State Health Coverage for Immigrants and Implications for Health Coverage and Care Authors: Akash Pillai, Drishti Pillai, and Samantha Artiga Published: May 19, 2026

https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/state-health-coverage-for-immigrants-and-implications-for-health-coverage-and-care/ As of 2024, there were 24 million noncitizen immigrants, including lawfully present and undocumented immigrants, living in the U.S. Noncitizen immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented, face significant barriers to accessing health coverage and care and are significantly more likely than citizens to be uninsured. These higher uninsured rates reflect more limited access to private coverage and eligibility restrictions for federally funded coverage options. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federally funded coverage options and lawfully present immigrants face eligibility restrictions for coverage. Under the 2025 reconciliation law there will be increased eligibility restrictions for many lawfully present immigrants for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), subsidized Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace coverage, and Medicare coverage.