Immigrants with a lawful status who live in the US can buy a plan on HealthCare.gov, but from January 1, 2027 only green card holders, Cuban or Haitian entrants and COFA migrants get savings there. Undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients cannot enroll. In an emergency, any hospital that takes Medicare and has emergency services must examine and stabilize you, whether or not you can pay.
Check your status first: it decides whether you get savings on HealthCare.gov, Medicaid or only a full-price plan. Then look at your state's programs: some states cover children and pregnant women whatever their status.
HealthCare.gov accepts green card holders, refugees, asylees, people paroled into the US, TPS holders, people with a work permit (I-766) and people on work or student visas, among other statuses. You must also live in the US. Undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients cannot enroll, even at full price.
From January 1, 2027, savings on HealthCare.gov plans (the premium tax credit and lower out-of-pocket costs) go only to green card holders, Cuban or Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. Refugees, asylees, TPS holders, parolees and visa holders can still buy a plan, but at full price. The tax credit is for household income from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level.
Open Enrollment on HealthCare.gov runs from November 1 to January 15, and you must enroll by December 15 for coverage from January 1. Outside those dates you need a Special Enrollment Period, for example after moving to the US from another country. Help in other languages: 1-800-318-2596.
Leave the SSN field blank, and do not enter an ITIN there. Have your immigration document ready, such as a green card (I-551), I-94, work permit (I-766), I-20, DS-2019, I-797 notice or foreign passport. Family members who are not applying are not asked about their status.
Green card holders are generally eligible 5 years after getting their status, if they meet the state's income and residency rules; former refugees and asylees do not wait. Since October 1, 2026, federal Medicaid money generally covers only citizens, green card holders, Cuban or Haitian entrants and COFA migrants, so refugees, asylees and parolees can lose coverage. Children and pregnant people with a lawful status can still qualify in states that cover them, and a state can choose to cover others with its own money.
Hospitals that take Medicare and offer emergency services must give a medical screening exam and stabilizing treatment, including during labor, regardless of ability to pay. The bill comes later. Emergency Medicaid can pay for treatment of an emergency, including labor and delivery, for people without an eligible status who meet the state's other rules, such as income.
Community health centers charge based on your income and offer primary care, prenatal care and shots for children; find one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov. In California, Illinois and Washington, children can get state coverage regardless of immigration status, and in Washington anyone can buy a qualified health plan. On January 1, 2026 California froze new enrollment in full-scope Medi-Cal for undocumented adults 19 and older who are not pregnant; people already enrolled keep it when they renew.
For people who live in the US with a lawful status. All plans cover pre-existing conditions, and you can apply without an SSN if you don't have one.
Full health insurance in the US
on the HealthCare.gov website
on the HealthCare.gov website
Travel medical plans for new immigrants and green card holders. They cover new illnesses, injuries and emergencies, but usually not checkups, chronic conditions or conditions you already have.
Cover for new immigrants
on the VisitorsCoverage website
on the VisitorsCoverage website
Visitor medical plans for people who live in another country and come to the US for a trip. You buy them with a passport.
Visitor medical insurance with PPO
on the IMG website
on the IMG website
Budget visitor medical plan
on the Seven Corners website
on the Seven Corners website
Medical cover for US visitors
on the WorldTrips website
on the WorldTrips website
Yes, if you live in the US with a lawful status such as a green card, refugee or asylee status, TPS, parole, a work permit or a work or student visa: you can buy a plan on HealthCare.gov. From January 1, 2027 savings on those plans are only for green card holders, Cuban or Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. Others pay the full price.
Not on HealthCare.gov. What works: emergency care at hospitals, emergency Medicaid if you meet your state's other rules, community health centers that charge by income, and state programs such as All Kids in Illinois and Apple Health in Washington, which cover children regardless of status. Insurers can also sell plans outside the Marketplace at full price.
Usually 5 years after you get the green card, if your income and residency meet your state's rules. If you were a refugee or asylee before, there is no waiting period. Some states cover lawfully residing children and pregnant people without the wait.
No, if you don't have one: leave the SSN field blank. Do not enter an ITIN in that field. You give your immigration document details instead, such as the number on your green card, I-94 or work permit.
From January 1, 2027, only green card holders, Cuban or Haitian entrants and COFA migrants can get savings on HealthCare.gov plans. Refugees, asylees, TPS holders, parolees and visa holders can still enroll, but without savings. Federal Medicaid money has been limited to almost the same groups since October 1, 2026.
Yes. You can apply for them on HealthCare.gov or for Medicaid and CHIP, and family members who are not applying are not asked about their immigration status. If you plan to apply for a green card later, an immigration attorney can explain how public benefits are looked at.