Immigrants
Coverage for lawfully present immigrants
Lawfully present immigrants can get Marketplace coverage and may qualify for the
and
on Marketplace plans.
The term âlawfully presentâ includes immigrants who have:
- âQualified non-citizenâ immigration status (see details below)
- Humanitarian statuses or circumstances (including Temporary Protected Status, Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification, refugees and asylees, Convention against Torture, victims of trafficking)
- Valid non-immigrant visas
- Legal status conferred by other laws (temporary resident status, LIFE Act, Family Unity individuals)
Lawfully present immigrants and Marketplace savings
If youâre a lawfully present immigrant, you can get Marketplace coverage. You may qualify for lower costs on monthly premiums and extra savings on out-of-pocket costs based on your income.
The
is a measure of income used to decide your eligibility for certain programs and benefits. This could include savings on Marketplace health insurance, and
and
coverage.
- If your annual income is above 400% of the FPL: You may still qualify for the premium tax credit that lowers your monthly premium.
- If your annual income is between 100% and 400% of the FPL: You may qualify for the premium tax credit and extra savings on Marketplace health coverage.
- If your annual household income is below 100% of the FPL: If youâre not eligible for Medicaid due to your immigration status, youâll qualify for the premium tax credit and other savings on Marketplace coverage if you meet all other eligibility requirements.
Immigrants and Medicaid & CHIP
If you're a "qualified non-citizen," you're generally eligible for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid and CHIP if you:
- Meet state income and residency rules.
- Got your "qualified" immigration status 5 years agoâthis is called the 5-year waiting period.
You don't have a 5-year waiting period if you're a refugee, asylee, or lawfully permanent resident who used to be a refugee or asylee.
If you're a qualified non-citizen, and you're in your 5-year waiting period, you may be able to get Marketplace coverage, if otherwise eligible.
âQualified non-citizenâ includes:
- Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR/Green Card Holder)
- Asylees
- Refugees
- Cuban/Haitian entrants
- Paroled into the U.S. for at least one year
- Conditional entrant granted before 1980
- Battered non-citizens, spouses, children, or parents
- Victims of trafficking and his or her spouse, child, sibling, or parent or individuals with a pending application for a Victim of Trafficking Visa
- Granted withholding of deportation
- Member of a federally recognized Indian tribe or American Indian born in Canada
- Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau who are living in one of the U.S. states or territories (referred to as Compact of Free Association or COFA migrants)
Children and pregnant immigrants
States have the option to remove the 5-year waiting period for Medicaid or CHIP if youâre pregnant or a child and are âlawfully residingâ in the U.S. Check if your state removed the 5-year waiting period.
Getting emergency care
Medicaid may cover treatment of an emergency medical condition if you meet all Medicaid eligibility criteria in the state (such as income and state residency) but donât have an eligible immigration status.
Medicaid, CHIP, & "public charge" status
Applying for or getting Medicaid or CHIP benefits or getting savings for Marketplace health coverage doesn't make you a "public charge." This means it wonât affect your chances of becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident or U.S. citizen.Â
There's one exception for people getting long-term care in an institution at government expense, like in a nursing facility. These people may face barriers getting a green card.