DACA Recipients Might Gain Access to ACA, Public Payer Coverage

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced plans to improve health insurance coverage for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, offering access to Affordable Care Act marketplace plans and public payer coverage.

DACA recipients (also known as “Dreamers”) are individuals who entered the US as children and do not have a lawful immigration status, among other criteria. While the law does not confer citizenship or provide a pathway to citizenship, it does offer certain benefits, such as a social security number and driver’s license as well as the ability to apply for work permits.

The Biden administration has directed the HHS to propose a rule that would enable DACA recipients to enroll in public payer coverage. If finalized, Dreamers would be able to access health insurance through the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplaces, the Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), and Medicaid.

“Dreamers come from every corner of this planet, but the United States is their home. They are students, teachers, social workers, doctors, nurses, and more importantly, they are Americans,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra stated in the press release.

Approximately 580,000 Dreamers live in the US. Becerra pointed out that over a third of all DACA recipients do not have access to health insurance (34 percent). The Secretary expressed the hope that offering DACA recipients access to health insurance would have a ripple effect. It would improve the health of Dreamers in the US and this, in turn, would allow them to be more productive residents, which would improve the economy.

“The path to a prosperous life starts with having access to good health. And the path to a prosperous nation starts by extending access to health care to every American,” Secretary Becerra said.

“The Biden-Harris Administration continues to urge Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and give them the ultimate peace of mind they need and deserve.”

The White House released a fact sheet on the proposed rule, projecting that the proposal would be available by the end of April 2023.

“The Department of Health and Human Services will shortly propose a rule amending the definition of ‘lawful presence,’ for purposes of Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage, to include DACA recipients,” the White House fact sheet explained.

In addition to having access to new health insurance marketplaces, DACA recipients would be eligible for low-income subsidies and financial support.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that health care should be a right, not a privilege. Together, they promised to protect and strengthen the ACA and Medicaid, lowering costs and expanding coverage so that every American has the peace of mind that health insurance brings,” the fact sheet concluded.

“The President’s announcement gives DACA recipients that same opportunity, as the Administration continues to urge Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers, providing them the ultimate peace of mind they need and deserve.”