Expanded Access to Medicaid, Marketplace Coverage Coming for Some Immigrants

From Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

"In April, the Administration announced plans to make Medicaid and Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage available to people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Created in 2012, DACA has given people that came to the United States as children but had no lawful immigration status the opportunity to live and work in the U.S. without the constant fear of deportation.  However, people with DACA have been blocked from accessing Medicaid and ACA marketplace coverage despite having a deferred action immigration status recognized by the U.S. government.  All people with a deferred action immigration status, other than those with DACA, already meet the ACA marketplace and Medicaid and CHIP's lawfully residing requirement. 

This change, amending the definition of "lawful presence" to include DACA recipients for purposes of Medicaid and ACA marketplace coverage, has not yet taken effect.  The Department of Health and Human Services is expected to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking in short order.  Updates will be shared as this potential change in Medicaid and ACA marketplace eligibility makes its way through the rulemaking process.  

For more information on health coverage rules and processes for people who are immigrants, see https://www.healthreformbeyondthebasics.org/category/immigrant-related-resoures/."