Hundreds of lawfully present immigrants in Connecticut could lose Medicare coverage starting in January 2027 after changes made under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act narrowed eligibility for certain noncitizens. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 100,000 people nationwide could lose Medicare because of the change.
Connecticut accounts for roughly 1% to 1.1% of the nation’s Medicare caseload, suggesting that approximately 1,000 to 1,100 legally present immigrants in the state could be affected. The new rules generally limit eligibility for these noncitizens to green card holders and certain nationals from Cuba, Haiti, Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands, subject to the program’s other requirements.
The potential coverage loss is also raising concerns about Connecticut hospitals and federally qualified health centers. State health leaders warn that people without insurance may delay treatment until conditions become more serious, increasing emergency-room use and uncompensated care. Connecticut has a $550 million reserve fund intended to respond to federal program cuts, with more than $263 million remaining as of late July.
Whether the state uses that money to replace lost Medicare coverage could become a major issue when the legislature returns on Jan. 6, 2027. Lawmakers are already weighing requests for assistance involving other federal cuts, including about 110,000 adults expected to lose Medicaid and more than 30,000 people losing SNAP benefits, putting additional pressure on the limited state reserve.
