Options for lawfully present foreign nationals

All U.S. citizens, legal immigrants, and “qualified non-citizens” can apply for the Obamacare health insurance plans. This includes permanent residents, asylum seekers, non-immigrant visa holders, and people who have been granted legal status under different laws. You can find more information about the immigration statuses that can apply for the Marketplace plan here. 

You can also use our online search tools to compare insurance premiums and determine your eligibility for Obamacare health insurance plans. The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) will take place from November 1 to December 15, 2022. During that time, you can register in a new insurance program through the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace. Enter your zip code to find out what programs are available in your state. Please give us a call at (855) 913-1570 if you’d like to learn more about your options and enroll over the phone.

Options for undocumented immigrants

Unlike legal immigrants, undocumented individuals are not eligible to shop the Marketplace or apply for CHIP or Medicaid health insurance. (A notable exception is California, which allows undocumented immigrants under the age of 19 to enroll in Medi-Cal. As of January 2020, undocumented individuals aged 26 and below are also eligible). 

Learn more about healthcare options for undocumented people by browsing InsuranceShopping.com. Undocumented people can get health care at a community health center even if they don’t have ACA-complaint insurance. Furthermore, federal law requires hospitals to provide emergency care services to all patients irrespective of their immigration status. 

Typically, emergency care only serves to stabilize patients. It does not provide long-term care for chronic or ongoing medical issues. Some public protection clinics offer primary healthcare to people without considering immigration status or insurance policy. Sad to say, there aren’t many health clinics like this. Undocumented immigrants who cannot apply for Marketplace coverage or don’t have employer-sponsored health insurance may also receive reproductive care services, cancer screenings, and basic primary care through Title X. The term “Title X” refers to the network of clinics that work for the federal family planning program.

Planned Parenthood health clinics also offer reproductive health services and primary care benefits. As a matter of policy, Planned Parenthood clinics serve all patients, regardless of their citizenship status. They also provide health services to those who are uninsured. Patients pay on a sliding scale based on their financial situation.