Health Coverage Options for Afghan Evacuees
September 27, 2021


DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201



Most Afghan evacuees arriving in the United States will be
eligible for health insurance. Afghan
evacuees can access health insurance through Medicaid,
the Children’s Health Insurance Program
(CHIP), the Health Insurance Marketplace, or Refugee Medical
Assistance (RMA). RMA is provided
through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), in the
Administration for Children and Families
(ACF) and administered in most cases by state Medicaid programs.
Eligibility for each coverage program
depends upon the immigration status of the evacuee and the state
where an evacuee is residing.


This fact sheet provides information based on current law and will be
updated if there are future legislative changes.

Non-Citizen Eligibility

Afghan evacuees are entering the U.S. under three main immigration categories:

Afghans with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV):
Afghans granted a SIV have been affiliated with the U.S.
mission in Afghanistan, e.g., as translators and interpreters,
or are the spouse or an unmarried child under
the age of 21 of such individuals. SIVs are Legal Permanent Residents
(LPR also known as U.S. green card holders).

• Afghans granted SIVs are in a qualified non-citizen status and are eligible for Medicaid
or CHIP to the same extent as refugees, without a five-year waiting period, if they meet
other eligibility requirements (e.g., income) for coverage in the state.

• Afghans with a SIV who are ineligible for Medicaid/CHIP because they are over the income
limits or do not have other coverage (e.g., employer-sponsored insurance) may be eligible for
Marketplace coverage with financial assistance.

• Afghans granted SIVs who are ineligible for Medicaid/CHIP are eligible for Refugee
Medical Assistance for up to 8 months following the date of arrival, if they meet the RMA
income and eligibility requirements. RMA benefits generally mirror Medicaid coverage and
are administered through state Medicaid programs in most states.


Afghans granted SIVs who are ineligible for Medicaid/CHIP and RMA
(including those whose 8 months of RMA has ended) may be eligible
for Marketplace coverage with financial assistance.

Special Immigrant (SI/SQ) Parolees:

Such SI/SQ Parolees are eligible for a SIV but were evacuated to the U.S. before
completing the process to receive a SIV. Afghans granted SI/SQ Parole for more than one
year are in a qualified non-citizen status and are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP as refugees, without
the five-year waiting period, if otherwise eligible in the state.





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