DACA Recipients Lose Health Insurance

More than 2,300 DACA recipients in California are at risk of losing their health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) due to a recent change in federal policy.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a rule change earlier this year that redefines who qualifies as "lawfully present" in the United States for the purposes of ACA enrollment. Under the revised definition, individuals protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will no longer be considered eligible for ACA marketplace plans.

The change means that thousands of young immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives will lose access to subsidized health coverage by August 31, 2025.