Eligible Immigration Status

Eligible immigration status refers to the specific immigration categories that qualify a non-citizen to buy health insurance through the ACA Marketplace and receive premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. Not all non-citizens qualify, but many lawfully present individuals do.

You have an eligible immigration status if you fall into categories including: lawful permanent resident (green card holder), asylee or refugee, someone granted withholding of deportation or removal, Cuban/Haitian entrant, parolee (paroled into the U.S. for at least one year), conditional entrant, battered spouse or child with a pending or approved self-petition, victim of trafficking, or someone with a valid work visa, student visa, or other non-immigrant status.

Undocumented immigrants are not eligible to purchase Marketplace plans, even at full price, and cannot receive subsidies. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients' eligibility has been subject to legal challenges; check current guidance as this area of law is actively evolving.

If you have an eligible immigration status, you're treated the same as U.S. citizens for Marketplace purposes: you can enroll in any available plan and qualify for financial assistance based on your household income. Some lawfully present immigrants with income below 100% FPL who don't qualify for Medicaid (due to the five-year waiting period) can access Marketplace subsidies, a rule that doesn't apply to citizens.

The Marketplace application asks for immigration documentation. Having the correct document numbers ready speeds up the process. If your status changes during the year, update your application.