What are there immigration rules for employer-sponsored health coverage?

Health insurance is a necessity for most Americans today. It provides access to preventative and specialty care and protects individuals and families from the financial burden of medical expenses. Families and individuals who do not have access to health coverage may be more likely to suffer from poor health or financial instability.

Most in the United States have access to insurance coverage through their employers. Employee health insurance is often comparatively affordable and can provide much-needed care even for those with pre-existing conditions or who may otherwise have difficulty obtaining personal insurance through traditional avenues.

Immigrants are among the millions who can benefit from workplace insurance coverage. Unfortunately, while immigrants play a key role in America’s workforce, they often struggle when it comes to obtaining employer-sponsored group health insurance. In fact, as many as 40 to 50 percent of immigrants are currently believed to be uninsured.

In some cases, they are even less likely to be eligible for certain types of public health coverage, such as Medicaid and Medi-Cal. For example, an undocumented immigrant will not be eligible for SCHIP, and immigrants must be residents for a minimum of five years before qualifying due to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. They may be further restricted for economic reasons.

In order to be covered through an employer-sponsored plan, an immigrant must either work or have a spouse who works. They must be legally able to work as well, as a legal immigrant, with a green card, permanent resident status, or citizenship status.

Not all employers of immigrants offer health benefits, and self-employed immigrant workers may not have insurance benefits at all. In these cases, immigrants may benefit more from private insurance. This can provide them with the access to reliable health care they need as it protects their finances.

Source: Los Angeles Health Coverage

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