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I am now seventy years and green card just received 3 months ago, no employment, no income how can i register in market place
Executive Summary
You can apply to the Health Insurance Marketplace as a recent green card holder; being lawfully present is generally sufficient to enroll in Marketplace plans, and you may qualify for subsidies depending on your income and changing federal rules. Medicare eligibility is separate: most green card holders must meet a five-year continuous lawful residency requirement to get Medicare, and recent federal law changes have altered who can receive Marketplace subsidies beginning in 2026–2027, so cost and program eligibility depend on residency length, current income, and evolving federal rules [1] [2] [3].
1. What the question actually asserts — a simple case with big policy details
The claimant is a 70-year-old lawful permanent resident who received a green card three months ago, has no employment and no income, and asks how to register in the Marketplace. The key claims extracted from the supplied analyses: (A) lawfully present immigrants can buy Marketplace plans; (B) Medicare has a five-year residency requirement for most green card holders; and (C) recent federal changes (H.R.1) affect who can get subsidies and when those changes take effect. Those three facts set the user’s practical options: whether they can enroll, whether they should seek Medicare, and whether they will receive financial assistance [1] [2] [3].
2. Marketplace enrollment: you are eligible to apply, but affordability depends on income
Federal guidance confirms lawfully present immigrants can enroll in Marketplace plans and there is no specific income threshold that prevents applying, but financial help (premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions) is tied to household income and subject to new limits for some immigrants enacted in recent legislation. The Marketplace open enrollment window runs annually, and special enrollment periods may apply if you experience qualifying life events. Insurers cannot deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, and essential benefits cannot be lifetime-limited, which matters for older applicants assessing coverage value [1] [4].
3. Medicare remains a separate pathway with a five-year residency gate for many green card holders
Medicare eligibility for people turning 65 is contingent on citizenship or certain immigration statuses and typically a five-year continuous lawful residency requirement for green card holders who lack sufficient U.S. work credits. Because the individual is already 70 and a green card holder for only three months, they generally do not yet meet the five-year rule and therefore would not qualify for Medicare Parts A/B now unless they meet other specific exceptions. If Medicare eligibility is absent, Marketplace coverage or state programs become the primary options [2] [5].
4. Subsidies and H.R.1: the costly twist that changes coverage options over 2026–2027
Recent federal changes described in analyses and policy summaries indicate H.R.1 introduced phased restrictions that eliminate or limit Marketplace premium tax credits for some lawfully present noncitizens: certain forms of assistance were curtailed for some noncitizen groups effective January 1, 2026, and further limits for other lawfully present groups take effect in 2027. These changes mean that while you can enroll, your ability to receive subsidies now or later depends on the specific rule that applies to green card holders and the timing of those statutory phases, so cost projections must use the most current federal guidance [3] [2] [6].
5. Practical enrollment steps — how to proceed now to preserve options and avoid gaps
Begin by submitting a Marketplace application at Healthcare.gov or your state exchange to determine eligibility for Marketplace plans, Medicaid, and any cost assistance; estimate expected annual household income as zero if you truly have no income, but report any assets or withdrawals that might count. Check for qualifying life events that could trigger a special enrollment period; if none apply, enroll during open enrollment. Because Medicare enrollment windows are separate, verify your residency timeline for the five-year rule and consider appealing or seeking state programs for premium help if Medicare becomes available retroactively [1] [7] [5].
6. States and safety nets: where local policy can change the outcome
States can and do provide different protections: some states maintain expanded Medicaid eligibility or have state-funded programs that cover older immigrants who are not yet eligible for federal programs, and some states limit age-based rate differences for Marketplace plans. If federal subsidies are lost or limited, state programs may be the most feasible route for affordable coverage, so contact your state Medicaid agency or navigator for in-person assistance and to learn about any state-funded premium or cost-sharing help [3] [6] [4].
Sources cited in this analysis reflect the supplied materials on Marketplace eligibility, Medicare residency rules, and H.R.1 impacts [1] [7] [4] [2] [6] [5] [3].