Medicaid Cuts Eligibility for Most Immigrants Starting Oct. 1; Green Card Holders Remain Covered
Effective October 1, 2026, new federal rules dramatically narrow Medicaid and CHIP eligibility for lawfully present immigrants. Only green card holders, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and COFA citizens retain coverage; refugees, asylees, parolees, and trafficking victims lose access. States must notify and disenroll affected individuals.
Who Loses Coverage
Refugees, asylees, people granted humanitarian parole, trafficking victims, and certain abused spouses and children lose access to full Medicaid coverage nationwide effective October 1, 2026. The only noncitizens who remain eligible for federally funded Medicaid are lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants, alongside a state option to continue covering lawfully residing children and pregnant women.
What States Must Do
States are preparing to send advance notices to lawfully residing immigrants who are losing eligibility because of restrictions in the reconciliation law. States must undertake prompt redeterminations of current beneficiaries' immigration status where eligibility cannot be verified electronically. If a state determines that an individual is no longer eligible, it must provide advance notice of adverse action, including information regarding applicable appeal and due process rights, before terminating coverage.
What Immigrants Need to Know
If you are a refugee, asylee, or granted humanitarian parole in the United States, expect to receive a letter from your state Medicaid agency between now and September 30, 2026, notifying you of your eligibility change. Read it carefully and respond to any verification requests—failure to respond may result in automatic disenrollment. If you have a green card, you remain eligible. If you have questions about your immigration status category and Medicaid eligibility, contact your state Medicaid office or a local legal aid organization immediately.
Sources
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