President’s Immigration Plan, To Be Detailed Tonight, Will Not Extend Health Law To Undocumented Immigrants
President Barack Obama is scheduled to announce his executive order on immigration in a speech tonight. Reports indicate it will shield about four million people from deportation, but they won't be able to purchase subsidized health insurance via the health law's online insurance marketplaces.
The New York Times:
Obama’s Immigration Plan Could Shield Four Million
But farm workers will not receive specific protection from deportation, nor will the Dreamers’ parents. And none of the five million immigrants over all who will be given new legal protections will get government subsidies for health care under the Affordable Care Act. These new details about the broad reach of Mr. Obama’s planned executive action on immigration emerged as he prepared to speak to the nation in a prime-time address on Thursday night. (Shear and Pear, 11/19)
The Washington Post's Wonkblog:
Obama’s Order Won’t Extend Obamacare To Undocumented Immigrants
That means the millions who will be protected from deportation won't be eligible to purchase subsidized coverage from the public health insurance marketplaces established under the Affordable Care Act. The decision will disappoint advocacy groups, but it doesn't come as a total surprise. The Obama administration passed on a similar opportunity two years ago to extend health-care eligibility to so-called "dreamers," illegal immigrants who entered the United States as children. In September, the Obama administration said it cut off ACA marketplace coverage to about 115,000 immigrants who failed to provide proof of their citizenship or immigration status. (Millman and Eilperin, 11/19)
