Fact Check: Trump’s Claims on Immigrants and Medicaid Misleading, Report Finds

TL/DR –

Undocumented immigrants in the U.S. are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare benefits, with the exception of emergency medical assistance, which is reimbursed to hospitals through Emergency Medicaid funding. A report by the Congressional Budget Office revealed that only about 0.4% of total Medicaid spending in 2023 went toward emergency care for undocumented immigrants. Despite President Trump’s claims that his bill will remove immigrants from Medicaid, experts argue that it primarily affects children of undocumented parents who are U.S. citizens and immigrants with legal authorization to live in the U.S., as these groups stand to lose coverage under new regulations.

Fact-check: Trump’s Medicaid and Medicare Claims about Illegal Immigrants

President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” allegedly removes millions of illegal immigrants residing in the U.S. from Medicaid to protect it for those truly in need. However, there are some inaccuracies to consider in this claim.

Primarily, it’s important to note that undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare benefits. This means they are not covered for long-term care, prescriptions, or routine care. The only healthcare available to them is emergency care; this is not for the migrant’s benefit, but to enable hospitals to recoup the cost of their treatment.

Mixed-status families often receive care for their children, and hospitals can request reimbursement for the cost of emergency medical assistance to undocumented immigrants via Emergency Medicaid funding. A report estimates that $27 billion was allocated for this between 2017 and 2023, which is less than 1% of total Medicaid expenditure.

Regarding Medicaid, lawful immigrants accounted for approximately 6% of the total budget in 2023. In contrast, only about 0.4% was allocated for emergency care for undocumented immigrants. As for Medicare, lawful immigrants cost an estimated $30 to $50 billion per year, with indirect or emergency care for undocumented immigrants accounting for roughly $20.8 billion annually.

Interestingly, however, immigrants contribute more than they cost. For example, in 2017, lawful immigrants contributed $13.7 billion more to Medicare than they received. Additionally, from 2000 to 2017, undocumented immigrants contributed $35 to $65 billion in Medicare taxes without accessing benefits.

The proposed bill targets states that use their own taxpayer dollars to provide Medicaid-covered services to immigrants without legal status. It penalizes these states by reducing federal funding for the Medicaid expansion population. The bill also tightens Medicare eligibility, barring immigrants who aren’t legal permanent residents from eligibility unless they hold green cards or fall under certain categories.

While opponents argue that this will reduce the federal deficit by $11 billion between 2025 and 2034, proponents assert that providing health coverage for immigrants results in overall healthier states and workforce. Furthermore, studies have shown that immigrants, regardless of their legal status, have lower healthcare costs and contribute more to health insurance premiums and taxes than they utilize.

In conclusion, while certain assertions may paint a different scenario, it is essential to consider the broader effects and realities of proposed legislation on Medicaid and Medicare coverage for immigrants.

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