Immigrants to the US can receive Medicaid, provided they meet certain conditions. Qualified non-citizens can apply for and receive regular Medicaid or Emergency Medicaid.
Immigration status may affect a person’s eligibility for Medicaid. U.S. Citizens are fully eligible for Medicaid, provided they meet the financial and medical eligibility criteria for the Medicaid services they are requesting. Noncitizens can apply for and receive benefits, but must meet certain extra requirements. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can receive Medicaid, but have a waiting period of five years after receiving lawful status to enroll. Refugees and asylees are generally exempt from this waiting period.
Undocumented immigrants are generally ineligible for federal Medicaid, but are eligible for Emergency Medicaid. Emergency Medicaid is can be applied for after emergency care or emergency services are received in a hospital setting, and a physician must provide a statement as to the medical necessity of services. Similarly, individuals with Temporary Protected Status are lawfully present in the US, but are not eligible for Medicaid (except Emergency Medicaid).
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients are not eligible for Medicaid, but are eligible for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans with subsidies. In some states, however, Medicaid eligibility is not predicated on immigration status, and benefits are available to all low-income residents. Additionally, eligibility requirements for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and pregnant women are not as strict as regular Medicaid.
Another group of individuals residing in the US are people from the Compact of Free Association countries (COFA). These individuals – from Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau – are able to reside in the US without a visa, and are considered qualified non-citizens for the purposes of Medicaid coverage.
Enrolling in Medicaid, including Emergency Medicaid, does not make a person a “public charge”, protecting their pathway to becoming a lawful permanent resident.