DACA recipients, known as Dreamers, are still waiting to qualify for federal health insurance programmes.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration announced plans to extend health care coverage to those enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme. But the proposed change has yet to be finalised, leaving thousands of young adults who were brought to the US as children in limbo.
Diana Flores has lived in Chicago most of her life.
“I grew up on the South Side of Chicago, near the McKinley Park area,” Flores said.
Flores has celebrated birthdays and graduations and welcomed a baby boy – all while navigating the barriers of being a DACA recipient.
“It was very hard when I found out I was pregnant,” Flores said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t have a job at the time. My husband couldn’t put me on his insurance, so I had to pay out of pocket. It was $500 every two weeks because I was considered high risk.”
The DACA programme has protected thousands of young adults like Flores from deportation, but they are restricted from applying for federal health insurance programmes.
“I know that if I’m struggling with this, there are hundreds of thousands of other people struggling with this,” Flores said. “It’s just not fair to us because we also pay taxes, all the insurance.”
In April, the Biden administration announced plans to extend Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace to Dreamers.
“Over the summer, people submitted comments in support or opposition,” Flores said. “Then the agency not only reviews the comments, but whether they need to make changes to what was proposed. Unfortunately, November 1 has come and gone and the rule has not been implemented or finalised.”
Time is ticking, said Martha Sanchez of Young Invincibles, a policy and advocacy organisation for young adults. While DACA recipients are eligible for employer-based health insurance, there are still thousands of Dreamers without coverage.
“I mean, waiting over 10 years to finally have access to the Affordable Care Act marketplace would be significant,” Sanchez said.
Under the proposed rule change, more than 100,000 DACA recipients would be eligible for federal health care for the first time since DACA was implemented in 2012 under the Obama administration.
Flores estimates she paid $20,000 in out-of-pocket medical expenses during her pregnancy.
Flores will be able to become a citizen through her marriage, but hopes that one day all Dreamers will be able to become citizens as well.
WTTW News contacted the White House and the US Department of Health and Human Services for an update on the decision. Neither responded.
