MA health insurance for new senior (income, taxes, living in)

[peace1]

My 69 yr old mom will immigrate to US soon. I am in CA and she will live with me. People say MA is the only state she can get regular health insurance because in other states, new immigrant seniors will have to wait 5 yrs to get medicare.

If the above is true, I guess she will have to become an MA resident to get proper MA health insurance.

* Is it possible for her to become a resident of MA as well as continue living in CA with me?
*What kind of health insurance in MA shall she look for?
*Will her MA insurance give her emergency coverage for other states as well?

Any advice welcome.

[capecodcathy]

I don't know about legal immigrant eligibility for MA Health. However, I do know that establishing a false residency in MA to obtain MA insurance when your mother would actually be a resident of CA, would be considered insurance fraud. I'd focus on finding something legal for her in CA.

[in_newengland]

I'm not sure that an immigrant who has never paid into the system can ever get Medicare--you have to work and accumulate points.

To get MA Health she would have to be a resident of MA. That means she'd have to reside here for a certain amount of time per year and I think she would have to declare MA her permanent residence. Her income would have to be within certain low limits. There's probably more to it than that but the state of MA does not insure people all over the country -- that's what national health insurance would be for. CT and I think Vermont also have their own health insurance but I think it's for their own residents.

[seven of nine]

Originally Posted by peace1

My 69 yr old mom will immigrate to US soon. I am in CA and she will live with me. People say MA is the only state she can get regular health insurance because in other states, new immigrant seniors will have to wait 5 yrs to get medicare.

If the above is true, I guess she will have to become an MA resident to get proper MA health insurance.

* Is it possible for her to become a resident of MA as well as continue living in CA with me?
*What kind of health insurance in MA shall she look for?
*Will her MA insurance give her emergency coverage for other states as well?

Any advice welcome.

I am sure after the election there will be no restrictions sorry my one and only snide election remark.

[spiritedaway]

I second what capecodcathy said. Unless your mom is planning to move to MA and become a resident here, it is insurance fraud to try to obtain MA residency if she's going to be living in CA with you.

Your other questions depends on the type of coverage she ends up applying for (commercial vs government).

I'd suggest researching the health insurance options in CA if she's going to stay/live with you in CA.

Good luck.

[peace1]

Thanks all for your replies.
If I decide to move to MA and both of us establish residence in MA , how should I go about finding health insurance for her. She does not work and is disabled.

[brightdoglover]

In Mass., some health insurances have a "1+1" option- not single converage, not family coverage, and I think it now covers a dependent elder. Of course, she'd have to be a dependent. I think you can declare an elder as a dependent on federal taxes if you contribute at least 50% of their financial needs (certainly if you live with that person).
Check under Massachusetts required health insurance on google and find out what other options there are if your mother doesn't qualify for Medicare, that is, if you are actually moving here. No way will you get away with insurance fraud. Doesn't CA have MediCal or something?