🤒 Essential Health Insurance Guide for Immigrant Youth in the U.S.

Understanding how health insurance works in the United States can be confusing. You might not know where to start, what options you have, or whether you qualify for assistance. Whatever your situation may be, this information will help you take care of your health and understand your options. 

In this article, we help you understand health insurance in the U.S. by answering the following questions: 

1. What is health insurance?
2. What types of health insurance are available for immigrants?
3. Is it safe to apply for health insurance? 

🚨 Note: If you are in an emergency or your life is in danger, call 911 right away. They will help you get emergency medical care as quickly as possible.   

• Learn more about what it means to call 911 and hotlines in the U.S. here. 
  
  

1. What is health insurance? 

You can think of health insurance as a contract between a person and a company (the health insurance company). The person pays a certain amount of money to the health insurance company every month, and in return, the company pays some or all of the cost of healthcare when the person needs it. Every healthcare plan (or contract) is different. Depending on the plan, there will be differences in the amount of money that the person pays each month, the percentage of healthcare cost that the insurance company will cover, and the types of treatments that the company will cover.  

The healthcare options available to a person depend on their job, how much money they make, how old they are, and their immigration status. Here are some of the ways that people get health insurance:

Employer-sponsored insurance: Some jobs will provide their employees with healthcare, or they will pay for a percentage of the employee’s healthcare plan.  Government-funded programs: There are government-funded health insurance plans for people who qualify, often based on their yearly income. Examples of government-funded healthcare programs are:  The Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace is part of a government-funded program that provides low-cost health insurance plans based on applicant’s income. People who qualify can log-in to the online marketplace, fill out an application, and see their options based on personal details, salary, etc.  Medicaid is a program funded by federal and state governments to help low-income people (often with high medical needs) get healthcare. The Children’s Healthcare Program (CHIP) provides healthcare for kids in families that make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough money to pay for private insurance. CHIP also covers pregnant women (in some states).  Medicare is a government-funded program for people over 65 years old or people with disabilities.  Private insurance: There are also private healthcare plans. Private plans can be very expensive, because you’re paying the full cost of the insurance.  Coverage through a parent’s plan: Children under a certain age (usually 26) can be included in a parent’s healthcare plan.

Here are a few examples to help you understand the wide range of options that is possible in U.S. health insurance: 

1. Luis works for a large, tech company (he has a work visa). He is offered a health insurance plan through his job that costs $800 per month. His employer pays for most of cost of his plan ($600/month). The rest of the cost ($200/month) comes out of his paycheck. When Luis gets very sick and needs to spend a few days in the hospital, he gets a very large bill. The cost of his treatment and stay in the hospital is $10,000. Luckily he is insured, and the health insurance company pays for almost all of the bill.
   
   
2. Sarah is 17 years old. She needs to get some vaccinations and her yearly check-up for school. Her parents are legal residents (they have green cards), and they pay for a family health insurance plan in the ACA Marketplace. Sarah will be covered by their plan until she turns 26 years old. The family health insurance pays for her vaccinations and check-up. 
   
   
3. Victoria is an asylee and has a work permit. She works as a cook at a restaurant. Her job does not offer her health insurance, and she can’t afford to pay for private insurance. However, she qualifies for an ACA Marketplace plan (government-funded) because of the amount of money that she makes, and because of her asylee status. After filling out an application with her salary and some other personal information, she chooses a plan that provides average coverage and will cost her $50/month. Since it’s not a top-level plan, she may have to pay for some of her healthcare and medicines out of her pocket. But she will be covered by insurance in the case of a medical emergency or a large expense. 
   
   
4. Gus does not have insurance. He can’t afford a private plan, and he does not qualify for insurance through the government. If Gus gets hurt, he has a few options. He can get treatment in an emergency room, at urgent care, or at a local public health clinic. He will need to pay for his treatment or ask for a payment plan. The cost of his treatment could be more or less expensive depending on where he goes for help. 
   • Note: for more information about when to go to an emergency room vs. urgent care, check out our article. 
     
     
5. Silvia is 14 years old, and she immigrated to the U.S. with her family. All of her family members are undocumented. Silvia and her family are living in Oregon, which offers healthcare coverage to eligible children, no matter what their immigration status is. Although Silvia’s parents do not qualify for health insurance, they can help her file an application for the state CHIP program, since she is eligible.  
   
   

2. What types of government-funded health insurance is available for immigrants? 

Your ability to qualify for health insurance depends on your immigration status and the state that you live in.  

First, there are some options for health insurance access at a federal level (note: federal = the entire country) for documented immigrants. Unfortunately, most undocumented immigrants do not qualify for health insurance at a federal level. However, there are other programs on a state level for undocumented immigrants.  

