Medicaid in Oregon: what you may be able to apply for
What it is
Public health insurance for low-income people, jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, pregnancy, and children's care. States run it under federal rules, and each state has its own name and details (California calls it Medi-Cal).
Oregon Health Plan (OHP); Healthier Oregon = state-funded program covering people of all ages regardless of immigration status (as of Jul 16, 2026: no enrollment cap, not frozen, still open)
Final eligibility is decided by the agency
Policies can change — always check the latest official information.
🔎 Will this affect your green card?
Regular Medicaid does NOT count in the public charge test — receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application. First, a sentence that may make this whole section irrelevant to you: many people are outside this assessment altogether. The exemption categories Congress created by statute remain in force — DHS said so in the July 20, 2026 rule: what it removed was the list, while "USCIS will provide training and guidance to its officers, including information about which aliens are statutorily exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility". ✅ Each of the following rests on its own statute and does not disappear with that list: refugees (8 U.S.C. §1157(c)(3): paragraph (4) of §1182(a) "shall not be applicable"); refugees and asylees adjusting status (§1159(c), same wording); Special Immigrant Juveniles (§1255(h)(2)(A): paragraph (4) "shall not apply"); and VAWA self-petitioners, U nonimmigrant applicants or holders, and battered spouses and children under §1641(c) (§1182(a)(4)(E): "shall not apply"). Battered spouses and children have a second layer of statutory protection: the law forbids considering any public benefits for them (INA §212(s)). If you hold a T visa: the law allows immigration authorities to waive the public charge ground (§1255(l)(2), "may waive") — but that waiver is discretionary; it does not apply automatically as the categories above do. ✅ This does not mean you cannot get a waiver; it means it has to be requested and explained case by case. Have a lawyer help you prepare it. For the full list, and whether you are in it, have a lawyer check. ✅ For what you received before September 18, 2026, the rule considers only two things: (a) public cash assistance for income maintenance (SSI, TANF cash, and state, tribal, territorial or local general-assistance cash) and (b) long-term institutionalization at government expense. Anything outside those two is not counted — that is written into the rule itself and has not changed. But if you did receive (a) or (b) before that date, those are considered; have an attorney look at your specific situation. (This is in the rule itself: it applies only going forward — DHS "will only consider the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutionalization at government expense before the effective date".) And if this assessment does apply to you — from September 18, 2026 onwards, things change — means-tested public benefits received on or after that day - that is, the public benefits that look at your income or assets when you apply - and for example SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and WIC, but not limited to these, because the rule names a whole category rather than a list, and not limited to federal programs either - state, territorial, Tribal and local ones count too (verbatim: "Federal, State, territorial, Tribal, and local programs that provide means-tested public benefits"); if you are not sure whether the one you receive counts, ask a licensed immigration attorney - may be weighed as one of the factors (the rule "will consider the receipt of any means tested public benefits on or after that date"). ✅ It is one factor among many, not an automatic denial. The rule requires each case to be weighed on all of its circumstances. How much weight any one of them carries has not been published — USCIS has not issued its operating guidance. We have not verified it; that is not the same as saying it has changed. If you are applying for a visa abroad, or entering at a port of entry: the above describes USCIS (applications filed inside the United States). The rule itself notes that CBP at a port of entry may consider different information; how consulates abroad apply it, we have not verified. See details →
Who may qualify
Income limit
- Adults 19-64 (MAGI Adult / ACA expansion)≤ 138% FPLMAGI Adult (ages 19-64): ≤138% FPL (the 138% already includes the 5% disregard); for 2026, $1,836/month for one person and $3,795 for a family of four (effective Mar 1, 2026). Healthier Oregon uses the same 138% FPL standard regardless of immigration status. Adults with monthly income above 138% FPL but annual income between 133-200% FPL can be evaluated for OHP Bridge — Basic Health Program (BHP, a basic health program, not Medicaid).
