Kids make up 1 in 4 undocumented immigrants getting healthcare under new Minnesota law
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About a quarter of the roughly 20,000 undocumented immigrants who have signed up for Minnesota's state-funded health insurance program are children, the Department of Human Services tells Axios.
Why it matters: Whether to continue providing MinnesotaCare coverage to low-income residents without legal status has emerged as a flashpoint in budget talks at the politically divided State Capitol.
- Recent comments from Gov. Tim Walz suggested that one possible outcome of negotiations could involve keeping coverage for Minnesotans under 18, while rolling it back for adults.
Friction point: Republicans are pushing for a full repeal of the 2023 law, arguing that the state can't afford to shoulder the costs given its dire budget outlook.
- They point to state data showing higher-than-anticipated enrollment and claims from residents without legal status since the law took effect in January.
The other side: Supporters of the law, including legislative Democrats, hospitals and the Minnesota Catholic Conference, say rolling it back would hurt public health and result in undocumented immigrants seeking costlier care at emergency rooms, which cannot turn patients away over their insurance or immigration status.
- They point out that many undocumented immigrants pay taxes and say they should be entitled to state services as a result.
Between the lines: Walz, who signed the change into law when Democrats had full control of state government, defended the policy as a moral and economic imperative at a bill signing last week.
- The DFL governor said while he's open to discussing changes to the program in response to GOP concerns, ensuring continued coverage for kids is his "red line."
What he's saying: "I just think morally we have got to cover children. These were not decisions these children made," Walz said of minors living in the state without legal status. "It just makes sense that they get their childhood vaccinations, they get their check-ups, they break an arm playing outside, they can go in."
The intrigue: California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that he will seek to cut access to his state's health insurance program for new enrollees who lack legal status starting in 2026. He also wants to require premiums for undocumented adults who have already signed up starting in 2027.
- Children and teens 18 and under would remain eligible for coverage under his plan, which his office projects would save the state $5 billion.
What we're watching: A separate federal budget proposal backed by congressional Republicans would cut Medicaid funding for Minnesota and other states that provide coverage for undocumented immigrants.
- Such a move could further strain the state's budget situation.