Connecticut Republican leaders are calling for the state to halt Medicaid benefits for undocumented immigrants, citing concerns over rising costs and potential impacts on other state-funded programs.
House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) and Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding (R-Brookfield) issued a statement Friday highlighting what they describe as a looming $200 million Medicaid shortfall.
“Connecticut faces a $200 million Medicaid crisis that threatens to drain resources from core government services and programs,” the statement read. “A major contributor is taxpayer-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants.”
The legislators pointed to budget overruns, noting that last year, the program exceeded its financial projections by $10 million. They warned that the current year’s spending is already projected to surpass the budget by over $20 million, a figure they expect to rise further.
Connecticut’s Medicaid Policies
Connecticut is among 12 states, along with Washington, D.C., that provide Medicaid to undocumented children, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The state does not, however, offer Medicaid to undocumented adults without a five-year waiting period, unlike six other states. Undocumented residents in Connecticut currently have access to General Emergency Medicaid for urgent health needs.
Legislation passed in 2021 extended healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants who were pregnant and children under the age of eight. This coverage was later expanded to include children up to age 12. Most recently, undocumented children aged 15 and under became eligible for the state’s healthcare plan, with coverage lasting until age 19.
Republican Concerns
The Migration Policy Institute estimates that over 110,000 undocumented immigrants live in Connecticut, including approximately 7,000 children under 16. Republicans argue that continuing to fund healthcare for undocumented residents is unsustainable.
“In one of the highest-taxed states in America, further expansion of free healthcare for undocumented immigrants, as many Democrats are poised to propose, is simply unrealistic,” the Republican leaders stated.
The GOP press release called for immediate suspension of Medicaid benefits for undocumented immigrants to preserve resources for legal residents and ensure financial stability for the state.
A Call for Action
The Republican leaders criticized Democrats, Governor Ned Lamont, and Attorney General William Tong for supporting expanded healthcare access for undocumented residents, arguing that it has worsened the state’s fiscal challenges.
“Now, with agency heads ordered to make cuts, we must act. Suspending this unsustainable, taxpayer-funded benefit right now is essential to preserving vital services for legal residents,” the statement said.
The Republicans also emphasized the need for fiscal discipline, urging the state to eliminate the policy entirely in the next budget cycle.
“If the Governor is serious about financial stability, we have to suspend this policy now to stop the bleeding,” they concluded.
The debate over healthcare for undocumented immigrants is likely to remain a contentious issue as Connecticut lawmakers continue to grapple with budget constraints.