Financial Help Changes for Lawfully Present Immigrants in 2027

What Is Changing in 2027?

Under the federal budget law known as H.R. 1, starting with the 2027 plan year, some lawfully present immigrants (LPI) will no longer qualify for federal financial assistance — the premium tax credits (APTC) that lower monthly premiums and the cost-sharing reductions (CSR) that lower deductibles and copays.

Two things are important to understand right away:

• You can still enroll. Everyone who is lawfully present remains eligible to enroll in a Covered California health plan for 2027 — the change only removes the federal financial help, not the coverage itself.
• Nothing changes in 2026. There is no change to financial help for the 2026 plan year. Affected consumers can continue using their coverage for doctor visits and other health services all year.

Source: Covered California enrollment data and federal policy briefings, as of mid-2026.

Who Keeps Financial Help in 2027

These immigration groups remain eligible for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions in 2027:

• Lawful Permanent Residents — green card holders whose Permanent Resident status is approved
• Cuban and Haitian entrants
• Migrants from Compact of Free Association (COFA) countries — including Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau

Who Loses Financial Help in 2027

These lawfully present groups will no longer qualify for premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions in 2027 (this is not a complete list):

Green Cards, Renewals & Acceptable Documents

Because financial help in 2027 hinges on approved Permanent Resident status, keeping your documents current in your Covered California application matters more than ever. Acceptable proof of Lawful Permanent Resident status includes:

• A Permanent Resident Card ("green card", Form I-551)
• A temporary I-551 stamp on Form I-94/I-94A or in a foreign passport
• An Arrival/Departure Record (I-94) showing admission as a lawful permanent resident
• A USCIS receipt showing Form I-90 was filed (green card renewal or replacement)

The full list of acceptable documents is on the Covered California immigration documents page.

Medi-Cal Is Changing Too

Some people losing Covered California financial help may wonder about Medi-Cal. The rules there are also changing:

• New adult applicants without a green card are blocked in 2027. Adults ages 19–59 who are lawfully present but do not hold a green card (and don't meet a specific federal exception) cannot newly qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal in 2027, due to the enrollment freeze that began in January 2026. Under H.R. 1, statuses such as refugee, asylee, TPS, and valid visa holders are classified as having an "Unsatisfactory Immigration Status" for federal Medicaid funding.
• People enrolled before the January 2026 freeze keep their coverage — they can maintain full-scope Medi-Cal in 2027, provided they pay a new monthly premium.
• A new $30-per-person monthly premium is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027 for these groups.
• Some green card holders pay it too: adults ages 19–59 who have held their green card for less than 5 years (and don't qualify for a federal exception) must pay the $30 monthly premium. H.R. 1 strictly enforces the federal "five-year bar" on Medicaid funding for new immigrants, so California covers them with 100% state funds during those first five years. Once you reach the 5-year permanent residency milestone, the premium drops back to $0.

What You Can Do Now

1. Keep using your 2026 coverage. Your financial help does not change this year — don't drop your plan.
2. Update your immigration information. Some consumers currently flagged as losing help simply have outdated or missing documents on file — updating your status and documents in your application may preserve your financial help. (An update can trigger a 2026 eligibility review, but the 2026 result does not determine your 2027 eligibility.)
3. Preview 2027 costs in October. 2027 plan rates appear in the Shop and Compare tool and during renewal starting in October 2026, so you can see your real costs before deciding.
4. Act during open enrollment: November 1, 2026 – January 31, 2027. Review plan choices and lower-cost options — don't rely on auto-renewal alone, since it uses your most recent information, which may be outdated.
5. Know your special enrollment rights. Gaining citizenship or lawful presence is a qualifying life event, and becoming newly eligible or ineligible for financial help also opens a special enrollment period.
6. Talk to a licensed agent — for free. Nearly 90% of the enrollees affected by this change already work with an agent. An agent can review your household's status, help fix document issues, compare 2027 options, and screen you for Medi-Cal — at no cost to you.

Free & Low-Cost Care, Whatever Happens

If costs become a barrier, California has a safety net that serves people regardless of insurance or immigration status:

• Community health centers — care on a sliding scale based on income, including primary care, preventive care, behavioral health, and dental. Use the HRSA Find a Health Center tool to locate one near you.
• Free and charitable clinics — low-cost or no-cost care for people without affordable coverage.
• County healthcare programs — many counties run programs for residents without affordable insurance; contact your county for options.
• Medi-Cal Access Program (pregnancy coverage) — 800-433-2611
• Family PACT (no-cost family planning and reproductive health) — 916-650-0414
• Every Woman Counts (free breast and cervical cancer screening) — 800-511-2300
• Free immigration legal support — California Department of Social Services legal services (916-651-8017) and the Health Consumer Alliance (888-804-3536), which helps people struggling to get health coverage.

Covered California can also help directly at 800-300-1506. Eligibility, services, and costs vary by provider and county — contact programs directly to confirm current details.