Immigration Statuses and Medicaid/FAMIS

Eligible Immigration Statuses for Medicaid and FAMIS |  Five-Year Waiting Period  | Emergency Medicaid |  Resources

Eligible Immigration Statuses for Medicaid and FAMIS

“Qualified” Immigrants:

• Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR/green card holder)
• Refugee
• Asylee
• Cuban/Haitian Entrant
• Paroled into the U.S. for at least one year
• Conditional Entrant
• Granted Withholding of Deportation or Withholding of Removal
• Battered Spouse, Child and Parent
• Trafficking Survivor and his/her Spouse, Child, Sibling or Parent
• Member of a federally-recognized Indian tribe or American Indian born in Canada

Five-Year Waiting Period

“Qualified” Immigrants are subject to a five-year waiting period (also known as the “5-year bar”). The five years begin when an immigrant obtains a “qualified” immigration status.

Some people with a “qualified” immigration status are not subject to the 5-year bar:

• Immigrants who physically entered the U.S. before 8/22/96 and remained in the U.S. continuously until obtaining a qualified status
• Refugees, asylees, persons granted withholding of deportation/removal (even if they later become LPRs)
• Cuban/Haitian entrants, certain Amerasian immigrants, individuals granted Iraqi or Afghan special immigrant status, trafficking survivors (even if they later become LPRs)
• Qualified immigrants who are U.S. veterans or on active military duty and their spouses or children
• Children
• Pregnant women

Emergency-Only Medicaid

Medicaid payment for limited services related to an emergency medical condition is available to people who meet all the state’s Medicaid eligibility requirements except for immigration status, including:

• Qualified immigrants who have not met the 5-year waiting period
• Lawfully present but not qualified immigrants, such as persons with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and many others
• Undocumented immigrants
• DACAmented immigrants

Resources

Reference Guide to Immigration Documents

Tips for Addressing Immigrant Families’ Concerns When Applying for Health Coverage Programs

Health Reform: Beyond the Basics Webinar OE6: Immigrant Eligibility for Health Coverage Programs

Making Coverage Accessible: Working Effectively with Vulnerable and Underserved Populations – Part I Webinar

Making Coverage Accessible: Working Effectively with Vulnerable and Underserved Populations – Part II Webinar

Making Coverage Accessible: Providing Effective Communication and Language Assistance Service Webinar

Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation Health Coverage of Immigrants Fact Sheet