By Alex Carter

Last year, the federal government passed a bill that made big changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Some of those changes will restrict more immigrants from accessing help with basic needs. Maine Equal Justice fought hard against these cuts, but now they are going into effect. We want to make sure everyone who may lose their MaineCare insurance (our state’s Medicaid program) knows what to expect.

Changes to MaineCare eligibility for some immigrants will begin on October 1, 2026. Unfortunately, only a small group of noncitizens will still be able to get full MaineCare coverage after this date.

Many people, like refugees, who have permission to stay in the United States. and have long been eligible for MaineCare will lose their health insurance this fall. Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) estimates that more than 600 Maine households will lose MaineCare.

Who is still eligible for full MaineCare?

In Maine, children under the age of 21, and people who are pregnant or have recently given birth who also meet the income requirements, are still eligible for MaineCare regardless of their immigration status or the immigration status of their family members. 

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Additional groups who can get full MaineCare benefits include U.S.-born and naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who have had their green cards for more than five years or  who had a previous humanitarian status (like refugees or asylees) and are not subject to the five-year waiting period, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and people from Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau living in the United States under a special agreement called the Compact of Free Association (COFA). 

If you are not in one of the groups listed above, you are not eligible for full MaineCare. You are eligible for a program called Emergency MaineCare to help pay for lifesaving services at a hospital. No one can be turned away from emergency services because of their immigration status or because they can’t afford to pay. If your income is under a certain level, Hospital Free Care programs can also help pay for medically necessary care and hospital bills.

Who is losing full MaineCare eligibility?

Asylees (people with an approved application for asylum) without a green card, refugees without a green card, humanitarian parolees, certain Afghan and Ukrainian parolees, certain survivors of abuse and human trafficking, certain non-U.S.-born Native Americans, Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, and noncitizen veterans (without a green card) are losing full MaineCare eligibility.

Important reminder: people in these groups who are under 21 or pregnant can still apply for and keep their MaineCare.

If I think I am losing MaineCare, what should I do?

If you got a notice from DHHS saying that you are not eligible for MaineCare starting on October 1, we recommend that you immediately report any changes in your immigration status to DHHS (for example, if your green card was approved). 

Continue to use your healthcare while you still have full MaineCare coverage, including getting primary and preventive care. Refill your prescriptions. 

Talk to your healthcare provider to discuss options for prioritizing necessary procedures or follow-up care before you lose MaineCare. Find the nearest Community Health Center where you can get primary care, or call Consumers for Affordable Health Care’s Helpline (1-800-965-7476) to help you understand your options for healthcare.

Everyone deserves good quality healthcare!

Cuts to healthcare are an injustice. At Maine Equal Justice, we’re deeply worried about how many immigrant families may go without seeing a doctor and getting needed medicine. We won’t stop until affordable healthcare is a reality for ALL Mainers, including our family, friends, and neighbors who are immigrants. 

We envision a world where everyone can get the care they need when they need it. In the Maine Legislature or in Washington, D.C., we fight for solutions that recognize an individual’s right to coverage, regardless of their income, where they live, or where they came from.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the early August 2026 print edition of Amjambo Africa.