California Covers the Most U.S. Immigrants Regardless of Legal Status

Eleven states and Washington, D.C., collectively provide full health insurance coverage to more than 1 million immigrants, most of them living in the U.S. without authorization. About two-thirds are in California. These numbers will rise significantly next year as California expands coverage to people ages 26-49 regardless of immigration status. Utah and Minnesota plan insurance programs for people without permanent legal residency beginning in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

* Vermont’s total is fewer than 180, but the state could not specify further.
Note: Data as of December 2023. Listed states provide state-funded health coverage to otherwise eligible children and/or adults regardless of immigration status. Figures are for full health benefits, not just emergency or maternal care, and are rounded to the nearest hundred unless otherwise noted.
Source: KFF Health News survey of state health agencies
Credit: Lydia Zuraw and Phil Galewitz/KFF Health News EmbedDownload image