Young immigrants protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program continue to face severe health inequities, according to a new national report authored by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, in partnership with United We Dream, the National Immigration Law Center, and the Center for American Progress.
The 2024 survey of more than 400 DACA recipients revealed that 19 percent were uninsured—over twice the national average for adults. Among those with coverage, 87 percent relied on employer-sponsored insurance, far higher than the general population, highlighting how access is tied closely to employment. More than 90 percent of respondents said that losing DACA would make it harder to keep themselves and their families healthy.
Immigration status and cost concerns combined to worsen outcomes. One-third of recipients reported that stress over deportation harmed their physical or mental health. Sixteen percent said their conditions worsened because they skipped needed care. Nearly half avoided medical or dental treatments because of cost, and 16 percent rationed prescriptions. About 30 percent reported going into debt to cover medical expenses.
The authors noted that policy changes have added to the instability. A Biden administration rule briefly allowed DACA recipients to enroll in Affordable Care Act plans, but a late 2024 court injunction blocked enrollment in 19 states. A new federal rule now ends that access nationwide, eliminating ACA subsidies and barring Medicaid and Medicare eligibility.
The report concludes that these exclusions deepen health inequities for immigrant youth who grew up in the U.S. but remain locked out of its safety net.
See: “DACA Recipients’ Access to Health Care: 2025 Report” (August 21, 2025)
