Staff Reports
President Biden has made a final decision to allow “Dreamers,” who are undocumented immigrants protected under the DACA program, to have full access to Obamacare. This includes getting help from taxpayers to be able to buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
Previously, DACA recipients were able to buy insurance plans on their own, but now they can receive financial assistance from the government to help pay for their coverage. This move overturns a decision made by former President Obama, who chose to exclude DACA recipients from receiving taxpayer-funded benefits.
President Biden finalized a new policy Friday giving illegal immigrant "Dreamers" here under the DACA program full access to Obamacare, including taxpayer subsidies to buy insurance on the Affordable Care Act's markets. https://t.co/k35ph4Sxin
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 3, 2024
President Biden believes that DACA recipients should have the same rights to government healthcare assistance as anyone else and has emphasized that “Dreamers” contribute to society in various ways, such as being nurses, teachers, and small business owners.
The Biden administration expects around 100,000 DACA recipients to benefit from this new policy. While there are approximately 600,000 people enrolled in the DACA program, many already have insurance through their jobs or qualify for Medicaid in states that cover illegal immigrants. Some may also choose not to sign up for Obamacare.
The new policy is set to take effect just before the next Obamacare open enrollment period and the upcoming election. The DACA program, which was first announced by President Obama before the 2012 election, primarily benefits Hispanic immigrants.
The Trump administration attempted to end DACA, but legal challenges have prevented this. Despite legal battles questioning the legality of the DACA program itself, the Biden administration has expanded access to Obamacare for DACA recipients, aligning it with other migrants under deferred action.
It remains to be seen how this new policy will affect the ongoing legal battles surrounding DACA. The Biden administration has clarified that the redefinition of lawful presence for DACA recipients will not impact other areas where they are still considered to be in the country unlawfully, such as Medicaid eligibility.
