This is special information for immigrants (This page was updated on 8/22/2008)
If you are sick do not forgo care because you do not have insurance or due to your immigration status! We highly recommend that you locate the Community Health Center or Hospital in your neighborhood and go to them for care.
NOTE the Community Health Centers, Hospitals, and Health Care Advocacy Organizations are not obligated under the health care reform law to report any undocumented people to immigration officials and they are safeguarding everyone's information. To read more about this Medical Privacy applies to Undocumented Immigrants.
Community Partner's has a wonderful fact page for immigrants/non US citizens living in MA to find out what health care options they have.
If you are an immigrant (legal, illegal, documented, or undocumented) there is an organization that can help you navigate visa options, citizenship issues, adjustment of status, replacement/renewal of legal permanent residency cards, etc.. The organization is the Massachusetts Immigration & Refugee Advocacy Coalition and the staff person who has agreed to be the artist contact is: Carly Burton 617-350-5480x208 and her email is: cburton@miracoalition.org
The first thing you need to determine is- if you are considered a Massachusetts resident. If you are considered a MA resident (and are 18 years old), what is called the "individual mandate" applies to you (we recommend you print out that page).
All immigrants who are uninsured should contact a health care advocate to find out what their health care options are and you should also see our section "You Don't Have Insurance"
It is important to be aware that in order to attend a college/university in Massachusetts, most students (MA residents, non MA residents, and international students) will be required to have proof of health insurance (if they are 3/4 time or more-note BUT those enrolled for full-time for online courses are not required to have health insurance). Those students who are not covered by their parent's or their family's insurance can buy insurance themselves either on the private market or they can purchase from their school what is called Qualifying Student Health Insurance Program (QSHIP). For more information on QSHIP, see Community Partner's website QSHIP page on it.
What you also need to be aware of is what was called the "free care pool" that covers the uninsured medical expenses of those who are under a certain income level, has changed in name and how it operates. It is now called the Health Safety Net (HSN). From what we understand, the State will now be tying payment for medical expenses for those who are eligible for free care to if they are Massachusetts residents (only Massachusetts residents will be able to covered by the free care pool). WHAT this does not mean is that they will not deny you health care- but it may mean your medical expenses for receiving the care may not be covered by "free care pool" even if your income level would make it so. Again we strongly suggest you contact a health care advocate for more information on HSN and if you are eligible for it. Please also see our section on the HSN
AGAIN WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE IMMIGRANTS (documented & undocumented) work with an health care advocate to find out what health care coverage they are eligible for.
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Some Senarios that may apply:
You are a Massachusetts resident (you are filing MA tax returns)
All immigrants who are uninsured should contact a health care advocate to find out what their health care options are and you should also see our section "You Don't Have Insurance"
You currently do not have insurance and you are NOT a Massachusetts Resident.
If you are not a Massachusetts resident and you are not planning to become one (i.e. you may stay in the state for the summer after graduation, but you are not going to file Massachusetts Income Tax forms), the individual mandate does not apply to you. Nor do any of the other requirements under the MA Health Care Reform law. (This also applies to international students who are not Massachusetts residents.)
What you also need to be aware of is what was called the "free care pool" that covers the uninsured medical expenses of those who are under a certain income level, has changed in name and how it operates. It is now called the Health Safety Net (HSN). From what we understand, the State will now be tying payment for medical expenses for those who are eligible for free care to if they are Massachusetts residents (only Massachusetts residents will be able to covered by the free care pool). WHAT this does not mean is that they will not deny you health care- but it may mean your medical expenses for receiving the care may not be covered by "free care pool" even if your income level would make it so. Again we strongly suggest you contact a health care advocate for more information on HSN and if you are eligible for it. Please also see our section on the HSN
AGAIN, if you are an immigrant (legal, illegal, documented, or undocumented) there is an organization that can help you navigate health care options, visa options, citizenship issues, adjustment of status, replacement/renewal of legal permanent residency cards, etc.. The organization is the Massachusetts Immigration & Refugee Advocacy Coalition and the staff person who has agreed to be the artist contact is: Carly Burton 617-350-5480x208 and her email is: cburton@miracoalition.org
If you need legal help, contact the Massachusetts Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts: 617-350-7600
You may want to see if the Commonwealth Choice Plans (available to those who are age 18 and older) or if the Young Adult Plans (available for those who are 18-26 yrs. old- Note it used to be 19-26) are choices for you. A buyer beware on the Young Adult plans (YAP). Like the student health insurance plans offered by colleges/universities to students, all of the YAP plans, with the exception of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Young Adult Plan, have an annual limit on benefits or benefit caps on the amount they will pay out per year for coverage (i.e. they may only cover a total of $50,000 worth of medical bills per year and after you hit that amount you are responsible for the bills). Make sure you know what you are buying and what the plan covers and what its benefit cap is before you buy it.
The AF is waiting for the Access Project report that compares and contrasts the costs and benefits offered by the student health insurance plans (QSHIP) verse the Young Adult Plans to determine which are the best choices for consumers.
You are a Massachusetts resident and you are enrolled in college/university in Massachusetts or you are attending a college/university not in Massachusetts.
First is to understand is that individual mandate does apply to you and you will need to get insurance if you do not want to be penalized by DOR (MA Department of Revenue) on your State income taxes.
Please see our section:
http://www.healthcareforartists.org/dontpanic/special_student.html