The Biden administration issued a new rule expanding access to subsidized health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act to an estimated 100,000 young undocumented immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Beginning in November, those with DACA status will be eligible to purchase insurance through ACA marketplaces and may qualify for financial assistance.
The White House emphasized their belief that healthcare should be a right and cited Biden’s commitment to strengthening the ACA by lowering costs and increasing coverage.
“President Biden and Vice President [Kamala] Harris believe that health care should be a right, not a privilege,” the White House stated.
“Together, they promised to protect and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, lowering costs and expanding coverage so that every American has the peace of mind that health insurance brings,” it added. “Today’s final rule delivers on the President’s commitment by giving DACA recipients that same peace and opportunity.”
While calling on Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship, the administration argued this change delivers on Biden’s pledge to protect DACA recipients by giving them access to affordable health insurance.
