ECNETNews, January 31, 2025: A recent federal court ruling has significant repercussions for thousands of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and individuals with specific immigration statuses across 18 U.S. states, as they will face a loss of health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace.
This ruling, issued on December 9, 2024, affects DACA recipients and others living in states including Alabama, Florida, Texas, and Virginia. Those impacted are advised against selecting “yes” regarding eligible immigration status on their health coverage applications, as they will no longer qualify for ACA Marketplace health insurance.
Who is Affected?
This decision does not solely impact DACA recipients but also includes individuals with various immigration statuses, such as:
- Non-citizens in the process of obtaining lawful permanent residency without visa availability
- Family Unity beneficiaries under specific legal provisions
- Individuals with approved Special Immigrant Juvenile petitions who are not currently adjusting their status
- Children under 14 with asylum applications pending for fewer than 180 days
Limited Healthcare Options for Those Affected
As ACA coverage becomes unavailable in these 18 states, those affected may need to turn to alternative healthcare solutions, including community health centers that provide services based on income levels.
Where DACA Recipients Still Qualify for ACA Coverage
DACA recipients and individuals with certain immigration statuses remain eligible for ACA Marketplace coverage in states such as California, New York, and Illinois. Other states include:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The U.S. government has reiterated that immigration status information provided during the ACA application process will remain confidential and will not be utilized for immigration enforcement.
With the recent court ruling poised to affect thousands, advocacy groups are imploring impacted individuals to explore alternative healthcare options and seek guidance from legal and healthcare professionals to understand their rights and available resources.