Source:Oregon Health Authority (OHA) · checked 2026-07-16
Official excerpt
“MAGI Adult (ages 19-64) ... Healthier Oregon ... 138% FPL (includes 5% disregard). Healthier Oregon provides OHP Plus-level coverage for individuals who meet income and other criteria, regardless of immigration status.”
2026 Income Guide for MAGI Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Programs · OHP 9954D (Rev. 03/26)
View the official document → (Opens in a new tab) - Children 0-18 (under 19)≤ 305% FPLChildren under 19 are covered by OHP up to 305% FPL (including MAGI CHIP; each %FPL tier already includes the 5% disregard). Breakdown: MAGI Child under age 1 = 190% FPL; MAGI Child ages 1-18 = 138% FPL; above that, MAGI CHIP covers up to 305% FPL. Children ages 1-18 within 139-305% FPL and children under age 1 within 190-305% FPL cannot have other minimum essential coverage. Healthier Oregon also covers children regardless of immigration status. Newborns born to OHP recipients keep coverage until their sixth birthday even if income changes (report the newborn's SSN and respond to requests for information). (Standards effective Mar 1, 2026.)
Source:Oregon Health Authority (OHA) · checked 2026-07-16
Official excerpt
“MAGI Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ... Healthier Oregon ... 305% FPL (includes 5% disregard). Children ages 1-18 within 139-305% FPL and children under age 1 within 190-305% FPL cannot have other minimum essential coverage.”
2026 Income Guide for MAGI Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Programs · OHP 9954D (Rev. 03/26)
View the official document → (Opens in a new tab) - Pregnancy (no age limit)≤ 190% FPLMAGI Pregnant Adult (no age limit): ≤190% FPL (the 190% already includes the 5% disregard); for 2026, $2,527/month for one person and $5,225 for a family of four (effective Mar 1, 2026). The same 190% tier also applies to MAGI Child under age 1. Healthier Oregon uses the same 190% FPL standard regardless of immigration status.
Source:Oregon Health Authority (OHA) · checked 2026-07-16
Official excerpt
“MAGI Pregnant Adult (no age limit) ... Healthier Oregon ... 190% FPL (includes 5% disregard).”
2026 Income Guide for MAGI Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Programs · OHP 9954D (Rev. 03/26)
View the official document → (Opens in a new tab) - Aged/Blind/Disabled (65+/ABD, OSIPM, non-MAGI)OSIPM (Oregon Supplemental Income Program Medical) is non-MAGI. In the official ODHS standards table, Non-SSI OSIPM is listed as "n/a" in the "% of FPL" column — i.e., there is no single fixed %FPL: the income standard is $994/month for one person and $1,491/month for a couple, with a resource (asset) test of $2,000 (one) / $3,000 (two). SSI recipients "are assumed eligible so do not have an income or resource standard," but must still meet pursuit-of-asset and residency requirements. Related tiers: OSIPM-EPD (employed people with disabilities) = 250% FPL / $3,325 with $5,000 resources; OSIPM BH = 150% / $1,995; "300% of SSI" = $2,982 for long-term care. People 65+, blind or disabled, receiving SSI, or receiving Medicare may be evaluated for non-MAGI eligibility as part of the full Medicaid evaluation in ONE Online, or may contact the ADRC (1-855-673-2372). (ODHS/OHA Combined Standards DHS 5530, 05/2026; EPD/BH tiers effective Mar 1, 2026.)
Source:Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) / Oregon Health Authority (OHA) · checked 2026-07-16
Official excerpt
“Oregon Supplemental Income Program Medical (OSIPM) standards ... Non-SSI OSIPM* n/a $994 $1,491 $2,000 $3,000 ... *SSI recipients are assumed eligible so do not have an income or resource standard, but still must meet pursuit of asset requirements and residency requirements (OAR 461-135-0010).”
