WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration has issued a final rule making DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients eligible for Affordable Care Act coverage. This historic decision is expected to provide health insurance to more than 100,000 individuals, marking a significant step towards achieving health equity and immigrant justice.

As a member of the HEAL Coalition – that has tirelessly advocated for the Health Equity and Access under Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Families Act – the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) celebrates this significant win for DACA recipients.

“We are thrilled by the news that healthcare will now be made available to DACA recipients, who are integral members of our communities and deserving of living full healthy lives,” said Nicole Melaku, Executive Director of the National Partnership for New Americans. “We applaud the Biden administration for making this dream a reality, demonstrating how administrative policy can be truly transformative to people’s everyday lives. Solutions such as this are the dignifying policy changes the nation has long been asking for to help our communities not only survive, but thrive.”

“We applaud the Biden administration for expanding healthcare coverage eligibility for DACAmented immigrants, which will allow 100,000 DREAMers access vital care. DACAmented immigrants have been in the U.S. for decades, work in all sectors, have families, and are important members of our communities.” said Eredira Rendon, NPNA Board Member and Vice President of Immigrant Justice, The Resurrection Project based in Chicago. “We celebrate that our DACAmented family members, colleagues, neighbors, and friends will now be able to access even more protections – the protection of their physical and mental health.”

Under the new rule, DACA recipients will soon be able to sign up for health insurance through www.healthcare.gov or their state’s equivalent. Due to the years of exclusion from the healthcare system, advocates urge the administration to launch a robust outreach and enrollment campaign to ensure DACA recipients are aware of their new eligibility.

###
The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a multi-ethnic, multiracial coalition of 70 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 40 states. Together with our members, we advance immigrant and refugee equity and inclusion, build and expand immigration legal services and integration programming capacity, and drive campaigns that strengthen democracy through increased civic participation. See our website for more information at partnershipfornewamericans.org.