Biden Increases Availability of Health Insurance for DACA Recipients

The White House announced on Friday that President Joe Biden’s administration will allow certain immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children access to federally run health insurance. This decision comes ahead of the November elections and is expected to benefit around 100,000 participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Under the Affordable Care Act, DACA recipients will now be able to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace and the Basic Health Program, providing them with previously unavailable healthcare options. DACA, established in 2012 under former President Barack Obama, offers deportation relief and work permits to immigrants known as “Dreamers” who arrived in the U.S. as children.

Prior to this change, DACA enrollees were not eligible for reduced-cost plans like Obamacare, but could receive health insurance through other means. President Biden expressed his support for this change, stating that “Dreamers deserve the promise of health care just like all of us.”

Participants in DACA will also have access to financial assistance, including tax credits and reduced out-of-pocket costs, starting November 1. The White House has not commented on the potential costs associated with this policy shift.

Immigration remains a key issue for voters in the upcoming presidential election, with Biden emphasizing a balance between border security and protecting those in the U.S. illegally. Former President Donald Trump, known for his hardline stance on immigration, attempted to end DACA during his presidency but was blocked by the Supreme Court.

Responding to the healthcare move, the Trump campaign criticized the decision as “unfair and unsustainable,” arguing that illegal immigrants compete for resources with American citizens. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the importance of providing healthcare access to all individuals to prevent unnecessary costs in the long run.

While DACA participants will now have access to the Basic Health Program for low-income residents, they will not be eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program as initially proposed for 2023.