATIMA AGE: 32 AMINA AGE: 4 APPLYING FOR COVERAGE? APPLYING FOR COVERAGE? CITIZEN? CITIZEN? IMMIGRATION STATUS SUBJECT TO THE 5-YEAR WAITING PERIOD? Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) IMMIGRATION STATUS SUBJECT TO THE 5-YEAR WAITING PERIOD? Refugee, Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) Refugee, Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) SATISFIED THE 5-YEAR WAITING PERIOD? May be eligible for: May be eligible for: CHIP (Children s AppleHealth) CHIP (Children s AppleHealth) WAFINDER wahealthplanfinder.org

10 More questions? Additional Resources List of Immigration Statuses that Qualify for Marketplace Coverage: Health Coverage for Immigrants: Immigrants HealthCare.gov: Memo from U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE): Clarification of Existing Practices Related to Certain Health Care Information : Georgetown University s Center for Children and Families (blog): The Administration s New Welcome Mat for Immigrants: It s Safe to Apply : CMS Materials in Other Languages: FAQ Exclusion of Youth Granted DACA from Health Coverage: http: Search Results National Immigration Law Center: (PDF) National Immigration Law Center Immigrants and The Affordable Care Act (in English and Spanish): immigrantshcr.html Quick Guide to Immigrant Eligibility for ACA and Key Federal Means-Tested Programs: Search Results National Immigration Law Center: Overview of Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs: (PDF) Medical Assistance Programs for Immigrants in Various States: (PDF) Lawfully Present Individuals Eligible Under the ACA: (PDF) Typical Documents Used by Lawfully Present Immigrants: (PDF) FAQ Exclusion of Youth Granted DACA from Health Coverage: (PDF) Defining Health Care Insurance: A Glossary of Terms: Literacy_Glossary_ pdf Search for a Navigator: action?brokernavigator=nav Consumer Reports, Health Insurance explanation materials in Spanish and English: (S(ragm1lyu14dvzkz2gwdohd5e))/storefront.aspx?CatalogID=6619&PageNumber=1&SubCatID=&SavedCart=N Enroll America Health Insurance Literacy Resource Hub: WAFINDER wahealthplanfinder.org

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