Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025

The Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025 (HEAL Act) aims to significantly expand access to health insurance coverage for immigrants and their families. Its primary purpose is to remove existing legal and policy barriers that prevent various immigrant populations from obtaining healthcare. This includes ensuring that all individuals lawfully present in the United States are eligible for Federally funded healthcare programs. The bill mandates that states provide Medicaid to lawfully residing individuals, including those with deferred action or other Federally authorized presence, overriding previous restrictions. It also clarifies that individuals with Federally authorized presence are considered "lawfully present" for eligibility in Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges, premium subsidies, and reduced cost-sharing. Furthermore, the HEAL Act extends Medicare Part A and B eligibility to these lawfully present individuals. The legislation removes immigration status as a barrier for noncitizens to receive ACA premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, particularly for those ineligible for Medicaid due to status. Crucially, it grants states the option to expand Medicaid and CHIP coverage to individuals who lack lawful presence but would otherwise be eligible if they were U.S. citizens. This provision allows states to cover undocumented individuals at their discretion, while also preserving existing ACA credit access for lawfully present noncitizens.