DACA Recipients Eligible for Medicaid and ACA Health Coverage Under New Biden Plan

President Joe Biden has announced a plan to increase health coverage for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program recipients. According to the administration’s announcement on April 13, the Department of Health and Human Services will propose a rule change that redefines “lawful presence” for the purpose of Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage to include DACA program recipients. This will allow them to apply for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace and their state Medicaid agency as well.

The primary goal of this move is to provide the same opportunities and support to DACA recipients as American citizens. Biden has also urged Congress to provide permanent legal residency to Dreamers, and he has been making this request since he became president. Despite the current congressional unwillingness to grant permanent legal status to DACA recipients, the Biden administration is taking significant steps to protect Dreamers. The administration is issuing regulations to preserve DACA and fighting political opponents in court to ensure its security.

The DACA program, established in 2012 by President Barack Obama and Vice President Biden, has provided stability to more than 800,000 young people who have found a home and a job in the United States. In his video announcement of the plan, President Biden stated that he believed DACA recipients have made the country a better place. He also said that by expanding health coverage to them, the administration aims to continue supporting them.