ODHS/OHA Combined Standards — OSIPM (non-MAGI) Program Income Standards · 100-65796_DHS 5530
View the official document → (Opens in a new tab)
Immigration-status rules in this state
Oregon covers people of all ages regardless of immigration status. Through Healthier Oregon, a state-funded program, people of all ages who live in Oregon and meet income and other criteria qualify for full OHP Plus-level benefits no matter their immigration status. OHA states: "Starting July 1, 2023, immigration/citizenship status no longer affects whether someone qualifies for OHP." Adults 26+ were added on July 1, 2023, completing all-ages coverage. Current status (checked July 16, 2026): OHA's official pages show NO enrollment cap, waitlist, new-enrollment freeze, or wind-down for Healthier Oregon — it remains open and people of any age can apply, and Healthier Oregon still appears in the adult (138% FPL), pregnancy (190% FPL), and children (305% FPL) columns of OHA's current income guide (OHP 9954D, effective March 1, 2026). (This differs from some other states — do not assume Oregon matches them.) Oregon-specific effect of the federal changes: OHA states plainly, "In Oregon (unlike other states), this does not mean people will lose OHP." In October 2026, some OHP members will MOVE TO Healthier Oregon rather than lose coverage — this affects adults with these immigration statuses: refugees, asylees, survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking, and some humanitarian parolees; it does not affect children, or adults with those statuses who qualify for OHP Bridge. Healthier Oregon is an OHP program and has the same benefits. In January 2027, members who have OHP through Healthier Oregon will move to OHP Open Card (a type of OHP for members who are not in a coordinated care organization, or CCO); OHP Open Card has the same OHP benefits, but the health care providers you can see may differ. In 2027, Healthier Oregon members may also be affected by other changes, including more frequent renewals and work or activity rules for some adults. This is a fast-changing area — rely on the latest official OHA guidance.
How to apply
What you'll need
Proof of identity, income, Oregon residency, and household size; immigration documents as applicable. Healthier Oregon can be applied for regardless of immigration status. Applying is free and available in many languages. Apply online at ONE.Oregon.gov, or through Benefits.Oregon.gov, a certified community partner, an ODHS office, or by phone at 1-800-699-9075 (TTY 711). See official OHA/ODHS guidance for the exact document list.
Timeline
⚠️ No Oregon-specific published processing time was found. Under the general federal Medicaid baseline, an eligibility decision is generally made within 45 days (up to 90 days for disability-based cases). Confirm OHA/ODHS-specific timing with the official program.
Go to the official application → (Opens in a new tab)ONE.Oregon.gov (official online application portal) · also Benefits.Oregon.gov, certified community partners, ODHS offices, or 1-800-699-9075 (TTY 711, Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Pacific); ages 65+/aged-blind-disabled (non-MAGI) may also contact the ADRC at 1-855-673-2372
Will it affect your green card? (Public charge)
✅ Regular Medicaid does NOT count in the public charge test — receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application. First, a sentence that may make this whole section irrelevant to you: many people are outside this assessment altogether. The exemption categories Congress created by statute remain in force — DHS said so in the July 20, 2026 rule: what it removed was the list, while "USCIS will provide training and guidance to its officers, including information about which aliens are statutorily exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility". ✅ Each of the following rests on its own statute and does not disappear with that list: refugees (8 U.S.C. §1157(c)(3): paragraph (4) of §1182(a) "shall not be applicable"); refugees and asylees adjusting status (§1159(c), same wording); Special Immigrant Juveniles (§1255(h)(2)(A): paragraph (4) "shall not apply"); and VAWA self-petitioners, U nonimmigrant applicants or holders, and battered spouses and children under §1641(c) (§1182(a)(4)(E): "shall not apply"). Battered spouses and children have a second layer of statutory protection: the law forbids considering any public benefits for them (INA §212(s)). If you hold a T visa: the law allows immigration authorities to waive the public charge ground (§1255(l)(2), "may waive") — but that waiver is discretionary; it does not apply automatically as the categories above do. ✅ This does not mean you cannot get a waiver; it means it has to be requested and explained case by case. Have a lawyer help you prepare it. For the full list, and whether you are in it, have a lawyer check. ✅ For what you received before September 18, 2026, the rule considers only two things: (a) public cash assistance for income maintenance (SSI, TANF cash, and state, tribal, territorial or local general-assistance cash) and (b) long-term institutionalization at government expense. Anything outside those two is not counted — that is written into the rule itself and has not changed. But if you