Migrant workers can get covered through Vermont Health Connect if legally present or otherwise eligible. There are two types of lawfully present migrant workers:
- Workers who have a Permanent Resident Card (also called a Green Card) or Employment Authorization Document from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
- Workers who have an H2A or H2B visa from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Those who qualify can get qualified health plans (QHP) through Vermont Health Connect.
Migrant workers, depending on their situation, may also be eligible for three other types of coverage:
If you are asked to verify the information on your application, a list of documents to show eligibility can be found here. Copies of original documents can be provided as proof of status.
If you do not have any of the listed documents, or are still not sure what to send in, please call Vermont Health Connect toll-free at 1-855-899-9600, Monday – Friday 8am to 4:30pm (except certain holidays).
Qualified Health Plans
If you're a migrant worker, you can apply for a Vermont Health Connect qualified health plan if you meet ALL conditions below:
- You are a Vermont resident; AND
- You are lawfully present in the United States; AND
- You are not in jail.
Eligible migrant workers who file taxes in the United States may also get financial help paying for a qualified health plan—including advance premium tax credits (APTC) and cost-sharing reductions. Use the Plan Comparison Tool to explore plan options and see if you qualify for financial help. If you're a migrant worker, you may be eligible for financial help paying for a Vermont Health Connect qualified health plan if you meet ALL conditions below:
- You are a lawfully present Vermont resident and are not in jail; AND
- You file federal taxes in the United States; AND
- You are not eligible for other minimum essential coverage (such as Medicaid or job-based insurance); AND
- You have a qualifying income.
Undocumented workers are not eligible. Married migrant workers may want to get tax advice before applying for Vermont Health Connect coverage.
Need in-person help? Look at a full directory of Assisters, trained persons in your community that can help you enroll in health coverage.
When Can Migrant Workers Enroll in a Qualified Health Plan?
- Open Enrollment (usually November 1 to the following January 15 each year)
- Immigrants who gain lawfully present status will have a 60 day Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to apply for coverage.
- Migrant workers who lose coverage because they can’t prove they are lawfully present in the United States may get a 60-day Special Enrollment Period (SEP) once they can prove they’re lawfully present.
- Migrant workers who move to Vermont to work will have a 60-day Special Enrollment Period to apply for coverage, starting from the day they arrive in the United States.
Medicaid
Migrant workers who are in Vermont with an Employment Authorization Document, or an H2A or H2B visa cannot get Medicaid. Workers with a Green Card from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may be able to get Medicaid coverage after they have been lawfully present in the United States for more than five years. There are some exceptions. The following migrant workers may be eligible for Medicaid coverage:
- Eligible pregnant women
- Eligible children under age 21
Emergency Medicaid Coverage
Migrant workers who are denied Medicaid coverage due to immigration status (and no other reason) may be able to get financial help paying for medical care in an emergency, such as unscheduled childbirth. Please call Vermont Health Connect at 1-855-899-9600 to learn more.
Immigrant Health Insurance Plan (IHIP)
If a person in your household is pregnant or under age 19, they may be eligible for the coverage through the Immigrant Health Insurance Plan.