HUSKY Health for immigrants in Connecticut is a mix of federal Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and state-funded coverage that fills gaps for people whose immigration status blocks them from federal programs. Whether you qualify depends on your status, your household income, and, starting October 1, 2026, on federal changes that will cut several groups off entirely.1Connecticut Social Services. H.R.1 Non-Citizen Eligibility Undocumented children through age 15 and non-citizen pregnant individuals have state-funded pathways. Undocumented adults are limited to emergency care.
Who Qualifies by Immigration Status
Where you stand with immigration determines which HUSKY door is open to you.
Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) generally face a five-year federal waiting period before full Medicaid becomes available.2HealthCare.gov. Coverage for Lawfully Present Immigrants The clock starts on the date LPR status was granted. Once five years pass, LPRs can enroll in HUSKY A, B, C, or D based on age, household, and income. LPR children and pregnant individuals may qualify sooner because federal law lets states cover those two groups without the five-year bar. During the waiting period, LPRs can still access HUSKY LB (Emergency Medicaid) for genuine emergencies.
Refugees, asylees, trafficking victims, and humanitarian parolees can currently enroll in HUSKY without waiting, but that changes on October 1, 2026 (see below).
Cuban and Haitian entrants and citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau under the Compacts of Free Association remain eligible.1Connecticut Social Services. H.R.1 Non-Citizen Eligibility
Undocumented residents cannot enroll in standard HUSKY, but Connecticut runs three state-funded workarounds: State HUSKY A and State HUSKY B for children, HUSKY B Prenatal Care for pregnant individuals, and HUSKY LB (Emergency Medicaid) for anyone facing a medical emergency.
The October 2026 Federal Cuts
A federal budget law, H.R.1, ends HUSKY Health eligibility for these groups on October 1, 2026:
- Refugees
- Asylees
- Trafficking victims
- Humanitarian parolees
Before this date, refugees and asylees were exempt from the five-year waiting period and could get Medicaid from the day they arrived, for up to seven years.3Congress.gov. Noncitizen Eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP That exemption disappears.
After October 1, 2026, the non-citizen groups that keep HUSKY eligibility narrow down to: LPRs with five or more years of status, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA citizens.1Connecticut Social Services. H.R.1 Non-Citizen Eligibility
If you fall into one of the affected groups and are currently enrolled, the Department of Social Services will mail you written notice before your coverage ends. Watch for that notice and start looking at other coverage options well before October.
Coverage for Undocumented Children
Connecticut pays entirely from state funds to cover undocumented children through State HUSKY A and State HUSKY B. The programs cover uninsured children from birth through age 15 whose household income is at or below 323% of the Federal Poverty Level.4Connecticut Department of Social Services. State HUSKY A and HUSKY B for Children Health Coverage Benefits match regular HUSKY: doctor visits, prescriptions, dental, and behavioral health.
Costs depend on income. Children in the Medicaid-equivalent tier (State HUSKY A) pay nothing. State HUSKY B Band 1 families pay no premium, only some co-pays. State HUSKY B Band 2 families pay a monthly premium of $30 for one child or $50 for more than one child, plus co-pays.5HUSKY Health. HUSKY Health Monthly Income Guidelines
The age cap was raised from 12 to 15 in July 2024. Advocates have pressed to extend it through age 18, but that has not been enacted. Undocumented youth aged 16 through 18 are not currently covered.
Coverage During Pregnancy and Postpartum
HUSKY B Prenatal Care covers non-citizen pregnant individuals who don’t qualify for Medicaid because of immigration status. Connecticut uses a federal option that extends CHIP coverage to the unborn child, which in practice gives the pregnant person full medical, dental, prescription, and behavioral health coverage through pregnancy and delivery.6HUSKY Health. New Prenatal Coverage and Extended Postpartum Coverage
Household income must be below 264% of the Federal Poverty Level. There’s no monthly premium; some co-pays apply for services unrelated to the pregnancy.
Postpartum coverage runs a full 12 months after delivery for eligible HUSKY A and B members. Connecticut extended this from the standard two months to 12 months in April 2022.7HUSKY Health. New Prenatal Coverage and Extended Postpartum Coverage Home
Emergency Medicaid for Adults
Undocumented adults who don’t qualify for any other HUSKY program can still get emergency medical coverage through HUSKY LB. It pays for treatment after the sudden onset of a medical emergency where symptoms are severe enough that lack of immediate care could put the patient in serious jeopardy or cause serious harm to bodily functions or organs.8HUSKY Health. HUSKY Health For Connecticut Children and Adults
HUSKY LB does not cover routine visits or ongoing treatment for chronic conditions, even serious ones like heart disease. Labor and delivery are covered as emergency events; prenatal care is not (that goes through HUSKY B Prenatal Care).
