Overview

• The government remains partially closed after failed Senate votes, while the White House and Republican leaders accuse Democrats of seeking “free health care for illegal immigrants.”
• Fact-checks note undocumented immigrants are ineligible for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and ACA plans, and EMTALA only requires emergency treatment without creating federal insurance.
• Democrats’ continuing resolution would extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and reverse recent Medicaid cuts, with CBO estimating 1.4 million lawfully present noncitizens could lose coverage under current law.
• Press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Vice President JD Vance repeated the claims this week; Republicans point to bill language such as Section 2141, while Democrats say no federal dollars would insure undocumented immigrants.
• KFF reports emergency Medicaid represents under 1% of program spending, and experts say state actions like California’s Medi-Cal expansions are separate from federal coverage rules and have fueled public confusion.