Paul Sanchez
Yes, non-U.S. citizens can get medical insurance. Medicaid is insurance funded by federal and state governments and is available to U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants, including green card holders, asylum seekers, refugees, VAWA recipients, and trafficking victims. However, noncitizen immigrants are more likely to be uninsured than citizens because they have more limited access to private coverage due to working in jobs that are less likely to provide health benefits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can non-US citizens get medical insurance | Yes |
| Eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP | 5-year waiting period |
| Exceptions for waiting period | Refugees, asylees, or LPRs who used to be refugees or asylees |
| Eligibility for Marketplace coverage | Qualified non-citizens who haven’t yet had their status for 5 years |
| Eligibility restrictions for federally funded coverage options | Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage, and Medicare |
| Access to Medicaid | Varies widely among states |
| Waiting period before eligibility for Medicaid | May apply |
What You'll Learn
Eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP
Yes, non-U.S. citizens can get medical insurance. Medicaid is insurance funded by federal and state governments and is available to U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants. Lawfully present immigrants include green card holders, asylum seekers, refugees, VAWA recipients, and trafficking victims.
Medicaid is a federal benefit, but access to Medicaid varies widely among states. As an immigrant, you may also face a waiting period before you become eligible for Medicaid. If you qualify for a green card through family, employment, or one of the special circumstances outlined above, you should look into adjusting your status. Adjusting status allows you to apply for your green card and claim benefits like Medicaid.
If you're a "qualified non-citizen", you're generally eligible for coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), if you meet state income and residency rules. To get Medicaid and CHIP coverage, many qualified non-citizens (such as many Lawful Permanent Residents, also known as LPRs or green card holders) have a 5-year waiting period. This means they must wait 5 years after getting "qualified" immigration status before they can get Medicaid and CHIP coverage. There are exceptions. For example, refugees, asylees, or LPRs who used to be refugees or asylees don’t have to wait 5 years. Qualified non-citizens who haven’t yet had their status for 5 years generally qualify for Marketplace coverage, if otherwise eligible.
Noncitizen immigrants are more likely to be uninsured than citizens because they have more limited access to private coverage due to working in jobs that are less likely to provide health benefits. They also face eligibility restrictions for federally funded coverage options, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage, and Medicare. Moreover, those who are eligible for coverage face a range of enrollment barriers including fear, confusion about eligibility rules, and language access challenges.
Doctors and hospitals won’t turn away uninsured non-U.S. citizens. Many nonimmigrant U.S. citizens receive care without insurance. In 2020, about 28 million people reported that they did not have health insurance over the past year. These individuals could still request services if needed. In 1986, Congress enacted the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA). This law says that doctors and hospitals can’t refuse treatment in the emergency room. Even if you aren’t able to pay the estimated bill, you can receive medical attention. Without insurance, you may need to pay a flat fee before receiving services. Some doctors and dentists offer lower rates for uninsured individuals.
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Waiting period for Medicaid and CHIP
Yes, non-U.S. citizens can get medical insurance. There are insurance options available to people of all statuses. In the U..S., most people with lawful status purchase private health insurance through a state or federal marketplace.
Medicaid is insurance funded by federal and state governments. The program is available to U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants, including green card holders, asylum seekers, refugees, VAWA recipients, and trafficking victims. While Medicaid is a federal benefit, access to Medicaid varies widely among states. As an immigrant, you may also face a waiting period before you become eligible for Medicaid. If you qualify for a green card through family, employment, or one of the special circumstances outlined above, you should look into adjusting your status. Adjusting status allows you to apply for your green card and claim benefits like Medicaid.
Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) are federally funded programs that provide health coverage for children and pregnant women. Non-citizen immigrants are more likely to be uninsured than citizens because they have more limited access to private coverage due to working in jobs that are less likely to provide health benefits. They also face eligibility restrictions for federally funded coverage options, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage, and Medicare. Moreover, those who are eligible for coverage face a range of enrollment barriers including fear, confusion about eligibility rules, and language access challenges.
If you're a “qualified non-citizen”, you're generally eligible for coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), if you meet state income and residency rules. To get Medicaid and CHIP coverage, many qualified non-citizens (such as many Lawful Permanent Residents, also known as LPRs or green card holders) have a 5-year waiting period. This means they must wait 5 years after getting "qualified" immigration status before they can get Medicaid and CHIP coverage. There are exceptions. For example, refugees, asylees, or LPRs who used to be refugees or asylees don’t have to wait 5 years. Qualified non-citizens who haven’t yet had their status for 5 years generally qualify for Marketplace coverage, if otherwise eligible.
States can require children to be uninsured for up to 90 days before enrolling in CHIP. States have used these waiting periods as an approach to discourage families from dropping private insurance to enroll in the program. However, the number of states requiring a waiting period has declined over time, particularly after the ACA, since one of the ACA’s goals is to eliminate coverage gaps for children. As of January 2018, only 15 states still have waiting periods, while 36 states do not have any waiting period. Between 2013 and 2018, 23 states eliminated their waiting periods and two states (California and Michigan) moved all children from their separate CHIP programs into Medicaid, which does not allow waiting periods.
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Access to private coverage
Yes, non-U.S. citizens can get medical insurance. There are insurance options available to people of all statuses. In the U.S., most people with lawful status purchase private health insurance through a state or federal marketplace.
Non-citizen immigrants are more likely to be uninsured than citizens because they have more limited access to private coverage due to working in jobs that are less likely to provide health benefits. They also face eligibility restrictions for federally funded coverage options, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage, and Medicare. Moreover, those who are eligible for coverage face a range of enrollment barriers including fear, confusion about eligibility rules, and language access challenges.
