Conn. DACA recipients can soon get health insurance

Enrolling in health and dental insurance coverage is a yearly endeavor many across Connecticut and the country face to financially protect themselves in case of a medical emergency. This year, hundreds of thousands of residents who came to the U.S. as children will be able to enroll in health coverage offered through their state's Affordable Care Act insurance exchange marketplace.

In Connecticut, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients will be able to enroll through Access Health CT starting Nov. 1. Some residents are eligible for financial assistance, such as premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions.

In addition, children 15 or under and pregnant people who are DACA recipients may be eligible for HUSKY Health programs, including Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as a result of the change in policy, according to Access Health CT.

The expansion in insurance coverage comes as a result of a final rule announced by the Biden-Harris Administration earlier this year. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates that this expansion in coverage could lead to 100,000 previously uninsured DACA recipients enrolling in health coverage through marketplaces or a basic health program across the U.S.

"Our mission at Access Health CT is to reduce the rate of the uninsured and eliminate health disparities," said James Michel, Access Health CT's chief executive officer, in a press release. "This new opportunity allows for even more people living in Connecticut to get insured, which will improve overall health outcomes in our communities."

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, DACA recipients are three times more likely to be uninsured than the general U.S. population. Studies show residents without health insurance are less likely to access preventative care and may delay necessary medical care. When they do seek care, they may need more complicated treatment and incur higher costs and debts due to lack of insurance.

The federal final rule allows DACA recipients to enroll in a qualified health plan through the Affordable Care Act starting during the 2024 open enrollment season.

Dreamers, as they are more commonly known, also now have the option to participate in a basic health program. Some recipients may also qualify for financial assistance through the marketplace based on income. After the Nov. 1 start day, new DACA recipients will qualify for a 60-day special enrollment period to get insurance through their state's marketplace.

Since its founding, Access Health CT has been working to reduce the number of Connecticut residents without health or dental insurance. Access Health can help Dreamers enroll in insurance either online, in person or by phone.

Last year, an estimated 129,000 Connecticut residents signed up for health insurance through Access Health CT, marking an increase from previous years. They also helped enroll 28,724 residents with coverage for 2024 who didn't have coverage through the exchange in 2023.

"Our customers can receive enrollment help in over 100 languages when they contact our call center, as well as get in-person help through a broker or one of our Navigator community partners around the state," Michel said in the press release. "We are here to assist them in getting the important insurance coverage they need to live healthy lives."