Health Insurance for Immigrants

Access to health insurance depends on your immigration status and income.

Main Options

• Through an employer — the most common and cost-effective option
• Marketplace (Healthcare.gov) — available to lawful immigrants, with income-based subsidies
• Medicaid — free for low-income individuals (restrictions apply to immigrants)
• CHIP — children's health insurance
• Emergency Medicaid — emergency care for everyone, including undocumented individuals

For most immigrants, there is a 5-year waiting period for Medicaid.

Who Can Get Medicaid Immediately

• Refugees and asylees (first 7 years)
• Survivors of human trafficking
• Holders of an SIV (Special Immigrant Visa)
• Pregnant women (in certain states)
• Children under age 19 (in certain states)

After 5 Years

Qualified immigrants (green card holders, asylees, TPS recipients, and others) gain access to full Medicaid if they meet their state's income requirements.

Healthcare.gov (Marketplace) offers insurance plans with subsidies for lawful immigrants.

Who Is Eligible

• Citizens and lawful permanent residents
• Holders of work and student visas
• Individuals with EAD, TPS, or DACA
• Asylum applicants with an EAD

Subsidies

Premium tax credits reduce your monthly cost. The amount depends on your income. Immigrants with income below 150% of the FPL who do not qualify for Medicaid may be eligible for the maximum subsidies.

Open Enrollment

The main enrollment period runs November 1 – January 15. A Special Enrollment Period is available following qualifying life events (loss of coverage, relocation, birth of a child).