Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Health Equity and Access under the Law for Immigrant Families Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 10 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- 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
- Scored +9
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The entire purpose of the act is to expand health insurance access for immigrants and their families.
- Scored +9
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill significantly expands healthcare access for immigrants through Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA exchange provisions.
- Scored +8
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill expands healthcare coverage for low-income immigrant families.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill reduces state authority to restrict Medicaid eligibility for certain residents.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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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)).
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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)).
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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. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The entire purpose of the act is to expand health insurance access for immigrants and their families. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets improving healthcare access for immigrant populations. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill expands healthcare coverage for low-income immigrant families. Would children be better off under this? — The bill expands CHIP coverage for children without lawful presence through state options. Would women be better off under this? — The bill provides coverage options for pregnant women through CHIP state options.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill significantly expands healthcare access for immigrants through Medicaid, CHIP, and ACA exchange provisions. Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act? — The bill enhances ACA functionality by expanding exchange eligibility and premium subsidies to more individuals. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The act removes barriers to Medicaid access for lawfully residing and undocumented individuals through state options. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill expands Medicare Part A and B eligibility to include individuals with federally authorized presence.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Expanded health coverage can reduce economic hardship for low-income immigrant families.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal requirements for state healthcare programs. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill reduces state authority to restrict Medicaid eligibility for certain residents.
- 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