Bill · S. 2149· Senate(119-S-2149)
Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 6/24/2025
- Last activity
- 6/24/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Cory Booker
- Cosponsors
- - 9 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025 aims to expand health insurance access for immigrants and their families. It seeks to remove legal and policy barriers to healthcare coverage for various groups. The bill works to ensure individuals lawfully present in the U.S. can access Federally funded healthcare programs. It also advances the ability of undocumented individuals to obtain coverage through health insurance exchanges. Furthermore, the Act eliminates state authority to restrict Medicaid eligibility for lawful permanent residents. Finally, it aims to remove other barriers to accessing Medicaid, CHIP, and medical assistance.
Yes· 3 of 11
Would immigrants be better off under this?+9
The entire purpose of the act is to expand health insurance access for immigrants and their families.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+9
The bill significantly expands healthcare access for immigrants through Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA exchange provisions.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+8
The bill expands healthcare coverage for low-income immigrant families.
The opposite
Does this leave more decisions to the states?-5
The bill reduces state authority to restrict Medicaid eligibility for certain residents.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Expanded Medicaid Access: Individuals who are lawfully residing in the United States, including those with pending applications for deferred action, can receive medical assistance if they meet state eligibility requirements (Section 3(a)).
-
Protection for Sponsors: No debt will accrue against a sponsor due to the medical assistance provided to an individual under this Act (Section 3(a)(2)).
-
Increased Exchange Eligibility: Individuals with Federally authorized presence, such as those with deferred action, will be considered lawfully present for the purposes of exchange eligibility, reduced cost-sharing, and premium subsidies (Section 4(b)).
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Special Enrollment Opportunities: The Secretary of Health and Human Services will establish special enrollment periods for those granted Federally authorized presence to enroll in qualified health plans (Section 4(c)).
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State Options for Expanded Coverage: States have the option to expand Medicaid and CHIP to individuals without lawful presence who would be eligible if they were citizens (Section 6).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Delayed Implementation for Certain States: If a State plan requires State legislation to meet the new requirements, the State's plan will not be considered in non-compliance until after the first regular legislative session following the Act's enactment (Section 3(c)(2)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Immigrants+9Good For Hispanic Americans+8Good For Low Income Households+8Good For Children+7Good For Women+7
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+9Increases Affordable Care Act Support+8Increases Medicaid Funding+8Increases Medicare Funding+7
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+5Increase States Rights-5
- 6/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/24/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts