The Biden administration has announced a new rule that will make it possible for certain “Dreamers” to use the ObamaCare marketplace. According to the rule, people who are currently receiving Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) can sign up for a qualified health plan or a basic health plan under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and they may also be eligible for some types of financial help.
“This final rule shows the president’s strong dedication to protecting ‘Dreamers’ and recipients of DACA.” Neera Tanden, director of the Domestic Policy Council, said on Thursday that he is dedicated to giving them the assistance they require to succeed and achieve their maximum potential.
“This new rule also shows that the president believes that everyone in America should have the right to healthcare, including DACA recipients.”
The new rule is being implemented after many months of speculation about the actions the Biden administration might take regarding immigration issues. These actions could include stricter measures at the border for asylum seekers and providing work permits to certain immigrants who are living in the country illegally.
Also Read: Britain Starts Detaining Migrants to Be Sent to Rwanda
Many of those possible actions are seen as controversial by one side of the political spectrum or the other. However, Dreamers, who are undocumented immigrants that came to the country as children, tend to have more support from the general public compared to other undocumented groups.
However, DACA is currently facing many legal challenges. The Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to end the program, but a federal judge in Texas declared the original memo that established it as illegal. In September, the same judge ruled against the Biden administration’s efforts to make the program a federal regulation again.
The Supreme Court will likely make the final decision about the program’s future. However, currently, the federal government cannot add new people to DACA. In September, there were 544,690 people enrolled in DACA. However, the Migration Policy Institute predicts that by 2022, around 1,161,000 people would be eligible for DACA.
DACA recipients were not eligible for ObamaCare benefits, while other foreign nationals in deferred action programs were eligible.
According to the old rules of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), DACA recipients were not considered “lawfully present” under the health care law. As a result, many DACA recipients, especially those who don’t have insurance from their employers or the ability to pay for health insurance themselves, have lost their coverage.
Also Read: Arkansas ACLU Files Suit Against Driver’s License Gender Regulation Change
The CMS predicts that the new rule will result in 100,000 more people who are eligible for DACA enrolling in either a marketplace plan or a basic health program.
“Dreamers, who are DACA recipients, are currently three times more likely to not have health insurance compared to the general U.S. population. And as we all know, individuals without health insurance are less likely to get regular health check-ups or screenings,” stated Xavier Becerra, the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
“When people delay getting medical care, it can lead to higher costs and even deaths when they eventually seek treatment.” Allowing Dreamers to sign up for healthcare coverage will improve their health and well-being, as well as benefit the health and well-being of our country and economy.
The rule will start on November 1st. On that day, a special enrollment period of 60 days will begin for DACA beneficiaries who are eligible. Officials scheduled that time period to align with the open enrollment period for other users of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in order to make the process easier.
The new rule does not allow DACA recipients to get Medicaid or parts of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. However, they will be able to apply for financial aid programs that are already available to noncitizens who cannot get Medicaid but would otherwise qualify.
The Biden-Harris Administration believes that health care is a right, not a privilege. This belief also applies to DACA recipients who have established their lives in the United States. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure made this statement.
“The new rule makes it easier for DACA recipients to get health care coverage. This is an important step in ensuring that everyone in America can access and afford health care.”
Leave a Reply