The United States Embassy in Georgetown has stated that persons seeking a renewal of their US visas who would have received medical treatment in the United States in the past, including for the birth of a child, must submit evidence that all medical bills from the treatment have been paid in full, and that they did not use U.S. public insurance programs, such as Medicaid, to cover the cost of care.
The US Embassy said those persons should gather these documents ahead of time to help ensure a smooth visa application process.
Responding to some of the comments under the post, the Embassy further explained that while the U.S. government will always ensure emergency medical care is provided to someone whose life is at risk, US medical insurance programs like Medicaid is not an entitlement for visitors.
According to the Embassy, Medicaid eligibility is generally limited to U.S. citizens and certain qualified categories of immigrants, making it clear that non-immigrant visitors are not eligible for standard Medicaid coverage.
The Embassy said what visitors may receive in a true emergency, is stabilizing treatment under federal law, which requires emergency rooms to treat life-threatening conditions regardless of ability to pay.
“This is separate from standard Medicaid benefits intended for U.S. citizens. It is not meant to cover ongoing or non-emergency care’, it was explained.
According to the US Embassy, if a visitor travels to the US without adequate funds or insurance and rely on the U.S. healthcare safety net to cover their medical bills, the pattern can be considered in future visa applications, particularly for travelers who habitually depend on U.S. public resources rather than their own means.
“Purchasing travel insurance before your trip is the responsible way to ensure you’re covered without relying on U.S. taxpayers”, the Embassy said.
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