Recorded presentation

Marc Steinberg, MPP, JD, Families USA, 1334 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, 202-628-3030, msteinberg@familiesusa.org

This presentation will discuss efforts to restore immigrants’ and refugees’ access to Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which was greatly restricted by the 1996 Welfare Reform Act. The 1996 law barred most new legal immigrants from receiving most federal means-tested public assistance, including Medicaid (and later SCHIP) during their first five years in the U.S. Refugees and asylees entering after 1996 were subject to a seven-year limit on receipt of some public benefits, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Some refugees are now reaching their seven-year limit. As a result, many legal immigrants are unable to obtain health insurance for themselves and their families, contributing to the high rate of uninsurance among this population.

Several states have covered at least some immigrants with state-only funds. As states have experienced fiscal pressures in recent years, however, these programs have been in jeopardy, and several have been cut or eliminated. In addition, federal and state proposals to cap funding for the entire Medicaid program put coverage for immigrants and refugees further at risk, particularly in states with growing immigrant populations.

A broad coalition of health care providers, immigrants’ rights organizations, and health care advocates is working for the restoration of full benefits for immigrants. In particular, the Immigrant Children’s Health Improvement Act (ICHIA), which would give states the option of covering legal immigrant children and pregnant women, has received bipartisan support in Congress, but has yet to become law.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Explain current limitations on access to public health insurance for immigrants and refugees.
• Describe the impact of fiscal constraints on state programs for public health insurance for immigrants.
• Discuss current proposed reforms that may increase the availability of public health insurance for legal immigrants and refugees.

Keywords: Immigrants, Health Care Access

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation