Title: Where Can Undocumented Immigrants Go for Health Care? | Wellness | US News
Headings: Where Can Undocumented Immigrants Go for Health Care?
Where Can Undocumented Immigrants Go for Health Care?
Where Can Undocumented Immigrants Go for Health Care?
Where can undocumented immigrants go for health care?
HIPAA: Protecting Your Health Information

Content: None of the 11.2 million undocumented immigrants who the government estimates are in the country are eligible for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Neither are the 728,000 young unauthorized immigrants – commonly known as “Dreamers” – who are protected from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. A relatively small number of undocumented immigrants, perhaps in the tens of thousands, obtain health insurance through private employers. Unauthorized immigrants who are the victims of certain crimes – such as domestic violence – can apply for psychotherapy services they need in connection with that specific offense, says Yesenia Acosta, an immigration and employment attorney based in Los Angeles. [See: How to Find the Best Mental Health Professional for You .] Many undocumented immigrants who are college students have the option of obtaining health insurance through a student health plan. Many universities offer such plans for students who do not have insurance (some universities require students to have some form of insurance) and school officials typically do not require proof of immigration status. Five states – California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and Washington – and the District of Columbia offer health insurance coverage to undocumented children younger than 18. Unauthorized immigrants can also buy health insurance directly from brokers, but because they are not eligible for the subsidies provided under the Affordable Care Act, such insurance is usually prohibitively costly.