Health coverage was cut off for thousands of refugees and some legally authorized immigrants starting October 1, as new restrictions under the GOP’s major healthcare overhaul took effect. The changes mark the first major wave of Medicaid losses tied to the legislation, leaving states and advocacy groups scrambling to alert affected individuals who had previously qualified for benefits. While some immigrants had maintained legal status, the policy shift now excludes them from coverage, raising concerns about access to care. The rollout follows months of warnings from groups pushing for clarity on who remains eligible under the updated rules.
Thousands of refugees and some other immigrants with legal status lost their health coverage Oct. 1, marking some of the first significant coverage losses under the Medicaid cuts in the GOP's signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act. States and advocacy groups have been trying to warn immigrants who were previously eligible for Medicaid — such...
