By: Richard L. Smith
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin is spearheading an effort involving 18 other states to defend a federal initiative aimed at expanding healthcare access for individuals covered under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy.
The coalition supports a new rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that allows DACA recipients—often referred to as Dreamers—to access health insurance through Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges.
Established in 2012, DACA protects young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation.
While DACA recipients can lawfully work in the U.S., they have been previously excluded from ACA health coverage.
The new rule, which will take effect on November 1, 2024, seeks to correct this, allowing Dreamers to purchase health insurance via ACA exchanges.
In August 2024, a coalition of states filed a lawsuit to block the rule. Attorney General Platkin and his coalition are now pushing back, arguing the expansion is critical for public health and economic stability.
“DACA recipients have been unjustly excluded from ACA plans for more than a decade, and I am grateful that these young people will be eligible to enroll in these health insurance plans during open enrollment season,” said Platkin. “Healthcare is a human right, and ensuring access benefits not only DACA recipients but also our entire community.”
DACA recipients contribute billions in taxes annually and play vital roles in various sectors, including healthcare, education, and the military.
Despite their contributions, they are three times more likely to be uninsured than the general population, which drives up healthcare costs and negatively impacts public health.
New Jersey, home to over 16,000 active DACA recipients, has been at the forefront of defending DACA policies since 2018, consistently supporting efforts to expand rights and protections for Dreamers.