You cannot pre-apply for HUSKY LB. The hospital treats you first, then submits the bill and an application to the DSS Medical Review Team for retroactive coverage. Immigration status is not a factor. You just need to meet the income and asset limits that would otherwise qualify you for Medicaid.
Income Limits
Every HUSKY program has an income ceiling set as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level. The 2026 FPL figures:
- Individual: $15,960 per year
- Family of 2: $21,640
- Family of 3: $27,320
- Family of 4: $33,000
The ceiling varies by program. As of October 2024, HUSKY A for parents and caretaker relatives caps at 138% of FPL, or roughly $45,540 for a family of four.10Connecticut Department of Social Services. Information About the 2024 HUSKY A Parents and Caretaker Relatives Transition HUSKY B for children goes much higher. In 2026, a family of four can earn up to about $106,590 (roughly 323% of FPL) and still qualify for HUSKY B Band 2.11Connecticut Department of Social Services. HUSKY Health Annual Income Chart March 2026 HUSKY D, for adults 19 to 64 without dependent children, uses a lower threshold than HUSKY A for parents.
DSS applies certain income disregards and expense deductions, so the number on your pay stub isn’t always the number they use. If you’re close to a limit, apply and let DSS run the calculation.
Will Enrolling Affect My Immigration Case?
Enrolling in HUSKY Health (Medicaid or CHIP) is not counted in a public charge determination under current federal rules.12Connecticut Department of Social Services. Public Charge Special Information About Federal Rule Change Using HUSKY will not count against you if you later apply for a green card or seek to enter the United States.
The only government benefits immigration officials consider for public charge purposes are Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Family Assistance, State-Administered General Assistance, and Medicaid that pays for long-term institutional care such as nursing homes. Standard HUSKY A, B, and D coverage doesn’t fall into any of those.
The rule also doesn’t apply at all if you’re applying for U.S. citizenship, renewing a green card, or changing visa types, or if you’re a refugee, asylee, U-visa or T-visa holder, VAWA self-petitioner, or Special Immigrant Juvenile petitioner. Even where the rule does apply, receiving a listed benefit does not automatically mean denial; officials weigh the totality of circumstances.
Documents to Gather
Having your paperwork ready before you apply cuts down on follow-up verification requests.
For income, collect pay stubs covering four weeks (one month) of pay, ideally consecutive. If you’re paid in cash, an employer letter on company letterhead, signed by the employer, can substitute. All income documents should show gross pay before taxes and deductions.13Access Health CT. Help With Your Verifications
If you’re self-employed, bring a profit and loss statement or self-employment ledger no older than 12 months with your name, business name, dates covered, and net income. A prior-year federal tax return (Form 1040) with Schedule C or Schedule F also works.
For residency, a current lease, utility bill, or mortgage statement showing a Connecticut address will do.
For identity, bring a foreign passport, consular ID, or state-issued driver’s license if you have one. A Social Security number is only required for household members who have one and are seeking benefits.
The application form is the W-1E, the Application for Benefits.14Connecticut Department of Social Services. Applications and Forms Download it from the DSS website or pick one up at a local DSS resource center or community health center.
How to Apply
You can file three ways:
- Online through Access Health CT (accesshealthct.com) or the DSS ConneCT system (connect.ct.gov). Either portal handles HUSKY A, B, and D. ConneCT also handles HUSKY C and other DSS programs.15211 Connecticut. New HUSKY Applications
- By mail to the DSS ConneCT Scanning Center, P.O. Box 1320, Manchester, CT 06045.16Connecticut Department of Social Services. How to Apply
- In person at any DSS resource center. You can fill out an application on-site, drop a completed form in the outside drop box, or hand it to staff.
DSS has up to 45 days to review and decide. They may contact you for more documentation during that period. You’ll get a written Notice of Action in the mail with the decision and, if approved, your benefit start date.
Language Help
DSS provides free interpreter services by phone, video, or in person for any language.17Connecticut Department of Social Services. Interpreter Services Tell the DSS staff member your preferred language when you call, visit, or schedule an appointment. You don’t need to bring your own interpreter. On-demand video sign language interpreting is available at all DSS resource centers.
If You’re Denied
You have 60 days from the date on the DSS Notice of Action to request a fair hearing.18Connecticut Department of Social Services. Requesting A Hearing The simplest route is the hearing request form attached to the denial notice. If you don’t have that form, send a signed letter to the DSS Hearing Office with your name, address, case identification number, the program you’re appealing, and the reason you think the decision is wrong.
If DSS is reducing or ending benefits you already have, requesting a hearing before the proposed action date can keep your coverage running while the appeal is decided. File as soon as you get the notice rather than waiting out the 60 days.