Many states have responded to this challenge by creating affordable health coverage options for people whose immigration status bars them from enrolling in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. The experiences and successes in these states provide a useful roadmap for advocates and policymakers aiming to ensure that all people in the U.S. have access to affordable health coverage.
New immigrants – including those who gain citizenship or lawful permanent residency – can obtain health insurance from a variety of sources, including employer-sponsored plans, the individual/family market, and health plans that are marketed specifically for immigrants.
However, recent immigrants are often confused in terms of what health insurance options are available to them. Persistent myths about the ACA have made it hard to discern what’s true and what’s not in terms of how the ACA applies to immigrants who haven’t obtained U.S. citizenship
So let’s take a look at the health insurance options for immigrants, and how they’ve changed – or haven’t changed – under the ACA and various state-based approaches.
Can immigrants select from any available health plans during ACA open enrollment?
Yes, as long as they’re lawfully present in the U.S.
As discussed below, some states are starting to establish their own programs that provide health coverage to eligible applicants regardless of immigration status.
Open enrollment for individual-market health insurance coverage runs from November 1 to January 15 in most stages, although some states have different deadlines. During this window, any non-incarcerated, lawfully present U.S. resident (except DACA recipients, and that will change in November 2024 as described above) can enroll in a health plan through the exchange in their state. (Depending on the state, this can be a state-run platform or the federally run HealthCare.gov.) It’s also an option to enroll outside the exchange during that window, although financial assistance is not available outside the exchange.
Special enrollment period for new citizens
When you become a new U.S. citizen or gain lawfully present status, you’re entitled to a special enrollment period in your state’s exchange (Marketplace). You’ll have 60 days from the date you became a citizen or a lawfully present individual to enroll in a plan through the exchange, with subsidies if you’re eligible for them.
There are a variety of other special enrollment periods that apply to people experiencing various qualifying life events. These special enrollment periods are available regardless of whether a person is a lawfully present immigrant or a native-born U.S. citizen.
New immigrants – including those who gain citizenship or lawful permanent residency – can obtain health insurance from a variety of sources, including employer-sponsored plans, the individual/family market, and health plans that are marketed specifically for immigrants.
However, recent immigrants are often confused in terms of what health insurance options are available to them. Persistent myths about the ACA have made it hard to discern what’s true and what’s not in terms of how the ACA applies to immigrants who haven’t obtained U.S. citizenship.
So let’s take a look at the health insurance options for immigrants, and how they’ve changed – or haven’t changed – under the ACA and various state-based approaches.
Can immigrants select from any available health plans during ACA open enrollment?
Yes, as long as they’re lawfully present in the U.S.
As discussed below, some states are starting to establish their own programs that provide health coverage to eligible applicants regardless of immigration status.
Open enrollment for individual-market health insurance coverage runs from November 1 to January 15 in most stages, although some states have different deadlines. During this window, any non-incarcerated, lawfully present U.S. resident (except DACA recipients, and that will change in November 2024 as described above) can enroll in a health plan through the exchange in their state. (Depending on the state, this can be a state-run platform or the federally run HealthCare.gov.) It’s also an option to enroll outside the exchange during that window, although financial assistance is not available outside the exchange.
Special enrollment period for new citizens
When you become a new U.S. citizen or gain lawfully present status, you’re entitled to a special enrollment period in your state’s exchange (Marketplace). You’ll have 60 days from the date you became a citizen or a lawfully present individual to enroll in a plan through the exchange, with subsidies if you’re eligible for them.
There are a variety of other special enrollment periods that apply to people experiencing various qualifying life events. These special enrollment periods are available regardless of whether a person is a lawfully present immigrant or a native-born U.S. citizen.