Continue reading for more information on government-funded (federal and state) health insurance options:  

ACA Marketplace ➡️ Federal health insurance; only offered to documented immigrants with certain types of immigration benefit.  Documented immigrants who have certain types of immigration benefit are usually eligible for a health insurance plan through the Marketplace. Depending on their income, they may be eligible for financial assistance with these plans, too.  Immigrants with the following types of immigration status/benefit are usually eligible to access marketplace plans: Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR/Green Card) Asylee Refugee Paroled into the U.S.  Granted an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Some types of worker visas and student visas U-visa T-visa Cuban/Haitian entrant VAWA Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Special Immigrant Juvenile Status classification (SIJS) Note: this is not a complete list of eligible persons. For the complete list, check here. In order to apply for ACA Marketplace insurance, an application must be filled out online. The application requires certain documents to prove your immigration status (for example, a green card, a passport, and EAD document, etc.). The required documents will be different depending on your immigration status. The application will also ask for other personal information, such as your salary.

Medicaid/CHIP ➡️ Federal and state program generally offered to documented children and pregnant women with certain types of immigration benefit. Some states offer these programs for undocumented children and pregnant women. Eligibility requirements change depending on the state you live in.   States have the option to provide Medicaid or CHIP coverage for children up to the age of 19 and for pregnant women.  Depending on the state, some states only offer these programs for children and pregnant women with certain legal immigration benefits, like legal residence. Other states offer these programs regardless of immigration status.  Note: Many people who qualify for Medicaid or CHIP must wait for 5 years after they receive their immigration benefit in order to get health insurance through these programs. The exception: refugees and asylees do not need to wait the 5 years. Attention: in some states, minors and pregnant women do not need to wait the 5 years either. It’s important to look up the rules for Medicaid and CHIP in the state that you live in. Check out these maps to see if your state offers Medicaid/CHIP, and if they offer these programs only to immigrants with certain immigration benefits, or to all immigrants regardless of status. ⭐ States that offer CHIP coverage for children, regardless of immigration status: Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Oregon, California Note: If you need help learning more about the healthcare options in your state and how to apply, contact us!  Even if you do not qualify for Medicaid, you may qualify for a program called ‘emergency Medicaid,’ which covers access to healthcare during a medical emergency.   Helpful resource:  Check to see if you qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, and/or emergency Medicaid here.

State insurance programs for undocumented adult immigrants ➡️ there are some states that have specific programs to provide insurance for undocumented immigrants.  California, Oregon, Washington D.C., and Minnesota offer public health coverage to all adults, no matter what their immigration status is.  New York and Illinois offer public health coverage to older adults, no matter what their immigration status is.  Washington offers public health coverage to all adults and private coverage with state subsidies (which means that the state might be able to pay for part or all of the coverage).  Colorado offers private health coverage with state subsidies to all adults, no matter what their immigration status is.  For more information about healthcare by state, check out this chart.

 

3. Is it safe to apply for health insurance? 

Below are some general facts about the safety of applying for health insurance as an undocumented immigrant. It’s important to remember that immigration policy and law can change, and the best practice is to always consult your attorney before applying for health insurance.  

🪪 Information safety: 

• Under current federal law, your personal information must be protected and kept safe by the health insurance company. It is only to be used for health insurance purposes, and it is not allowed to be used for immigration enforcement. 
• If you fill out an application for someone else (like your child), you do not have to provide your immigration status. If you are asked for your immigration status while applying for coverage for someone else, you can say, “I am not applying for myself.”
• If you do not have a social security number, you do not need to provide one. Your application can not be delayed or denied because you do not have a social security number.  

⚠️ Public charge: 

• Under the current law, Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA Marketplace insurance are not considered as part of public charge. Always check with your attorney for information about how health insurance could affect your personal immigration case. 
  • For more information about what public charge is, click here.  

 

Remember, everyone in the U.S. has the right to certain types of medical treatment, regardless of their immigration status and whether or not they have health insurance. For more information about your medical rights, click here. To view other articles on health topics, click here. 

 

Sources: 

NILC. (February 2025). Medical Assistance Programs for Immigrants in Various States. https://www.nilc.org/resources/medical-assistance-various-states/ 

NILC. (January 2025). Know Your Rights: Health Care and Health Insurance for Immigrants. https://www.nilc.org/resources/health-insurance-and-care-rights/ 

KFF. (January 2025). Key Facts on health Coverage of Immigrants. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/fact-sheet/key-facts-on-health-coverage-of-immigrants/