An Important Step Forward for Health Equality!

In an important step forward for health care equality, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients (DACAistas) will soon have access to health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Starting in November, DACAistas will be able to apply for ACA health coverage due to a change in federal government regulations that was finalized this month.

The ACA makes both U.S. citizens and lawfully present noncitizens eligible to obtain affordable health coverage through HealthCare.gov and state-based marketplaces like OregonHealthCare.gov. When the DACA program was first established in 2012, DACAistas were excluded from this definition of “lawfully present.” This exclusionary policy prevented DACAistas from receiving low-cost coverage for children, accessing Medicaid, and managing immense medical debt.

This step forward by the U.S. government follows successful state-level efforts—including in Oregon—to expand health care coverage to all eligible residents regardless of their immigration status. ICS continues to support efforts to expand equitable access to health care and connect our clients to essential wrap-around services, including access to housing, food security, health care, mental health support, and household essentials.