Washington, D.C. — Starting tomorrow, November 1st, thousands of DACA recipients will finally be able to enroll for healthcare through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, with coverage beginning as early as December. This enrollment period follows a new rule finalized in May by the Biden Administration, which offers the chance for over 100,000 previously uninsured DACA recipients who have been excluded from accessing lifesaving healthcare coverage to finally be eligible to purchase and enroll in health insurance under the ACA.
As open enrollment kicks off, the Home is Here coalition strongly encourages DACA recipients needing healthcare coverage to enroll as soon as possible, as attacks aimed at ending this rule are ongoing. Currently, bad actors in Kansas and 18 other states are attempting to block DACA recipients from accessing healthcare through the ACA in yet another cruel attempt to target and deny immigrants fundamental human rights. The case –Kansas v. United States– is currently in the appeals process in federal court.
Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Federal Advocacy of United We Dream, said:
“Medical care should never be dependent on someone’s immigration status, and this new ACA rule will have an undeniably positive, life-changing impact for thousands of DACA recipients who have had to push off doctors appointments, accessing medicine and addressing chronic or urgent medical concerns for far too long. Already, hateful, anti-immigrant actors are going after this rule, trying to block people from having access to healthcare. Their cruelty knows no bounds, but our goal is clear: with open enrollment set to kick off tomorrow, we are urging eligible DACA recipients nationwide to enroll as soon as possible.
Raha Wala, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy at the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), said:
“Access to more affordable health insurance options means more DACA recipients will be able to see a doctor and get quality care when they need it. That, in turn, means healthier and stronger communities overall. As open enrollment begins, we’re working to make sure that as many DACA recipients as possible know about ACA insurance plans newly available to them and can make informed decisions about their care.”
Iliana Perez, Executive Director of Immigrants Rising, said:
“It is with excitement that we announce the opening of the Affordable Care Act enrollment period for DACA recipients. This vital step enables thousands to secure essential healthcare coverage that our communities have long been denied, often at great cost to their mental and physical health. As an organization that strives to embrace and nurture the whole person, Immigrants Rising is thrilled that thousands of DACA recipients will now be able to secure the care they need to not just survive, but thrive. With this new opportunity under legal threat, we encourage DACA recipients to enroll as quickly as possible to access the care they deserve.”
Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us, said:
“The average DACA recipient came to this country at the age of 6, has built their life here, and we’re all better for it. And we’ll all be better off if they’re able to fully contribute by being healthy. Ensuring DACA recipients can access healthcare through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces is common sense and best for DACA recipients, their families, and everyone.”
Becca Telzak, Deputy Director of Make the Road New York, said:
“Healthcare is a human right and everyone should have access to a doctor. This expansion will allow DACA recipients across the country to access affordable and quality healthcare coverage to receive preventative care, treatments and more. While in New York DACA recipients are already eligible for Medicaid and the Essential Plan, this new expansion will allow DACA recipients in New York who aren’t already eligible for coverage, to enroll in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. All people regardless of immigration status deserve access to affordable quality healthcare, and we will continue organizing in our state to ensure all working-class immigrant communities, regardless of immigration status, have access to healthcare coverage.”
Sui Chung, Executive Director of Americans for Immigrant Justice, said:
“For too long, DACA recipients have faced barriers to accessing important and crucial healthcare that would allow them to maintain healthy lives, without fear of insurmountable medical debt. This is a major victory not only for DACA recipients, but our entire community, and a positive step toward improving equitable access to health care.”
