About 100,000 immigrants, originally brought to the United States as children, are projected to join the health insurance provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) next year, according to a new directive unveiled by the Biden administration on Friday.
This measure, albeit delayed from its initial promise and not as comprehensive as President Biden’s original suggestion of extending Medicaid eligibility to these migrants, will nonetheless enable a significant number of them to access tax benefits upon enrollment in ACA’s marketplace, commencing on November 1, just before the upcoming presidential election.
While this decision may aid Biden in garnering support, particularly among Latinos, a pivotal demographic for his electoral success, it is expected to invite further criticism from conservatives regarding the administration’s handling of border and migrant affairs.
The directive effectively extends marketplace access to participants of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, predominantly composed of individuals of Latino descent, many of whom have deferred seeking medical assistance due to lack of coverage.
Xavier Becerra, the country’s chief health official, emphasized the financial strain incurred by these individuals when accessing healthcare without insurance and highlighted the potential benefits of extending coverage to improve both individual and national health outcomes.
By revising the definition of “lawfully present,” the administration ensures DACA participants can legally participate in the marketplace exchange, thereby rectifying a previous exclusion from government-subsidized health insurance programs.
The DACA initiative, established by former President Barack Obama, aimed to shield undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as minors from deportation and grant them legal employment status. Despite this, DACA recipients, commonly referred to as “Dreamers,” remained ineligible for subsidized health insurance due to their legal status.
The decision not to broaden Medicaid eligibility for these migrants followed extensive public feedback, delaying the finalization of the rule. Consequently, many were unable to enroll in marketplace coverage this year, further prolonging their lack of access to comprehensive healthcare.
While over 800,000 DACA participants qualify for marketplace coverage, the administration anticipates only a fraction will enroll, citing potential alternative coverage sources such as employer-based plans and financial constraints hindering enrollment through the marketplace.
Unlike DACA recipients, other immigrant groups such as asylum seekers and individuals with temporary protected status are already eligible to purchase insurance through ACA’s marketplaces, established under Obama’s landmark healthcare legislation, known as “Obamacare.”
{Matzav.com}
