Refugees, Asylum Seekers Lose Medicaid Eligibility Under New Federal Law
Starting October 1, several lawfully present immigrant groups, including refugees, asylum seekers, domestic violence survivors with pending VAWA petitions, human trafficking survivors with T visas, and people granted humanitarian parole or deportation deferrals, lose Medicaid and CHIP eligibility under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Trump. Green card holders, along with immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, and COFA Pacific Island nations, retain eligibility. Mississippi-based immigrant advocates and KFF policy experts warn the change will deepen existing fear among immigrant communities and delay care-seeking, potentially raising costs for preventable conditions and straining safety-net providers. Starting in January, these same excluded groups will also face new restrictions on subsidized ACA Marketplace and Medicare coverage, leaving them with few affordable options.