Fact Check: California, Illinois, Washington state and Washington, D.C., all of which allow non-U.S. citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs that pay for their expenses using only state taxpayer dollars.

Fact Check: "California, Illinois, Washington state and Washington, D.C., all of which allow non-U.S. citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs that pay for their expenses using only state taxpayer dollars."

What We Know

The claim states that California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington, D.C. permit non-U.S. citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs funded solely by state taxpayer dollars. This assertion is supported by various reports indicating that these jurisdictions have indeed expanded Medicaid eligibility to include noncitizens, particularly undocumented immigrants, using state funds. For instance, a report from the Associated Press confirms that these states have shared details about non-U.S. citizens enrolled in Medicaid programs, which are funded by state taxpayer dollars. Additionally, a fact sheet from the Kaiser Family Foundation notes that while undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federally funded Medicaid, some states have initiated programs to provide coverage using state funds.

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust. Reports from the Washington Examiner and the Urban Institute indicate that California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington, D.C. have enacted policies allowing noncitizens, including undocumented immigrants, to access Medicaid. This is significant because it highlights a divergence from federal policy, which generally prohibits undocumented immigrants from accessing federally funded Medicaid benefits.

However, it is essential to evaluate the reliability of the sources. The Associated Press is a reputable news organization known for its journalistic standards, making its reporting credible. The Urban Institute is a respected think tank that provides data-driven research on social and economic issues, further lending credibility to its findings.

On the other hand, while the Subcommittee on Health provides insights into the political discourse surrounding Medicaid and immigration, it may present a biased perspective, particularly if it is used to support a specific political agenda. Therefore, while the information from the Subcommittee is valuable, it should be considered alongside more neutral sources.

Conclusion

The claim that California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington, D.C. allow non-U.S. citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs funded solely by state taxpayer dollars is True. This conclusion is based on multiple credible sources confirming that these jurisdictions have implemented policies to extend Medicaid coverage to noncitizens, utilizing state funds to do so.

Sources

1. Subcommittee on Health
2. Trump administration gives personal data of immigrant Medicaid enrollees
3. WA Medicaid data shared with federal immigration authorities
4. Trump admin gives immigrants' Medicaid data to DHS
5. Gavin Newsom Reacts to Donald Trump’s 'Unprecedented' Data Sharing
6. Key Facts on Health Coverage of Immigrants
7. State-Led Health Coverage Expansions for Noncitizens
8. Trump administration will use Medicaid data in immigration crackdown