A illustration of Nevada US Sen. Jacky Rosen (left), US Rep. Dina Titus (center), and US Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (right). Photo credit: AP.
A group of congressional Democrats are seeking assurances that the US Department of Health and Human Services will notify Dreamers they are eligible to get insurance from Affordable Care Act marketplaces.
Three Democratic lawmakers representing Nevada in Congress joined colleagues this week asking the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure it can adequately implement a new rule expanding access to public health insurance plans to recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
US Rep. Dina Titus, as well as US Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen were among 88 lawmakers who signed onto a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, which urged the department to ensure a smooth rollout that includes notifying and outlining steps for DACA recipients — also known as Dreamers — to enroll in programs they’re now eligible for.
“We write to request that [HHS] allocate adequate resources for outreach to and enrollment assistance for DACA recipients newly eligible for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance,” the lawmakers wrote. “For this expansion to be successful, HHS must ensure that every newly eligible individual is fully informed and supported during the enrollment process.”
Read the full letter here.
The Biden-Harris administration in May announced updated eligibility requirements for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowing so-called Dreamers to access public marketplaces and reduced-cost insurance plans. The new rule is scheduled to take effect Nov. 1, and coverage for eligible applicants could begin as early as Dec. 1.
Up to 100,000 previously uninsured DACA recipients are estimated to gain coverage, according to HHS figures. The new policy is an effort from the Biden administration to provide Dreamers with “the opportunities and support they need to succeed, including access to affordable, quality health care coverage.”
As of December 2023, there are about 530,000 active DACA recipients in the country, with about 10,500 living in Nevada, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The Nevadan’s Jannelle Calderón contributed to this report.
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