New Public Charge Policies Will Likely Lead to Decreased Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP Published: July 20, 2026

https://www.kff.org/quick-insights/new-public-charge-policies-will-likely-lead-to-decreased-enrollment-in-medicaid-and-chip/ On July 20, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security finalized new public charge regulations, which the federal government uses to decide whether many groups of immigrants can adjust to lawful permanent resident status (i.e., receive a green card). Under the new rule, immigration officers will have broad discretion to determine whether someone is likely to become a public charge and can consider use of previously excluded programs, including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as potentially a much broader array assistance programs, and family members’ use of programs. The new rule will likely lead many people in immigrant families, including citizen children in these families, to disenroll from or forgo health coverage and other types of assistance even if they are eligible and not subject to public charge determinations due to “chilling effects” of fear and confusion.