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Green Cards & Medicare Eligibility

Medicare is the federal program of health insurance for senior citizens and disabled individuals. Almost any citizen in the U.S., upon turning 65 years of age, qualifies to receive Medicare. However, you must also meet certain requirements to be eligible to receive Medicare, such as a history of having paid Medicare tax.

  1. Green Card

    • A green card is a document that proves a person has permanent residency in the U.S. A green card allows you to live and work in the United States as a legal permanent resident. Not every foreigner is eligible to receive a green card, since you must meet specific requirements that allow you to do so. You can become a permanent resident through a family member who is a resident (a parent, spouse or child), through a job or through refugee or asylum status. Once you become a permanent resident, you are granted almost all the rights of U.S. citizens, including eligibility for federal and state benefits.

    Medicare

    • Medicare is public health insurance, and its coverage is divided into four parts. Part A helps to cover costs of hospital stay and hospice care. Part B pays for preventive care and medical treatment costs. Part C is coverage provided by private companies under contract with Medicare. Part C adds coverage that is not included in part A or B. Part D plans pay for costs of prescription drugs.

    Green Card And Medicare

    • To receive Medicare, you must be older than 65 years of age or disabled, and you must have received Social Security benefits for 24 months. However, these are not the only requirements for eligibility. To be entitled to receive Medicare Part A and qualify for other parts of Medicare, you must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident, which means that you must have a green card. If you are a non-legal immigrant, a tourist, a student or someone with any other type of immigration status that does not make you a permanent resident or a citizen, you are not eligible for Medicare.

    Exceptions

    • Most people eligible for Medicare are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. Part A is free, but you must pay a monthly premium for Part B. To enroll in Part C, you must enroll in Part A and Part B. To enroll in Part D, you have to enroll in Part A or Part B. If you are not a citizen or a permanent resident who has a green card, you cannot enroll in Part A or Part C. However, if you are not a citizen or permanent resident but you have been legally admitted into the country and you have lived here for at least five years, you can purchase Part B.

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