More than 100,000 young immigrants protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program will be eligible for federal health care coverage for the first time since DACA was implemented a decade ago.
The Biden administration will announce a new federal rule on Friday that would allow DACA recipients to enroll in a qualified health plan through the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace or gain coverage through a major health program.
Approx 580,000 young people those without legal immigration status who have lived in the US since childhood now work or study under DACA without fear of deportation. Moment The vast majority of DACA recipients were born in Mexico and other Latin American countries.
Although the program helped them access to better paying jobs and educational opportunities have been DACA beneficiaries since it was first implemented in 2012 denied access to federally funded health insurance despite contributing billions in federal taxespouring funds into the nation’s federal health insurance system for years.
While many DACA recipients obtain health insurance through jobs, more than a quarter currently estimated to be uninsured.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told reporters that by implementing a federal rule that expands the definition of “legal presence” to include DACA recipients, they are “no longer excluded from receiving quality health plan coverage and financial assistance.” press call Thursday.
The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than 100,000 young immigrants without health insurance will now have access to affordable health care.
“DACA recipients are currently three times more likely to be uninsured than the general U.S. population, and those without health insurance are less likely to receive preventive or routine health screenings. They delay getting the care they need, and when they do get care, they face higher costs and debt,” Becerra said, adding that the new expansion “will improve health and strengthen the health and well-being of our nation.”
The new federal rule does not make DACA recipients eligible for Medicaid, but covers them through the Affordable Care Act and its marketplaces and financial assistance programs, according to senior administration officials.
The announced rule is expected to take effect Nov. 1, which coincides with the Affordable Care Act’s 2025 open enrollment period for health insurance plans, and according to HHS, newly eligible DACA recipients will have access to federal health care starting in December. allows you to get
Friday’s announcement comes nearly a year later President Joe Biden first announced his administration’s plan to expand health care coverage to DACA recipients. The administration’s initial plan was to implement the federal rule by November 2023.
Senior administration officials declined to comment this week on why the rule was delayed.
However, White House domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden stressed that “the president will continue to fight for DACA recipients,” adding that “only Congress can provide them with permanent status and a path to citizenship.”
Although the program has been around for ten years, it He has faced legal challenges during the Trump administration and from Republican-led states. DACA has been closed to new enrollees since July 2021 due to lawsuits challenging the program. they continue to go through the court.
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