did receive (a) or (b) before that date, those are considered; have an attorney look at your specific situation. (This is in the rule itself: it applies only going forward — DHS "will only consider the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutionalization at government expense before the effective date".) And if this assessment does apply to you — from September 18, 2026 onwards, things change — means-tested public benefits received on or after that day - that is, the public benefits that look at your income or assets when you apply - and for example SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and WIC, but not limited to these, because the rule names a whole category rather than a list, and not limited to federal programs either - state, territorial, Tribal and local ones count too (verbatim: "Federal, State, territorial, Tribal, and local programs that provide means-tested public benefits"); if you are not sure whether the one you receive counts, ask a licensed immigration attorney - may be weighed as one of the factors (the rule "will consider the receipt of any means tested public benefits on or after that date"). ✅ It is one factor among many, not an automatic denial. The rule requires each case to be weighed on all of its circumstances. How much weight any one of them carries has not been published — USCIS has not issued its operating guidance. We have not verified it; that is not the same as saying it has changed. If you are applying for a visa abroad, or entering at a port of entry: the above describes USCIS (applications filed inside the United States). The rule itself notes that CBP at a port of entry may consider different information; how consulates abroad apply it, we have not verified.
⚠️ The one exception: Medicaid that pays for long-term institutional care (a long-term stay in a nursing facility or mental-health institution at government expense) DOES count. Everyday doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and home- and community-based care are not this exception.
➕ Because the current rule excludes all non-institutional Medicaid, Medicaid for children, pregnancy, and emergencies also does not count. In mixed-status families, eligible citizen or qualified children can safely get the care they qualify for.
The statute itself names the moments at which this is assessed. INA § 212(a)(4)(A) (8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(4)(A)) reads that an alien is inadmissible who, "in the opinion of the consular officer at the time of application for a visa, or in the opinion of the Attorney General at the time of application for admission or adjustment of status, is likely at any time to become a public charge." ⇒ Three occasions are named: applying for a visa, applying for admission, and applying for adjustment of status. Two things are commonly read too narrowly, and both errors point the same way — toward "this does not concern me": the statute says "a visa" and does not limit that to immigrant visas; and "application for admission" is its own separate occasion. We do not tell you whether your own situation is one of these — that depends on your case; consult a licensed immigration attorney.
The exemptions are not "a few categories" — the regulation lists twenty-nine of them. 8 CFR 212.23(a) opens: "The public charge ground of inadmissibility under section 212(a)(4) of the Act does not apply … to the following categories of aliens," and then runs (1) through (29). Among those most relevant to readers of this site: refugees (1); asylees (2); Cuban and Haitian entrants (5); Cuban Adjustment Act applicants (6); NACARA (7); Special Immigrant Juveniles (10); Temporary Protected Status (12); T nonimmigrants (17) and (18); U nonimmigrants (19); VAWA self-petitioners (20); battered spouses and children who are qualified aliens under PRWORA § 431(c) (21); Afghan and Iraqi interpreters (4); nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos (25). Category (29) has to be read along with the rest, and it is the one most easily missed: "Any other categories of aliens exempt under any other law from the public charge ground of inadmissibility provisions under section 212(a)(4) of the Act." ⇒ "I am not in the categories listed above" does not mean "I am not exempt." The full list of 29 is at 8 CFR 212.23(a). That regulation is scheduled for removal on September 18, 2026 (91 FR 45477); on that date this whole block closes rather than continuing to show old text — but the statutory exemptions themselves come from their own laws and do not disappear with it. Whether your case falls within one is a question for a licensed immigration attorney. These exemptions do not disappear with that list: in the rescission rule of July 20, 2026 DHS says so itself — "Although DHS is removing the regulation listing exemptions, the statutory exemptions created by Congress for certain Cuban and Haitian applicants for adjustment of status continue to exist." Note the scope of that sentence: it is DHS responding to a comment about Cuban and Haitian applicants, and it covers only those two groups. Each of the 29 categories rests on its own statute, which the regulation merely collected in one place - and that is why the list does not vanish with the regulation.
