Fact Check: The dataset includes the information of people living in 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: "The dataset includes the information of people living in 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 certain states and Washington, D.C., allow non-U.S. citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs funded solely by state taxpayer dollars. According to a report by the Associated Press, the dataset in question indeed includes information about Medicaid enrollees from California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington, D.C. These jurisdictions have programs that permit non-U.S. citizens to access Medicaid benefits, which are funded entirely by state resources.

The report indicates that these states have expanded their Medicaid programs to include non-citizens, particularly during the Biden administration, and have committed not to bill the federal government for these costs. This aligns with the findings of the Urban Institute, which notes that states like California and Illinois have initiated health coverage expansions for noncitizens, allowing them to enroll in Medicaid-like programs.

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust. The Associated Press article provides a detailed account of how the Trump administration transferred personal data of Medicaid enrollees, including non-U.S. citizens, to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This transfer was controversial and raised legal and ethical concerns, particularly regarding the privacy of individuals enrolled in Medicaid.

Furthermore, the Washington State Standard corroborates that while federal law generally prohibits noncitizens from accessing federally funded Medicaid, states have the authority to fund their own programs to cover these individuals. This is consistent with the findings from the Kaiser Family Foundation, which states that undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federally funded Medicaid but can be covered by state programs.

The reliability of the sources is high, particularly the Associated Press, which is a reputable news organization known for its investigative journalism. The Urban Institute and the Kaiser Family Foundation are also credible sources, providing research and data on health policy and immigrant coverage.

However, it is important to note that while these states allow non-U.S. citizens to enroll in Medicaid programs, the specifics of eligibility and funding can vary. Some programs may only cover certain groups of immigrants, such as those with humanitarian statuses or those who are lawfully present but have not met the five-year wait for Medicaid eligibility.

Conclusion

The claim is True. The dataset indeed includes information about individuals living in California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington, D.C., who are enrolled in Medicaid programs that allow non-U.S. citizens to receive benefits funded solely by state taxpayer dollars. This is supported by multiple credible sources that detail the states' policies and the legal framework surrounding Medicaid enrollment for noncitizens.

Sources

1. AP: Trump administration gives personal data of immigrant ...
2. Coverage for lawfully present immigrants
3. WA Medicaid data shared with federal immigration ...
4. Key Facts on Health Coverage of Immigrants
5. State-Led Health Coverage Expansions for Noncitizens
6. States Are Providing Affordable Health Coverage to People ...
7. Tax Payments by Undocumented Immigrants - ITEP.org
8. Income Definitions for Marketplace and Medicaid Coverage