If you're a “qualified non-citizen”, you're generally eligible for coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), if you meet state income and residency rules. To get Medicaid and CHIP coverage, many qualified non-citizens (such as many Lawful Permanent Residents, also known as LPRs or green card holders) have a 5-year waiting period. This means they must wait 5 years after getting "qualified" immigration status before they can get Medicaid and CHIP coverage. There are exceptions. For example, refugees, asylees, or LPRs who used to be refugees or asylees don’t have to wait 5 years. Qualified non-citizens who haven’t yet had their status for 5 years generally qualify for Marketplace coverage, if otherwise eligible.
Medicaid is insurance funded by federal and state governments. The program is available to U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants, including green card holders, asylum seekers, refugees, VAWA recipients, and trafficking victims. While Medicaid is a federal benefit, access to Medicaid varies widely among states. As an immigrant, you may also face a waiting period before you become eligible for Medicaid. If you qualify for a green card through family, employment, or one of the special circumstances outlined above, you should look into adjusting your status. Adjusting status allows you to apply for your green card and claim benefits like Medicaid.
Doctors and hospitals won’t turn away uninsured non-U.S. citizens. Many nonimmigrant U.S. citizens receive care without insurance. In 2020, about 28 million people reported that they did not have health insurance over the past year. These individuals could still request services if needed. In 1986, Congress enacted the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA). This law says that doctors and hospitals can’t refuse treatment in the emergency room. Even if you aren’t able to pay the estimated bill, you can receive medical attention. Without insurance, you may need to pay a flat fee before receiving services. Some doctors and dentists offer lower rates for uninsured individuals.
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Enrollment barriers for Medicaid and CHIP
Non-U.S. citizens can get medical insurance, but they face enrollment barriers for Medicaid and CHIP. Non-citizen immigrants are more likely to be uninsured than citizens because they have more limited access to private coverage due to working in jobs that are less likely to provide health benefits. They also face eligibility restrictions for federally funded coverage options, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage, and Medicare.
Qualified non-citizens (such as many Lawful Permanent Residents, also known as LPRs or green card holders) have a 5-year waiting period to get Medicaid and CHIP coverage. This means they must wait 5 years after getting "qualified" immigration status before they can get Medicaid and CHIP coverage. There are exceptions. For example, refugees, asylees, or LPRs who used to be refugees or asylees don’t have to wait 5 years. Qualified non-citizens who haven’t yet had their status for 5 years generally qualify for Marketplace coverage, if otherwise eligible.
Medicaid is insurance funded by federal and state governments. The program is available to U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants, including green card holders, asylum seekers, refugees, VAWA recipients, and trafficking victims. While Medicaid is a federal benefit, access to Medicaid varies widely among states. As an immigrant, you may also face a waiting period before you become eligible for Medicaid. If you qualify for a green card through family, employment, or one of the special circumstances outlined above, you should look into adjusting your status. Adjusting status allows you to apply for your green card and claim benefits like Medicaid.
Non-U.S. citizens can get medical insurance, but they face enrollment barriers for Medicaid and CHIP. Qualified non-citizens (such as many Lawful Permanent Residents, also known as LPRs or green card holders) have a 5-year waiting period to get Medicaid and CHIP coverage. This means they must wait 5 years after getting "qualified" immigration status before they can get Medicaid and CHIP coverage. There are exceptions. For example, refugees, asylees, or LPRs who used to be refugees or asylees don’t have to wait 5 years. Qualified non-citizens who haven’t yet had their status for 5 years generally qualify for Marketplace coverage, if otherwise eligible.
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Emergency medical treatment for non-US citizens
Yes, non-US citizens can get medical insurance. There are insurance options available to people of all statuses. In the US, most people with lawful status purchase private health insurance through a state or federal marketplace.
Non-citizen immigrants are more likely to be uninsured than citizens because they have more limited access to private coverage due to working in jobs that are less likely to provide health benefits. They also face eligibility restrictions for federally funded coverage options, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage, and Medicare. Moreover, those who are eligible for coverage face a range of enrollment barriers including fear, confusion about eligibility rules, and language access challenges.
Medicaid is insurance funded by federal and state governments. The program is available to U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants, including green card holders, asylum seekers, refugees, VAWA recipients, and trafficking victims. While Medicaid is a federal benefit, access to Medicaid varies widely among states. As an immigrant, you may also face a waiting period before you become eligible for Medicaid. If you qualify for a green card through family, employment, or one of the special circumstances outlined above, you should look into adjusting your status. Adjusting status allows you to apply for your green card and claim benefits like Medicaid.
In 1986, Congress enacted the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA). This law says that doctors and hospitals can’t refuse treatment in the emergency room. Even if you aren’t able to pay the estimated bill, you can receive medical attention. Without insurance, you may need to pay a flat fee before receiving services. Some doctors and dentists offer lower rates for uninsured individuals.
Many nonimmigrant U.S. citizens receive care without insurance. In 2020, about 28 million people reported that they did not have health insurance over the past year. These individuals could still request services if needed.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, non-US citizens can get medical insurance. There are insurance options available to people of all statuses.
Non-citizen immigrants are more likely to be uninsured than citizens because they have more limited access to private coverage due to working in jobs that are less likely to provide health benefits. They also face eligibility restrictions for federally funded coverage options, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage, and Medicare.
If you're a "qualified non-citizen", you're generally eligible for coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), if you meet state income and residency rules. To get Medicaid and CHIP coverage, many qualified non-citizens (such as many Lawful Permanent Residents, also known as LPRs or green card holders) have a 5-year waiting period.
Exceptions to the 5-year waiting period include refugees, asylees, or LPRs who used to be refugees or asylees.
Medicaid is insurance funded by federal and state governments. The program is available to U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants, including green card holders, asylum seekers, refugees, VAWA recipients, and trafficking victims.