Renewing a green card and naturalizing are generally not occasions for a public charge assessment. For a green-card holder returning from a trip abroad, the statute writes out an exhaustive list of when they are treated as seeking admission at all. 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(13)(C): a lawful permanent resident "shall not be regarded as seeking an admission … unless the alien—" falls within one of six situations: (i) has abandoned or relinquished that status; (ii) has been absent for a continuous period in excess of 180 days; (iii) has engaged in illegal activity after departing; (iv) departed while under legal process seeking removal, including removal or extradition proceedings; (v) has committed an offense identified in 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2), unless relief has since been granted under § 1182(h) or § 1229b(a); or (vi) is attempting to enter at a time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or has not been admitted after inspection and authorization by an immigration officer. Those six are the whole of what the statute gives — the widely quoted "180 days" is only item (ii), not the only one. Whether your own situation falls within any of them is a question for a licensed immigration attorney; this site does not judge individual cases.
This is information only, not immigration, legal, or tax advice. Public charge and your personal status are complex — consult a licensed immigration attorney. We never tell you whether you "will" or "won't" be affected.
USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 8, Part G, Chapter 7 (benefits considered) and Chapter 3 (who it applies to) — 8 USCIS-PM G.7 / G.3; regulation 8 CFR 212.21–212.23; 2022 final rule 87 FR 55472. · 2022-12-23
Source:U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (uscis.gov) · checked 2026-07-16
Official excerpt
“Long-term institutionalization at government expense is the only category of Medicaid-funded services (limited to institutional services provided under section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act) considered in a public charge inadmissibility determination.”
Chapter 7 - Consideration of Current and/or Past Receipt of Public Cash Assistance for Income Maintenance or Long-term Institutionalization at Government Expense | USCIS · 8 USCIS-PM G.7
View the official document → (Opens in a new tab)Frequently asked questions
What is Medicaid?
Public health insurance for low-income people, jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, pregnancy, and children's care. States run it under federal rules, and each state has its own name and details (California calls it Medi-Cal).
Who can apply for Medicaid in Oregon?
Generally, Adults 19-64 (MAGI Adult / ACA expansion): ≤ 138% FPL; Children 0-18 (under 19): ≤ 305% FPL; Pregnancy (no age limit): ≤ 190% FPL. The agency makes the final determination.
Can non-citizens or people without immigration status get Medicaid?
Oregon covers people of all ages regardless of immigration status. Through Healthier Oregon, a state-funded program, people of all ages who live in Oregon and meet income and other criteria qualify for full OHP Plus-level benefits no matter their immigration status. OHA states: "Starting July 1, 2023, immigration/citizenship status no longer affects whether someone qualifies for OHP." Adults 26+ were added on July 1, 2023, completing all-ages coverage. Current status (checked July 16, 2026): OHA's official pages show NO enrollment cap, waitlist, new-enrollment freeze, or wind-down for Healthier Oregon — it remains open and people of any age can apply, and Healthier Oregon still appears in the adult (138% FPL), pregnancy (190% FPL), and children (305% FPL) columns of OHA's current income guide (OHP 9954D, effective March 1, 2026). (This differs from some other states — do not assume Oregon matches them.) Oregon-specific effect of the federal changes: OHA states plainly, "In Oregon (unlike other states), this does not mean people will lose OHP." In October 2026, some OHP members will MOVE TO Healthier Oregon rather than lose coverage — this affects adults with these immigration statuses: refugees, asylees, survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking, and some humanitarian parolees; it does not affect children, or adults with those statuses who qualify for OHP Bridge. Healthier Oregon is an OHP program and has the same benefits. In January 2027, members who have OHP through Healthier Oregon will move to OHP Open Card (a type of OHP for members who are not in a coordinated care organization, or CCO); OHP Open Card has the same OHP benefits, but the health care providers you can see may differ. In 2027, Healthier Oregon members may also be affected by other changes, including more frequent renewals and work or activity rules