Medicare for Green Card Holders

Health Insurance for green card holders is a crucial issue. Medicare is a federal healthcare program that provides health insurance for those 65 and older. This article is about Medicare for green cardholders. It covers the requirements, a 5-year residency rule, and costs.

Medicare Eligibility for Green Card Holders

Eligibility for green card holders is determined by:

• Length of time lived in the U.S
• Length of time you worked in the U.S 
• Spouses’ Eligibility might make you eligible as well

Medicare Part A Requirements for Green Card Holders

• A green cardholder needs to be 65 or older
• You or your spouse are required to have worked 10 years (or 40 quarters) during your lifetime 

Medicare Part B Requirements for Green Card Holders

If you have worked for less than 10 years, you can still be eligible for Medicare. This would be for Medicare Part B. So you would first purchase Part B then Part A.

Medicare 5 Years Residency Rule for Green Card Holders

You need to have 5 years of permanent residency in order to be eligible for Medicare. If you have less than 5 years of permanent residency you can still be eligible for Medicare if you are married to a green card holder or a citizen who is fully insured for one entire calendar year. 

Eligibility, Enrolling, and Penalties

Part B

Citizens or permanent residents must sign for Medicare as soon as they become eligible to avoid penalties. Part B penalties may lead to a 10% increase in premiums per year of failure to enroll. 

Part A

Delays to enroll in part A may also lead to a 10% increase in premiums. This premium increase will have to be paid for double the number of years of delay in enrollment. 

Part D

Part D penalties are calculated by Medicare based on penalties based on length of delay in enrollment and national base beneficiary premium. 

Cost of Medicare for Green Card Holders

Premium Free Part A

Premium Free Part A Medicare requires 40 credits or having 40 quarters of work in your lifetime in the U.S. This will have allowed you to pay Medicare and Social Security Taxes. The Social Security Administration declares that one work credit requires work for one quarter and earnings of at least $1,470.

Medicare Part A without 10 Years of Work 

You can buy Medicare Part A even without 10 complete years of work. This largely covers hospital services. Buying Medicare part A can cost as much as $499 per month.

Other Payments 

Premium-free Part A coverage will require additional Medicare payments such as Part B premium payments and 20% coinsurance for services. A private supplemental plan could reduce this. 

Medicare Costs for Green Card Holders

The premiums for Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D in 2022 are as follows:

Part A Premium for Hospital Coverage 

$0: 40+ work credits (10 years or more): $0

$274: per month 30-39 work credits (7-9 years)

$499: per month Less than 30 work credits (Less than 7.5 years)

Part B Monthly Premium for Medical Coverage 

(Calculated for 2020 income filed on individual tax return)

$170.10: $91,000 or less

$238.10: Above $91,000 and less than or equal to $114,000

$340.20: Above $114,000 and less than or equal to $142,000

$442.30: Above $142,000 and less than or equal to $170,000

$544.30:Above $170,000 and less than or equal to $500,000

$578.30: Above $500,000

Part C Premium for Medicare Advantage

Variable per plan 

Part D Premium for Prescription Drug Coverage 

Varies per plan and on income 

There can still be many additional costs incurred that are not covered. This is why many private insurance companies provide Medigap coverage options to decrease medical costs. 

How to Apply for Medicare as a Green Card Holder 

Everyone has the same initial enrollment period to avoid penalties. This enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after it.

If you receive Social Security benefits you may already be enrolled in Medicare Part A and B. If this is not the case you have to go to the Social Security Administration website and sign up. 

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