DACA Recipients Get Access to ACA Under New Biden Administration Rule

On Friday, the Biden Administration’s Department of Health and Human Services finalized a new rule expanding access to health care for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and ensuring DACA recipients will no longer be excluded from eligibility to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace, including advance payments of the premium tax credit and cost-sharing reductions or for coverage, through a Basic Health Program (BHP). The new rule redefines the phrase “legally present” to include DACA recipients.

Erika Andiola, immigration rights activist and the Chief Advocacy Officer for the organization RAICES, reacted on X:

THIS IS HUGE!!! The Biden admin announced that DACA recipients and youth with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJ) status will now be eligible for the Affordable Care Act (Aka Obamacare). This coverage will begin in November during open enrollment.

This rule is a big deal. DACA recipients are currently three times more likely to be uninsured than the general population, and the new rule is expected to cover about 100,000 previously uninsured DACA recipients.

Healthcare is a human right, and as much as we’d like to have Medicare For All in place tomorrow, this new rule is a big step in the right direction, not just in terms of increasing healthcare accessibility, but also in terms of recognizing DACA recipients who have built their lives in the United States and breaking down barriers.

All provisions of the final rule announced Friday will be effective on November 1, 2024, coinciding with the 2025 Open Enrollment Period.

In contrast, Donald Trump last week pledged that in a second term he would deport 15-20 million people from the U.S., including invoking martial powers. He tried to dismantle both DACA and the ACA in his first term; he will try again in a second term.

We at PDA applaud the Biden Administration’s actions to strengthen DACA and open the ACA to more Americans. We will continue standing with our DACA sisters and brothers in their quest for full American citizenship, and for any actions that move federal healthcare policy closer to quality healthcare access to all.

Our endorsed candidates are champions of comprehensive immigration reform, Medicare For All, and other programs aimed toward making a fair playing field throughout the nation. Volunteer and/or donate generously now.

Solidarity,

Dan O’Neal and Debra Schrishuhn for the PDA National Team

PS: Join us Thursday for our Campaign to Victory Call as we discuss how we get pro-Dreamer congressional candidates elected.