for some adults. This is a fast-changing area — rely on the latest official OHA guidance. Federal Medicaid generally requires a "qualified" immigration status, and most people must wait five years after getting that status (the "five-year bar") before applying. Refugees, asylees, and certain others are exempt from the five-year wait; emergency Medicaid is available regardless of status. Some states (such as California) use state funds to cover more people — see your state's details. The 2025 federal law OBBBA (H.R.1, Public Law 119-21, enacted July 4, 2025) significantly narrows eligibility: effective Oct 1, 2026 (Section 71109), federal Medicaid/CHIP funding is limited to four groups — U.S. citizens/nationals, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), Cuban/Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants (Micronesia/Marshall Islands/Palau). Refugees, asylees, trafficking victims, parolees, and other "qualified aliens" who are not yet LPRs lose federal eligibility (refugees/asylees can generally regain it after becoming LPRs). Emergency Medicaid remains available regardless of status (though Section 71110 lowers its federal match to the regular FMAP effective Oct 1, 2026 — this does not change its availability); the state options for lawfully-residing children and pregnant women are preserved. Section 71119 adds community-engagement (work) requirements for ACA-expansion adults (19-64) effective Dec 31, 2026 (or sooner at state option) — at least 80 hours/month, with exemptions for pregnant/postpartum people, the medically frail, caretakers of a child under 14, and others. This is a changing area — check the latest official guidance. The agency makes the final determination.
Does getting Medicaid affect my green card?
Regular Medicaid does NOT count in the public charge test — receiving it does not affect your green card or immigration application. First, a sentence that may make this whole section irrelevant to you: many people are outside this assessment altogether. The exemption categories Congress created by statute remain in force — DHS said so in the July 20, 2026 rule: what it removed was the list, while "USCIS will provide training and guidance to its officers, including information about which aliens are statutorily exempt from the public charge ground of inadmissibility". ✅ Each of the following rests on its own statute and does not disappear with that list: refugees (8 U.S.C. §1157(c)(3): paragraph (4) of §1182(a) "shall not be applicable"); refugees and asylees adjusting status (§1159(c), same wording); Special Immigrant Juveniles (§1255(h)(2)(A): paragraph (4) "shall not apply"); and VAWA self-petitioners, U nonimmigrant applicants or holders, and battered spouses and children under §1641(c) (§1182(a)(4)(E): "shall not apply"). Battered spouses and children have a second layer of statutory protection: the law forbids considering any public benefits for them (INA §212(s)). If you hold a T visa: the law allows immigration authorities to waive the public charge ground (§1255(l)(2), "may waive") — but that waiver is discretionary; it does not apply automatically as the categories above do. ✅ This does not mean you cannot get a waiver; it means it has to be requested and explained case by case. Have a lawyer help you prepare it. For the full list, and whether you are in it, have a lawyer check. ✅ For what you received before September 18, 2026, the rule considers only two things: (a) public cash assistance for income maintenance (SSI, TANF cash, and state, tribal, territorial or local general-assistance cash) and (b) long-term institutionalization at government expense. Anything outside those two is not counted — that is written into the rule itself and has not changed. But if you did receive (a) or (b) before that date, those are considered; have an attorney look at your specific situation. (This is in the rule itself: it applies only going forward — DHS "will only consider the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance and long-term institutionalization at government expense before the effective date".) And if this assessment does apply to you — from September 18, 2026 onwards, things change — means-tested public benefits received on or after that day - that is, the public benefits that look at your income or assets when you apply - and for example SNAP, Medicaid, CHIP and WIC, but not limited to these, because the rule names a whole category rather than a list, and not limited to federal programs either - state, territorial, Tribal and local ones count too (verbatim: "Federal, State, territorial, Tribal, and local programs that provide means-tested public benefits"); if you are not sure whether the one you receive counts, ask a licensed immigration attorney - may be weighed as one of the factors (the rule "will consider