> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Fact brief: Are undocumented immigrants eligible to receive free health care?
- URL: https://www.sdnewswatch.org/fact-brief-undocumented-immigrants-free-health-care-aca-shutdown/
- Published: 2025-10-07T11:00:13.000Z
- Updated: 2025-10-07T11:00:13.000Z
- Description: A fact brief that refutes or confirms a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.
- Author: Michael Klinski
- Tags: Fact briefs, #feature-1

## No.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cb/ab/cbabab5e-2dc6-462c-94a0-b72956c0d224/content/images/2025/01/WhiteFACT-BRIEF--500-x-200-px--2-1-1.png)

Undocumented immigrants in the United States cannot receive free health care from the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, according to the HealthCare.gov website and other sites. 

The only people eligible to receive care through ACA are U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals from American territories and “lawfully present migrants,” which include green card holders, refugees, those with official asylum status and others, though provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have added more restrictions.

Some Republicans say Democrats forced the federal shutdown in part to provide free health care to undocumented immigrants. But Democrats’ demands include extending marketplace tax credits that make plans more affordable and reverse Medicaid cuts, which undocumented immigrants are not eligible for.

Hospitals receive reimbursements for emergency care that is required to be provided to some undocumented immigrants. In the 2023 fiscal year, that was 0.4% ($3.8 billion) of Medicaid’s total budget.

*This fact brief responds to conversations such as* [*this one.*](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUS/comments/1nwb9ow/rightleaning%5Fvoices%5Fare%5Fsaying%5Fdemocrats%5Fshut/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

### **Sources**

Healthcare.gov, [Health care for immigrants](https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

U.S. Immigration, [U.S. Citizen vs. U.S. National: Differences](https://www.usimmigration.org/articles/u-s-citizen-vs-u-s-national-what-is-the-difference?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), [Rolling back the Big Beautiful Bill’s health care provisions would not provide health care to undocumented immigrants](https://www.kff.org/quick-take/rolling-back-the-big-beautiful-bills-health-care-provisions-would-not-provide-health-care-to-undocumented-immigrants/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

KFF, [Five key facts about immigrants and Medicaid](https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/5-key-facts-about-immigrants-and-medicaid/?ref=sdnewswatch.org)

---

[South Dakota News Watch](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/) partners with [Gigafact](https://gigafact.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org) to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.

- [Read previous fact briefs](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/tag/fact-brief/).
- Read our verification standards and other [best practices policies](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/best-practices/).
- Submit a question for us to answer on the [South Dakota News Watch Tipline](https://gigafact.org/tipline/south-dakota-news-watch/?ref=sdnewswatch.org).
- Send questions or feedback to [factbrief@sdnewswatch.org](mailto:factbrief@sdnewswatch.org).

[Share your thoughts on this story](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdTmGFf24Uhwiwd%5FndSxHkv6oBGSAy1LxF9BbwRbhBK5KflA/viewform?usp=sf%5Flink&ref=sdnewswatch.org)

*This story was produced by *South Dakota News Watch*, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at* [*sdnewswatch.org*](http://sdnewswatch.org/?ref=sdnewswatch.org) *and* [*sign up for an email*](https://www.sdnewswatch.org/email/) *to get stories when they're published. *Contact Michael Klinski* at michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org.*