Immigrants
Lawfully present immigrants can buy private health insurance at the Marketplace.
Immigrants and health insurance
♦ If you're a lawfully present immigrant, you may also be eligible for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage.
People must have a lawfully present immigration status to enroll in an ACA marketplace plan.
Dreamers
An important exception is individuals granted deferred action under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Starting November 1, 2024 when a new HHS rule goes into effect. DACA and certain other statuses will become eligible to enroll in ACA plans and financial help may be available provided they meet all other applicable requirements.
12/09/24 - Federal Judge suspends HHS rule. Stopping DACA individuals from enrolling in ACA plans.
12/16/24 - 8th Circuit Court of Appeals stays Dec. 9th order. DACA individual can enroll in ACA plans while the Appeals court decides.
♦ If you’re not lawfully present you can still buy health insurance just not at the Marketplace.
Immigrant families have important details to consider in the health insurance Marketplace. You’ll find information on rules and options for immigrants on these pages.
Most people in the following groups are eligible for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace:
► U.S. citizens
► U.S. nationals
► Lawfully present immigrants
Undocumented immigrants are not eligible to buy Marketplace health coverage.
Undocumented immigrants cannot receive premium tax credits and other savings on Marketplace plans.
But they may apply for coverage on behalf of documented individuals.
Many immigrant families are of “mixed status,” with members having different immigration and citizenship statuses. For example:
• Some families may have taxpaying members who can’t buy health insurance through the Marketplace, alongside other family members who are eligible to use the Marketplace as citizens or lawfully present immigrants.
• In another mixed status family, some members may not be eligible for full Medicaid coverage, while other members are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP.
Mixed status families can apply for premium tax credits or lower out-of-pocket costs for private insurance for their dependent family members who are eligible for coverage in the Marketplace. They can also apply for Medicaid and CHIP coverage for their dependent family members.
♦ Family members who aren't applying for health coverage for themselves won't be asked if they have eligible immigration status.
Disclosure of immigration status
Federal and state Marketplaces and state Medicaid and CHIP agencies can’t require applicants to provide information about the citizenship or immigration status of any family or household members who aren’t applying for coverage.
♦ Medicaid, CHIP, and the ACA marketplaces use the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to verify the citizenship or immigration status of people applying for coverage.
States also can’t deny benefits to an applicant because a family or household member who isn't applying hasn’t disclosed his or her citizenship or immigration status.
♦ Information provided by applicants or beneficiaries won’t be used for immigration enforcement purposes. Get more information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
