Roughly 100,000 immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children are expected to enroll in the Affordable Care Act's health insurance next year under a new directive released by the Biden administration. This move, announced on Friday, aims to allow participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) to access health coverage through the marketplace exchange.
While the initiative falls short of President Biden's initial proposal to grant Medicaid eligibility to these migrants, it does provide them with the opportunity to benefit from tax breaks when enrolling in coverage starting November 1. The decision to include DACA participants in the marketplace is seen as a step towards improving their access to healthcare and reducing the financial burden they face when seeking medical treatment.
The DACA program, established by former President Barack Obama, offers protection from deportation and work authorization to immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. However, until now, DACA recipients were not considered 'lawfully present' and therefore could not enroll in government-subsidized health insurance programs.
The Biden administration's action to redefine 'lawfully present' status for DACA participants will enable over 800,000 migrants to enroll in marketplace coverage. Despite this eligibility, it is estimated that only around 100,000 individuals will sign up, as some may have alternative coverage options or face financial constraints.
The move is expected to have political implications, potentially boosting support for President Biden among Latino voters, a key demographic in the upcoming election. However, it is also likely to draw criticism from conservatives regarding the administration's immigration policies.
In addition to DACA participants, other groups of immigrants, such as asylum seekers and individuals with temporary protected status, are already eligible to purchase insurance through the Affordable Care Act's marketplaces. The administration's decision to expand access to healthcare for DACA recipients reflects a broader effort to address disparities in healthcare coverage among immigrant populations in the U.S.
