Can you get Medicaid as an undocumented immigrant?

The short answer is no. However, there are certain conditions and exceptions as well as lot of misinformation. There is no definitive answer, and many people qualify for Medicaid/Medicare coverage regardless of other factors.

Two different programs have similar names. Generally, Medicare is health insurance coverage provided by the federal government for anyone over 65, and some people under 65 with specific disabilities or conditions. 

Alternatively, Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that gives health coverage to some people with limited income and resources who are residents of the U.S. and the state where they apply for these benefits.

To understand specific details and requirements, you must be sure to look up by the state you reside with the State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office Here. For now, let’s focus on eligibility requirements for Medicaid in Texas. 

According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), non-qualified aliens are divided into either ineligible or illegal aliens.

Ineligible aliens

Ineligible aliens are people admitted into the U.S. and are legal nonimmigrants temporarily. Illegal aliens are people who were never legally admitted to the U.S. or were admitted temporarily and did not leave the U.S. when the time expired.

Federal law requires that states provide Medicaid for the treatment of an emergency medical condition to an alien who is ineligible for regular Medicaid due to immigration status. An undocumented non-qualifying alien applying for Medicaid for the treatment of an emergency medical condition is exempt from providing proof of alien status or providing a Social Security number.

Whenever any noncitizen requests coverage, HHS is required to use the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Verification Information System (VIS) to verify the alien status of all noncitizens; depending on the results, Medicaid coverage may be denied. In some cases, an alien in a currently valid legal nonimmigrant classification may meet the residence rules of Texas. When the residency requirement is completed, the person is eligible for Medicaid for the treatment of an emergency medical condition if all other eligibility criteria are also met. 

Immigrants who are “qualified non-citizens” are generally eligible for coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), if they meet their state’s income and residency rules.

In order to get Medicaid and CHIP coverage, many qualified non-citizens (such as many LPRs or green card holders) have a 5-year waiting period. This means they must wait 5 years after receiving “qualified” immigration status before they can get Medicaid and CHIP coverage. There are exceptions. For example, refugees, asylees, or LPRs who used to be refugees or asylees don’t have to wait 5 years.

Illegal aliens 

Illegal aliens are only eligible for Medicaid for treatment of an emergency medical condition if they meet all other eligibility criteria, including residency requirements, which are met by showing that the applicant has an actual residence in the state and intends to continue to live in the state. 

Evidence can be as simple as submitting property, income, or other tax forms or receipts and/or utility bills, a copy of a lease agreement, or rent payment records.

 “Qualified non-citizen” immigrants are generally eligible for coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) if they meet their state of residency income rules.

Who is a “qualified non-citizen” immigrant?*

• Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR/Green Card Holder)
• Asylees
• Refugees
• Cuban/Haitian entrants
• Paroled into the U.S. for at least one year
• Conditional entrant granted before 1980
• Battered non-citizens, spouses, children, or parents
• Victims of trafficking and his or her spouse, child, sibling, or parent or individuals with a pending application for a victim of trafficking visa
• Granted withholding of deportation
• Member of a federally recognized Indian tribe or American Indian born in Canada
• Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau who are living in one of the U.S. states or territories (referred to as Compact of Free Association or COFA migrants)

*Many qualified non-citizens have a 5-year waiting period (except for asylees or refugees).

To get more details, call your State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) Office Here and ask about medical help for people with limited resources and ask about medical help for people with limited resources. 

You can also read more about it here: