medicaidplanner Staff asked 4 months ago
My mom was not born in the USA, nor is she a citizen, can she still qualify for Medicaid?
medicaidplanner Staff answered 4 months ago
Yes, one can qualify for Medicaid as a resident alien. However there may be a five year waiting period before they can apply for Medicaid. Also known as a permanent resident, a lawful permanent resident, or a “green card holder”, a resident alien is an immigrant who is a legal U.S. resident, but not a U.S. citizen.
One of Medicaid’s eligibility criteria is that an applicant be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national (i.e. Northern Mariana Islanders and America Samoans), or qualified alien. A “qualified alien” or “qualified non-citizen” includes legal permanent residents (resident aliens), asylees, and refugees. The five year waiting period does not apply to all qualified non-citizens, such as asylees and refugees, but generally does apply to resident aliens. Furthermore, it usually starts when one receives their “qualified” status. For instance, if one received their green card on May 1, 2022, they could apply for Medicaid on May 1, 2027. Some states, such as California, do not require a five-year waiting period.
Generally, at the time of Medicaid application, one must provide proof of their citizenship or immigration status. For instance, a U.S. citizen may have to submit a copy of their U.S. birth certificate, and a resident alien may have to submit a copy of their green card.
Some states extend Medicaid coverage to seniors regardless of immigration status. This includes California, which allows adults aged 50+ to be eligible (eff. 5/1/22), and New York, which allows persons 65+ years old to be eligible (eff. in 2023). For state-specific rules on resident aliens and other qualifying aliens, one should contact the Medicaid agency in their state.
In addition to Medicaid’s citizenship and immigration criteria, there is a state residence requirement for Medicaid eligibility. This means that one must be living in the state in which they are applying for Medicaid. Furthermore, one must meet Medicaid’s financial requirements, and for those who require long-term care, Medicaid’s functional criteria.