USANewsOnline.Com Desk, New York—Today, after years of being excluded, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients are now eligible for healthcare coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare. The updated policy has lifted the previous prohibition on DACA recipients’ eligibility for coverage under the ACA. Before the expansion, DACA recipients were ineligible for any federally funded health coverage.
In May 2024, the Biden Administration announced this expansion. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, this change is expected to allow approximately 100,000 newly eligible DACA recipients to obtain health coverage.
Q: What are the eligibility requirements?
A: To enroll in the Affordable Care Act program, individuals must be either citizens or nationals of the United States or be "lawfully present" in the country. Under the recent expansion, active DACA recipients will be regarded as "lawfully present" and, therefore, eligible to enroll in the program.
Q: How can DACA recipients enroll in the ACA coverage program?
A: DACA recipients can apply for ACA coverage during the open enrollment period from November 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025. Applicants can enroll online at HealthCare.gov or through their state’s health insurance marketplace, through an enrollment partner, by phone, or by mailing in a paper application. DACA recipients who apply through HealthCare.gov will be eligible for a “Special Enrollment Period” if they select that they have “gained eligible immigration status.”
Q: What documents should DACA recipients prepare for their application?
A: Applicants can start preparing to file their application by collecting proof of their eligibility, including:
Employment authorization document
Income tax returns
For more information, here is a checklist of the additional documents applicants may need.
Q: What are the important deadlines to look out for?
A: Eligible applicants are strongly encouraged to apply during the open enrollment period, which starts today and ends on January 15, 2025.
For more information, applicants are encouraged to contact a call center run by the federal government. Trained staff are available to assist individuals in applying for coverage, with language assistance provided upon request: 1-800-318-2596. Press Release