Biden Makes Rule Change with HUGE Benefit for Illegal Immigrants
The White House announced on Friday that up to 100,000 undocumented immigrants will now qualify for healthcare coverage subsidized by federal tax dollars.
A new "final rule" issued by the Biden administration expands Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage to many individuals who have been permitted to stay in the United States under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, established during the Obama administration in 2012 when Joe Biden served as vice president.
The DACA program offers protection from deportation and grants work permits to undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as minors. However, it did not previously provide healthcare coverage to these individuals.
Under the new rule, DACA recipients can apply for coverage through Obamacare and state health care marketplaces starting in November, as stated in the White House announcement.
"President Biden and Vice President [Kamala] Harris believe that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege," the statement from the White House emphasized. "Today's final rule fulfills the President's commitment by extending peace of mind and opportunities to DACA recipients."
Vice President Harris mentioned that there are approximately 800,000 "dreamers" covered by DACA and urged Congress to take permanent action to protect them. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has called on Congress to create a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and others.
While minors previously covered by DACA can still receive its benefits, a federal judge's ruling in 2021 barred the government from admitting new individuals into the program, a decision later upheld by an appeals court.
The cost of extending ACA coverage to an additional 100,000 young people has not been estimated yet.
Below is the complete news release from the Biden White House.
Administration Expands Health Coverage to DACA Recipients
President Biden Announces Final Rule that will Allow Eligible DACA Recipients to Enroll in Affordable Care Act Coverage
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is expanding access to affordable, quality health care coverage to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. In 2012, President Obama and then Vice President Biden created the DACA policy to transform the lives of eligible Dreamers – young people who came to this country as children—allowing them to live and work lawfully in our country. Over the last decade, DACA has brought stability, possibility, and progress to hundreds of thousands of Dreamers.
While President Biden continues to call on Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers and others, he is committed to protecting and preserving DACA and providing Dreamers with the opportunities and support they need to succeed, including access to affordable, quality health care coverage. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions, today’s final rule will remove the prohibition on DACA recipients’ eligibility for Affordable Care Act coverage for the first time, and is projected to help more than 100,000 young people gain health insurance. Starting in November, DACA recipients can apply for coverage through HealthCare.gov and state-based marketplaces, where they may qualify for financial assistance to help them purchase quality health insurance. Four out of five consumers have found a plan for less than $10 a month, with millions saving an average of about $800 a year on their premiums.
President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that health care should be a right, not a privilege. Together, they promised to protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, lowering costs and expanding coverage so that every American has the peace of mind that health insurance brings. Today’s final rule delivers on the President’s commitment by giving DACA recipients that same peace and opportunity.
Today’s rule also reinforces the President’s enduring commitment to DACA recipients and Dreamers, who contribute daily to the strength and vitality of our communities and our country. On day one of his Administration, President Biden committed to preserving and fortifying the DACA policy. While only Congress can provide Dreamers permanent status and a pathway to citizenship, the Biden-Harris Administration has continued to vigorously defend DACA against ongoing legal challenges and strengthened DACA by codifying the 2012 policy in a final rule.