Aug 30 2012

DACA Participants Not Eligible for Medicaid and CHIPS

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a statement clarifying that Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) benefits will not be offered to individuals participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) process. DACA provided temporary relief from removal by providing deferred action on a case-by-case basis for certain individuals not lawfully residing in the U.S. who are under the age of 31 and meet certain guidelines.

According to HHS, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 gives states the choice to provide Medicaid and CHIPS services to children and pregnant women who are lawfully residing in the United States or are otherwise eligible for the two programs. Since the reasons for the adoption of the DACA process does not specifically relate to eligibility in the two health programs, HHS has determined that these benefits should not be extended to individuals partaking in the DACA process.