the receipt of any means tested public benefits on or after that date"). ✅ It is one factor among many, not an automatic denial. The rule requires each case to be weighed on all of its circumstances. How much weight any one of them carries has not been published — USCIS has not issued its operating guidance. We have not verified it; that is not the same as saying it has changed. If you are applying for a visa abroad, or entering at a port of entry: the above describes USCIS (applications filed inside the United States). The rule itself notes that CBP at a port of entry may consider different information; how consulates abroad apply it, we have not verified. The one exception: Medicaid that pays for long-term institutional care (a long-term stay in a nursing facility or mental-health institution at government expense) DOES count. Everyday doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and home- and community-based care are not this exception. The exemptions are not "a few categories" — the regulation lists twenty-nine of them. 8 CFR 212.23(a) opens: "The public charge ground of inadmissibility under section 212(a)(4) of the Act does not apply … to the following categories of aliens," and then runs (1) through (29). Among those most relevant to readers of this site: refugees (1); asylees (2); Cuban and Haitian entrants (5); Cuban Adjustment Act applicants (6); NACARA (7); Special Immigrant Juveniles (10); Temporary Protected Status (12); T nonimmigrants (17) and (18); U nonimmigrants (19); VAWA self-petitioners (20); battered spouses and children who are qualified aliens under PRWORA § 431(c) (21); Afghan and Iraqi interpreters (4); nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos (25). Category (29) has to be read along with the rest, and it is the one most easily missed: "Any other categories of aliens exempt under any other law from the public charge ground of inadmissibility provisions under section 212(a)(4) of the Act." ⇒ "I am not in the categories listed above" does not mean "I am not exempt." The full list of 29 is at 8 CFR 212.23(a). That regulation is scheduled for removal on September 18, 2026 (91 FR 45477); on that date this whole block closes rather than continuing to show old text — but the statutory exemptions themselves come from their own laws and do not disappear with it. Whether your case falls within one is a question for a licensed immigration attorney. These exemptions do not disappear with that list: in the rescission rule of July 20, 2026 DHS says so itself — "Although DHS is removing the regulation listing exemptions, the statutory exemptions created by Congress for certain Cuban and Haitian applicants for adjustment of status continue to exist." Note the scope of that sentence: it is DHS responding to a comment about Cuban and Haitian applicants, and it covers only those two groups. Each of the 29 categories rests on its own statute, which the regulation merely collected in one place - and that is why the list does not vanish with the regulation. This is information only, not immigration, legal, or tax advice. Public charge and your personal status are complex — consult a licensed immigration attorney. We never tell you whether you "will" or "won't" be affected.
How do I apply for Medicaid in Oregon?
Proof of identity, income, Oregon residency, and household size; immigration documents as applicable. Healthier Oregon can be applied for regardless of immigration status. Applying is free and available in many languages. Apply online at ONE.Oregon.gov, or through Benefits.Oregon.gov, a certified community partner, an ODHS office, or by phone at 1-800-699-9075 (TTY 711). See official OHA/ODHS guidance for the exact document list. ⚠️ No Oregon-specific published processing time was found. Under the general federal Medicaid baseline, an eligibility decision is generally made within 45 days (up to 90 days for disability-based cases). Confirm OHA/ODHS-specific timing with the official program. Policies can change — always check the latest official information. https://one.oregon.gov
Official sources
- 2026 Income Guide for MAGI Oregon Health Plan (OHP) Programs (Opens in a new tab)
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) · OHP 9954D (Rev. 03/26) · checked 2026-07-16 · Document effective 2026-03-01
- ODHS/OHA Combined Standards — OSIPM (non-MAGI) Program Income Standards (Opens in a new tab)
Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) / Oregon Health Authority (OHA) · 100-65796_DHS 5530 · checked 2026-07-16 · This document states no effective date
Last checked: 2026-07-16
Policies can change — always check the latest official information.
This site is informational only and is not immigration, legal, or tax advice. For public charge and your personal status questions, consult a licensed immigration attorney.