A recent rule change under the Biden administration has allowed certain undocumented immigrants, specifically DACA recipients, to purchase subsidized health plans through California’s insurance marketplace. This expansion has provided relief for around 40,000 DACA recipients who were previously only able to obtain health insurance through their employers. However, a Republican-led effort is seeking to halt this expansion, with concerns that President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge of mass deportations could further jeopardize the gains California has made in increasing health coverage for undocumented immigrants.
California, home to about 1.8 million undocumented immigrants, has recently expanded its health insurance program Medi-Cal to include undocumented immigrants of all ages. Despite this progress, 19 Republican attorneys general are challenging the new benefit, arguing that it encourages illegal immigration and creates additional burdens for states running their own insurance marketplaces. California and 18 other states have filed a brief in defense of the expansion, but the case is still pending.
With uncertainties surrounding the future of healthcare coverage for DACA recipients and other undocumented workers, Covered California officials and immigration attorneys urge eligible individuals to sign up for health insurance as soon as possible. Open enrollment began on Nov. 1 and ends on Jan. 31, with coverage available by Jan. 1 for those who sign up by Dec. 31. Despite fears about potential policy changes under the new administration, DACA grantees are encouraged to take advantage of the current opportunity for healthcare access. Executive Director of Covered California, Jessica Altman, emphasizes the importance of not letting fears about the future prevent individuals from accessing necessary healthcare services and preventive care.
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