DACA Recipients to Access Health Coverage on HealthCare.gov Starting November 2024

DACA Recipients Gain Access to Health Coverage on HealthCare.gov

Starting November 1, 2024, Dreamers who benefit from DACA will be eligible to purchase health coverage and subsidies on HealthCare.gov and state-run health care marketplaces. This monumental eligibility shift was made possible by a regulation posted by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) on May 3, 2024. Approximately 500,000 DACA recipients, often referred to as Dreamers, will benefit enormously from this change, with projections indicating that over 100,000 uninsured Dreamers will now be able to gain health coverage.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which was announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on June 15, 2012, was designed to offer temporary protection from deportation for certain undocumented youth who arrived in the United States as children. Although the program has faced numerous legal challenges over the years, including a recent court order that blocks new DACA applications, it remains a vital lifeline for those already under its protection.

A Landmark Change Under the Affordable Care Act

Prior to this announcement, DACA recipients were excluded from the Affordable Care Act’s definition of lawfully present. As a result, they were ineligible for marketplace plans and subsidies, as well as for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The new regulation from HHS changes this status quo, offering a historic expansion of health care access to this significant portion of the immigrant population.

President Biden has emphasized his administration’s commitment to supporting the success of Dreamers and ensuring they have access to the health care system through the ACA. This latest move underscores that commitment and addresses one of the key areas where DACA recipients have faced significant barriers, aligning the nation’s health care policy more closely with its broader goals of inclusivity and equity.

Outreach, Assistance, and Broader Implications

The HHS and other entities are planning significant investments in outreach and enrollment assistance to maximize the number of DACA recipients who can benefit from this new eligibility. Further underlining this effort, the new regulations also provide clarifications on the health care eligibility of other immigrant groups, including those granted Special Immigrant Juvenile Status and children seeking asylum or other forms of humanitarian relief.

While the new regulation is a significant win and a step forward, advocacy efforts are far from over. Advocates continue to push for an even broader expansion of health care access and other forms of immigration relief, highlighting the ongoing need for a permanent legislative solution for DACA recipients. The landscape of health care and immigration policy remains fluid, and the fight to provide Dreamers with lasting security and peace of mind carries on.