Health Insurance for Immigrants: Green Card, H-1B & F-1 – Who Can Get Obamacare in 2027

Dongni Chen is a licensed health insurance agent who speaks Mandarin and Cantonese, and can help you compare plans and enroll in Chinese. Being able to buy coverage and being able to receive a subsidy are two different things.

For 2027 coverage | Information compiled in October 2026. If policies change, follow the official announcements.

By Dongni Chen, licensed insurance agent, NPN 20635222 · RedNote (Xiaohongshu): 咚咚在美国 · Updated October 25, 2026

Key points

Being able to buy coverage and being able to receive a subsidy are two different things.
Starting in 2027, only US citizens, green card holders and a few special status categories qualify for Obamacare subsidies.
People with lawful statuses such as H-1B, F-1, refugee or asylum status, and TPS can still enroll starting in 2027, but must pay full price.
DACA recipients have been ineligible to buy marketplace coverage since August 25, 2025.
People without lawful immigration status cannot buy through a marketplace such as HealthCare.gov.

1. Immigration status comparison for 2027

Status	Can you buy marketplace coverage?	Can you receive a subsidy in 2027?
US citizen	Yes	Yes, if income qualifies
Green card holder, including those with a green card for less than 5 years	Yes	Yes, if income qualifies
A few special categories: Cuban/Haitian entrants and COFA migrants from Pacific island nations	Yes	Yes, if income qualifies
H-1B, L-1 and other work visas	Yes	No
F-1, J-1 student/exchange visas	Yes	No
Refugee, asylum or pending asylum	Yes	No
TPS (Temporary Protected Status)	Yes	No
U visa, T visa or pending VAWA application	Yes	No
Pending green card application (I-485 pending, with an employment authorization document)	Yes	No
DACA	No, since August 25, 2025	No
Without lawful immigration status	No	No

Sources: 2025 federal law H.R. 1; CMS.

2. Green card holders

You can buy coverage and receive subsidies, with income between 100% and 400% of the poverty level.
If you have had a green card for less than 5 years: Federal Medicaid generally has a 5-year waiting period. Previously, people in this group with income below 100% of the poverty level could still get ACA subsidies. Starting in 2026, they cannot.
Some states waive the 5-year waiting period for children and pregnant women, and some use state funds to offer coverage. Rules vary by state.

3. H-1B and other work visas

Starting in 2027, you can buy coverage, but there is no subsidy and you must pay full price.
First check whether your employer offers insurance. Many H-1B employers offer group coverage, which is often more cost-effective.
A spouse with H-4 status can generally review coverage options together with the H-1B spouse.

4. F-1 students

F-1 is a lawful status. You can buy Obamacare, but starting in 2027 there is no subsidy.
Many schools offer student insurance. Some require their own plan or proof of equivalent coverage for a waiver. Ask the school first.
J-1 exchange scholars' insurance must meet US Department of State minimum requirements. Check whether a plan meets them before buying.

5. Employment authorization documents (EADs)

An EAD is not itself an immigration status. What matters is why you received it:

Pending green card application (I-485), pending asylum or TPS: You can buy coverage, but starting in 2027 there is no subsidy.
DACA: You cannot buy marketplace coverage.

6. Without lawful immigration status

You cannot buy through a marketplace such as HealthCare.gov.
Some states separately use state funds to provide coverage for children, pregnant women and others. Rules vary by state.

7. Visitors coming for family visits or tourism

Visitors coming to the United States for a short stay on B-1/B-2 visitor visas generally cannot buy Obamacare.
They can buy visitor insurance, also called travel medical insurance.

8. What if family members have different statuses?

Many Chinese families have mixed immigration statuses. For example, the parents may have H-1B status while the children are citizens:

You can apply only for family members who qualify.
Family members who are not applying for coverage do not need to provide their own immigration status information, but their income may still count toward household income.
Subsidy eligibility is determined separately for each person. For example, in 2027, H-1B parents pay full price, while citizen children may qualify for Medicaid or subsidies.

What health insurance can immigrant parents get as they approach age 65?

US citizens and green card holders can qualify for Medicare. Green card holders with 10 years of work and tax contributions can get premium-free Part A directly. Those without enough work history who need to buy Parts A and B generally must have lived continuously in the United States for 5 years.
If you qualify for Medicare but do not enroll and buy Obamacare instead, you may face Medicare late enrollment penalties and may have to repay subsidies. Ask about your situation first.

If you plan to apply for a green card

If you are applying or plan to apply for a green card, the rules on whether receiving government subsidies could affect your application are complicated and may change. Consider consulting a qualified immigration attorney first.

Questions? Contact Dongni Chen

If you are unsure whether your status allows you to enroll, contact me and I can help you review your situation.

Eligibility is subject to the marketplace's review.

Main sources: 2025 federal law H.R. 1; CMS; HealthCare.gov.

Call (213) 322-8909Email