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<\/p>\nThe new rules will cause some non-citizens to lose full healthcare coverage starting Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
MAINE, Maine \u2014 Beginning Oct. 1, state health officials say 627 immigrants in Maine will lose full health care coverage because of new federal Medicaid rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The restrictions to Maine\u2019s Medicaid program, MaineCare, will affect people with different immigration statuses, including refugees and asylees without green cards. Immigrant advocates say very few coverage options are available.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis has serious, dire consequences,\u201d Alex Carter, a senior policy advocate at Maine Equal Justice<\/a>,\u00a0said.<\/p>\n Carter has been helping over 600 immigrants in Maine who could lose full MaineCare coverage. She said they worry about access to medications and medical procedures.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are trying to expedite those procedures with their provider or, in some cases, have those procedures canceled,\u201d Carter explained.<\/p>\n This summer, Maine\u2019s Department of Health and Human Services announced the new restrictions<\/a>. Changes from HR 1, or the ‘Big Beautiful Bill<\/a>‘, also make it harder for immigrants to buy insurance through the marketplace.<\/p>\n \u201cHR 1 also reduced the ability to get things like subsidies on the health insurance marketplace for that same group, so people are not even able to buy into their own private health insurance,\u201d Carter said.<\/p>\n Immigrants under 21 who are pregnant will keep full coverage regardless of immigration status. Those who lose coverage can still get emergency Medicaid for life-threatening medical needs.\u00a0<\/p>\n MaineHealth told NEWS CENTER Maine that they are working with those affected.<\/p>\n \u201cOur team is working with both the State and other community organizations to ensure that those affected have the information and support they need to continue to be able to access care,” MaineHealth said in a statement. “MaineHealth Access to Care will also be contacting the health system’s affected patients in their preferred language to make them aware of ways they can access care at reduced cost, even if they are no longer eligible.”<\/p>\n Advocates discourage immigrants from speaking publicly due to concerns about how it could affect their immigration cases. But they urge them to watch for notices from Maine DHHS. If approved for green cards before Oct.1, they should inform the department so they can maintain full coverage.<\/p>\n For more local stories,\u00a0continue with us on our NEWS CENTER Maine streaming app.<\/a><\/p>\n