Health Coverage As a Pregnant Foreign Citizen?

Only US citizens and legal residents can get Marketplace health insurance, but there are a number of other options for pregnant foreign citizens. Options depend upon what state you are in, immigration status, and immigration date. Options range from coverage for pregnancy only, to emergency coverage, to full coverage depending upon a range of factors. Most of these same rules apply for the child, however since you are a citizen your child once born would be a citizen and could join a family plan (you would need to use a special enrollment period to switch to a family plan).

• If you are lawful present you can get health coverage or join a family plan.
• Non-citizens can get emergency treatment by going to a public hospital, but may be billed depending on income.
• Traveler's insurance and foreign insurance can cover non-citizens in the US.
• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) have special exemptions and can get coverage.
• Certain qualified non-citizens can get Medicaid coverage (Immigrants and Medicaid & CHIP).
• In some states there is a 5 year ban on Medicaid, but many states have lifted the ban under The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) (see chart below)

To qualify you may need to provide:

• Proof of pregnancy
• Proof of citizenship, if a legal US resident ( and identification documentation such as birth certificate or social security card)
• Proof of non-citizenship if not a US resident
• Proof of income

Learn more from Medicaid and CHIP Coverage of Lawfully Residing Children and Pregnant Women

Updated as of March 24, 2014.

* These States cover children in Medicaid up to age 19.

** Virginia is using an 1115 demonstration to cover pregnant women.

*** These states are CHIP Medicaid expansion programs.

Proposed for Medicaid: American Samoa

Proposed for CHIP: Wisconsin