White House announces expansion of healthcare benefits to DACA recipients

Key Takeaways

On April 13, the Biden administration announced that participants of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, also known as Dreamers, will soon qualify for health insurance through Medicaid and Affordable Care Act marketplaces. In order for this change to take effect, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) plans to issue a proposed rule to expand the definition of who is “lawfully present” in the United States (as it applies to Medicaid and ACA marketplace eligibility) so that it includes DACA participants.

The DACA program, established in 2012, allows for individuals who were brought to the United States as children but do not have permanent legal status to access a renewable, two-year work permit and continue residing in the United States. Last July, counties incorporated permanent language into the American County Platform to support “legislation that, without imposing costs on counties, would allow certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country as children and/or for humanitarian reasons to attain legal status if they pass background checks, demonstrate good moral character and meet education requirements.”

Currently, approximately 600,000 individuals in the U.S. are enrolled in the DACA program, although that number has continued to dwindle as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been unable to process new applications due to an injunction in July 2021.

DACA holders, who are required to pay federal income taxes, are generally ineligible to receive most federal public benefits. However, when deemed necessary to protect one’s life or guarantee safety in dire situations, DACA holders may be eligible for public health programs for certain immunizations, emergency Medicaid and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).

Under HHS’s proposed rule, DACA recipients will be able to apply for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, where they may qualify for financial assistance based on income, and through their state Medicaid agency.

Additional Resources

• Kaiser Family Foundation: Health Coverage and Care of Immigrants
• National Immigration Forum: Immigrants and Public Benefits
• National Center for Child Poverty: Access to Health Insurance for DACA Recipients with Disabilities