We know many Massachusetts immigrants have been worried about immigration policies coming out of Washington, D.C. Some people are afraid to use health care services or sign up for state health insurance. HCFA is keeping an eye on any changes that might impact who can get health insurance coverage. We will continue working towards making sure everyone in Massachusetts can get affordable and accessible coverage, regardless of their immigration status.
There’s a couple of actions that the Trump administration has taken in the past week that we want to explain what they mean to you.
- Changes to Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS): On February 20th, the Trump Administration announced that the most recent extension of TPS for Haitians will be shortened from 18 months to 12 months. This means that TPS for Haitians will now end on August 3, 2025, instead of February 3, 2026. Haitian individuals with TPS will still be eligible to apply for other forms of relief, such as a family or employment-based immigration visa, and should consult an immigration attorney to determine their options. People with TPS qualify for different levels of state health coverage based on different factors. If their immigration status changes, their health coverage might change too. Massachusetts continues to offer health coverage options for residents regardless of immigration status. If your status is changing, you can talk to an enrollment assister, like the HCFA HelpLine counselors, to find out what you qualify for.
- Looking into Public Benefits: On February 19th, the Trump administration released an executive order called ‘Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders’. This executive order does not change “public charge” charge policy, immigration rules or eligibility for benefits. It is just the latest scare tactic to discourage immigrants from using public benefits. The order simply tells federal agencies to identify public benefits that cover immigrants without U.S. immigration status.
However, people without documentation already do not qualify for most federally funded public benefits. The few public benefits people in this scenario would be eligible for are almost always in place by federal law, which cannot be changed by an executive order. For example, the MassHealth Limited program is the Massachusetts emergency Medicaid program authorized under the Social Security Act. Other programs like MassHealth, the Health Connector, the Health Safety Net and Children’s Medical Security Plan remain unchanged. There is no reason to drop or avoid public health coverage because of this executive order.
Health Care For All will keep fighting for immigrants: The HCFA team will continue to monitor federal changes that would impact Massachusetts residents. We stand with immigrant communities across Massachusetts and will continue to fight for policies that protect access to health care for everyone, regardless of their immigration status.
Hannah Frigand is HCFA’s Senior Director of the HelpLine & Public Programs.
