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Guide · Visa holders & immigrantsHealth insurance for visa holders and immigrants.
The rules changed for 2026 and change again for 2027. Many people who are lawfully in the U.S. can still buy a Marketplace plan, but fewer will get help paying for it. Here is who qualifies for what, and what to do before open enrollment.
If you are in the U.S. on a work visa, a student visa, a green card, asylum or Temporary Protected Status, your health insurance options depend on two separate questions: can you buy a Marketplace plan, and can you get a subsidy to help pay for it? Federal law passed in 2025 changed the second answer for many people.
Who can buy a Marketplace plan
To enroll on HealthCare.gov, which is what Florida uses, you need to live in the state and be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or "lawfully present." Lawfully present includes, among others:
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
- Refugees, asylees and people with Temporary Protected Status
- People with a valid nonimmigrant status, such as work and student visas
- Cuban and Haitian entrants
Undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients cannot buy Marketplace coverage under current rules.
Who gets a subsidy: 2026 vs 2027
2026 coverage (this year)
Lawfully present immigrants can still get a premium tax credit if they meet the income rules. One change took effect on January 1, 2026: lawfully present immigrants with income under 100% of the poverty level, who used to qualify through a special rule, no longer do.
2027 coverage (the open enrollment that starts November 1, 2026)
Premium tax credits are limited to:
- U.S. citizens and nationals
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
- Cuban and Haitian entrants
- Citizens of the Compact of Free Association nations (Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau) living in the U.S.
Other lawfully present people, including most work and student visa holders, refugees, asylees and TPS holders, can still enroll but will pay the full premium unless their status changes.
If you are losing your subsidy for 2027
- Price the full premium now. Use the ACA subsidy calculator to see the benchmark premium for your age and state, then plan for the whole amount.
- Check employer coverage. Your own or a spouse's employer plan is usually the best value, because the employer pays part of it. Immigration status does not affect eligibility for employer plans.
- Compare plans outside the Marketplace. Without a subsidy, off-Marketplace ACA plans cost the same as Marketplace plans, and some private plans may cost less for healthy people. Some private insurers have their own residency or time-in-U.S. requirements, so ask before you apply. See private health insurance outside the Marketplace.
- Consider a Bronze plan with an HSA. From 2026, Bronze and catastrophic plans work with a tax-free health savings account. If you will be above the income limits anyway, you may also qualify for a catastrophic plan. More in catastrophic plans and HSAs.
- Getting a green card soon? Report the change to the Marketplace. As a lawful permanent resident you can qualify for a subsidy again, subject to income.
Students and exchange visitors
Many universities require F-1 students to enroll in a school plan or show equivalent coverage. J-1 exchange visitors must carry insurance that meets U.S. Department of State minimums for the whole program. Check with your school or program sponsor before buying anything, so the plan you choose actually satisfies the requirement.
Short visits
If you are visiting rather than living in Florida, you generally will not qualify for a Marketplace plan. Visitor or travel medical insurance is the usual choice. It is not major medical insurance, so check the limits and exclusions.
Free and low-cost care regardless of status
Community health centers provide primary care on a sliding fee scale whatever your immigration status, and hospitals must screen and stabilize anyone with an emergency.
Next step
We work in English and Spanish. Get a free quote, tell us your status and ZIP code, and a licensed advisor will show you every option you qualify for within 24 hours. We never ask for more immigration detail than the application requires.
Common questions
Can H-1B, F-1 or other visa holders buy Marketplace insurance?
Generally yes. Most people with a valid nonimmigrant status, including work and student visas, count as lawfully present and can enroll in a Marketplace plan if they live in the state. From 2027 most of them will no longer qualify for a premium tax credit and will pay full price.
Who still gets a subsidy in 2027?
For 2027 coverage, premium tax credits are limited to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of the Compact of Free Association nations living in the U.S. Income rules still apply.
Can DACA recipients get Marketplace coverage?
No. DACA recipients are not eligible to buy Marketplace plans under current rules. Private plans sold outside the Marketplace, employer coverage and community health centers are the main options.
I just arrived in the U.S. Can I enroll outside open enrollment?
Gaining lawful presence is a qualifying event, so you usually get a 60-day special enrollment period to buy a Marketplace plan.
