The Biden administration is seeking to give children of illegal immigrants brought to the United States before the age of majority greater access to health insurance through federal programs.
The White House announced the expected measures on Thursday.
The administration’s proposal will allow participants in the DACA program, which protects against deportation for children of illegal immigrants brought to the United States before the age of majority, to access health insurance under the program. Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to the report explains.
“Health should be a right. I have worked hard to bring health coverage to more Americans than ever before,” President Joe Biden tweeted, adding that the move will give Dreamers the same opportunity.
The proposal comes as efforts to further protect children of immigrants who fall into this category (dubbed Dreamers in America) have stalled in Congress and face legal challenges. As of last year, about 580,000 people were enrolled in the DACA program, introduced under Obama in 2012, which offers deportation protection and work permits.
Program expansion will allow DACA recipients to enroll through the joint federal-state Medicaid program or through private insurers participating in exchanges created under the ACA Act of 2010 enacted under the presidency. Barack Obama.
Eight states have already expanded access to health insurance regardless of immigration status, according to health policy organization Kaiser Family Foundation.
The President reiterated in the video his call for Congress to give DACA recipients the opportunity to obtain citizenship, adding, “As we work toward this goal…we must give the ‘dreamers’ the opportunity and the support they deserve.”
A person familiar with the matter said it could take several months to finalize the White House proposal through the federal regulatory process. Meanwhile, Texas and other states with Republican attorneys general are challenging the program in court.
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