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

This bill, titled the Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025, seeks to significantly expand access to health insurance coverage for immigrants and their families. Its primary purpose is to remove legal and policy barriers that currently prevent various immigrant populations from accessing federal healthcare programs. This includes ensuring eligibility for lawfully present individuals and advancing the ability of undocumented individuals to obtain coverage. The legislation mandates that states provide Medicaid and CHIP coverage to all 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 under ACA exchanges , including for premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions, and for Medicare Parts A and B. This ensures consistent access to federal health programs for these groups. The bill further amends the Affordable Care Act to allow noncitizens who are ineligible for Medicaid due to their immigration status to qualify for premium tax credits and other ACA benefits. Crucially, it provides a state option to expand Medicaid and CHIP to individuals without lawful presence, enabling states to cover those who would otherwise be eligible if they were U.S. citizens. These changes aim to broaden healthcare access and reduce disparities for immigrant communities.