The basic answer: yes. Immigrants, including those without documentation, pay billions of dollars in taxes to federal, state and local governments every year. Immigrants paid $405.4 billion in taxes in 2017, including an estimated $27.2 billion in taxes paid by undocumented immigrants.

IRS estimates that about 6 million unauthorized immigrants file individual income tax returns each year. Research reviewed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office indicates that between 50 percent and 75 percent of unauthorized immigrants pay federal, state, and local taxes.

Only a handful of municipalities in the United States offer health care coverage for undocumented immigrants, including Los Angeles County’s My Health LA program, and San Francisco’s Healthy San Francisco. The lack of coverage of undocumented immigrants has shown increases in spread of preventable diseases.

The study concluded that, overall, immigrants have lower rates of health insurance, use less health care and receive lower quality of care than U.S.-born populations.

Everyone Can Apply Immigrants who are not lawfully present can also buy private health insurance on their own outside of Covered California. Additionally, some counties offer other health care options for immigrants who are not lawfully present. Want to get started with Covered California?

A lawful permanent resident (a green card holder) may qualify for affordable health insurance from the federal or state marketplace, or through a healthcare exchange program in their resident state. The good news is that, as of 2020, pre-existing medical conditions can’t cause an applicant to be denied health coverage.

Getting health coverage from Covered California will not affect your immigration status, even if you receive financial assistance. In addition, you do not have to be afraid of being labeled a “public charge” and it will not make it harder for you to become a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.

As a U.S. lawful permanent resident (LPR or green card holder), you might be legally able to receive some public benefits, such as SSI, TANF, Social Security, Medicare and more. You run the risk of being declared a “public charge” by U.S. immigration officials and thus losing your immigration status.

FAFSA checks the Social Security Administration’s database to verify citizenship….Acceptable documentation includes any of the following:

1. US Birth Certificate.
2. US Passport.
3. Certificate of Naturalization.
4. Certificate of Citizenship.
5. A copy of form FS-240, FS-545, or DS1350.

Generally, if you have a “green card” (in other words, if you are a permanent resident alien), you will be considered an “eligible noncitizen” and will be able to get federal student aid if you meet the other basic eligibility criteria.

To assess taxed income, the FAFSA uses the adjusted gross income (AGI) reported in your tax return. It uses the tax return from two years prior to the date the student plans to enroll in college.