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Immigration

New US Medicaid rule limits coverage for some legal immigrants, including refugees, asylees and parolees

Since October 1, 2026, federally funded Medicaid and CHIP cover US citizens, green card holders and a few other groups. Immigrants with refugee, asylum or parole status are no longer eligible.

Inner Circle Nepal newsroom
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New US Medicaid rule limits coverage for some legal immigrants, including refugees, asylees and parolees

A change to US health law took effect on October 1, 2026. It narrows who can get federally funded Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Nepalis in the United States should check which immigration status they hold, because it now decides who can keep this coverage.

The change comes from H.R. 1, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed in July 2025. Section 71109 of the law redefines who counts as a qualified noncitizen.

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