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The San Francisco Frontier | Est. 2025
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DACA Health Care Coverage Collapse: What Young Immigrants Need to Know

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Photo by Mayor McGinn | License

The fight for health care just got more complicated for thousands of young immigrants in California. At the end of August, approximately 2,300 Dreamers will lose their Covered California health insurance coverage, leaving many vulnerable and uncertain about their medical options.

The Biden administration’s brief expansion of health care access for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients is being rolled back after pushback from Republican attorneys general. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services argue the policy change will help stabilize insurance markets and reduce costs.

For DACA recipients, this means navigating a challenging healthcare landscape. Those without employer-provided insurance will need to explore alternative options like Medi-Cal for low-income individuals or face potentially going uninsured.

Experts like Arturo Vargas Bustamante from UCLA warn that removing younger, healthier people from insurance pools could paradoxically increase overall premiums. This potential ripple effect could impact not just DACA recipients, but broader insurance markets.

The policy shift highlights ongoing challenges for undocumented immigrants, particularly those brought to the United States as children. With over 150,000 DACA recipients in California, the impact is significant and personal.

Covered California executive director Jessica Altman expressed frustration, calling the decision “deeply unfair to hard-working, tax-paying individuals” who expected continued coverage.

As the August 31st deadline approaches, affected individuals are encouraged to explore alternative health insurance options and seek guidance from local immigrant resource centers. The ongoing uncertainty underscores the complex legal and health care challenges facing young immigrants in the United States.

AUTHOR: cgp

SOURCE: Local News Matters

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