Obamacare Subsidies in 2027 for Immigrants: Who Qualifies

What changes in 2027

Obamacare “help” is the premium tax credit (what lowers your monthly payment) and the cost-sharing reductions on copays and deductibles. The federal law of July 2025 (Public Law 119-21, section 71301) says that, starting in 2027, among lawfully present people who are not citizens, only some statuses receive that help.

HealthCare.gov, the official government site, sums it up this way: “Due to a law change, starting January 1, 2027, only people with the following immigration statuses qualify for savings”. Other lawfully present people can still enroll in a Marketplace plan, but paying the full price.

Who keeps the help

If your income is within the limits, the following can get help in 2027:

• U.S. citizens and nationals. Nothing changes for them for this reason.
• Permanent residents (green card).
• Cuban and Haitian entrants.
• Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrants: citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau who live in the U.S.

The law adds a condition: you must have that status, and be reasonably expected to have it, for the entire period of coverage for which you are requesting the help.

Cubans and Haitians with parole

This is the question we get asked most in Las Vegas. Section 71301 refers to the definition of “Cuban and Haitian entrant” in the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 (section 501(e)). Under that definition, you count as a Cuban or Haitian entrant if you are a citizen of Cuba or Haiti and also:

• you entered with parole and have not since obtained another immigration status, or
• you are in deportation proceedings, or
• you have a pending asylum application,

as long as you do not have a final order of deportation. In that case you remain eligible for the help in 2027, if you meet the other requirements (income, not having other coverage) and Nevada Health Link can verify your status. If you later obtained your green card, you qualify as a permanent resident.

What counts is what your document says. That is why it is a good idea to have someone review it with you before you renew.

Who can buy, but without help

These statuses can still enroll in the Marketplace, but starting in 2027 without the premium tax credit or cost-sharing reductions (unless the person also fits into one of the groups above). Some examples from the official HealthCare.gov list:

• Refugees and asylees.
• People with parole who are not from Cuba or Haiti.
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• People with a work permit (EAD) or with Deferred Action.
• Work, student, U or T visas.
• Victims of trafficking and their family members.
• Battered spouses, children or parents.

DACA recipients cannot enroll in the Marketplace.

Families with different statuses

In many families, not everyone has the same status. Eligibility is reviewed person by person: on the same application there can be members who receive help and others who do not. Members who are not requesting coverage do not have to provide information about their immigration status, although their income does count toward calculating the help if they are part of your tax return.

Other changes that may affect you

• Automatic renewal does not ask you to confirm the new price. Nevada Health Link renews your plan even if you lose the help. Review the renewal notice and your account: if you do not, you may receive the full premium in January.
• If you receive too much help, you pay all of it back. Starting with tax year 2026, if the subsidy you were given in advance was larger than the one you were entitled to, you pay back the entire excess when you file your taxes (section 71305 of the same law). Estimating your income accurately is more important than ever.
• Very low incomes. Starting in 2026, lawfully present people who earn less than 100% of the Federal Poverty Level and do not qualify for Medicaid because of their status no longer receive help (section 71302).
• Medicaid is changing too. The same law (section 71109) limits federally funded Medicaid to these same statuses for new applications starting in the coming months. If you are a refugee or asylee and have Medicaid or are going to apply for it, check how it affects you with the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services.
• Income-based special enrollment. Starting in 2026, if you enroll outside the regular dates using a Special Enrollment Period based only on your income, you do not receive help (section 71304).
• The dates: in Nevada, enrollment for 2027 runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. If you enroll by December 31, your coverage starts January 1; if you enroll between January 1 and 15, it starts February 1.

What to do before November 1

1. Have your immigration document on hand, along with that of each person in your household who is requesting coverage.
2. Gather your 2026 income and estimate what you expect to earn in 2027.
3. Log in to your Nevada Health Link account starting November 1 and update your application. Do not let your plan renew on its own without seeing the new price.
4. If you lose the help, compare before deciding. At full price, the plan that suited you this year may not be the best one for 2027.

If you would like us to review your case carefully, call Sara. Our help costs you nothing: the insurance company you enroll with pays us a commission. Phone: 725-425-5658.