Pediatricians Report Immigrant Families Avoiding Medicaid, CHIP Enrollment Amid Immigration Enforcement
Four in 10 pediatricians surveyed by the American Academy of Pediatrics report children in immigrant families are avoiding healthcare due to immigration status concerns, with 31% reporting families avoided applying for Medicaid, CHIP, or food assistance programs. The survey of over 1,600 pediatricians conducted April through June 2026 found 40% saw families retreat from medical care and 21% saw families keep children home from school. A new federal public charge policy effective September 20, 2026 expands grounds for inadmissibility to include enrollment in Medicaid, CHIP, housing assistance, and food programs, which pediatricians say increases families' fears of accessing safety net programs critical for child health.
Medicaid and CHIP enrollment declines among eligible immigrant families driven by public charge fears reduce program participation, disrupt continuity of care, and shift costs to emergency services and uncompensated care pools.
CHIP · Managed Care
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