Immigration advocates are calling on the Biden administration to raise awareness among DACA recipients about their eligibility to purchase Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance. The administration recently allowed DACA recipients to enroll in ACA health plans, but there has been a lack of outreach efforts by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It is estimated that around 100,000 DACA recipients could be eligible to enroll in ACA marketplace plans.
Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Joaquín Castro and Sen. Cory Booker, have urged HHS to invest in outreach efforts to help DACA individuals navigate the enrollment process. The enrollment period opens just before the presidential election and ends shortly before the next inauguration. However, the future of DACA is uncertain pending a decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Advocates are hoping DACA recipients’ insurance coverage will remain in place despite potential legal challenges to the program. United We Dream, an immigration advocacy group, has started their own outreach efforts to raise awareness among DACA recipients. Despite the fact that most DACA recipients are employed, many still lack access to health insurance.
With the support of lawmakers and advocacy groups, DACA recipients are being encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to enroll in ACA health plans and access much-needed medical care. The increased outreach efforts, combined with the implementation of tax breaks through the American Rescue Plan, have led to a rise in ACA enrollment among Black and Latino communities.
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