(Trenton) As COVID-19 has placed a spotlight on the importance of healthcare equity and access, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) introduced legislation A5416 yesterday to provide Medicaid coverage for all New Jerseyans, regardless of immigration status.

In New Jersey and around the country, undocumented immigrants are at high risk of being uninsured, 45% of undocumented immigrants do not have access to health insurance coverage. Despite the considerable gaps to care that undocumented immigrants face, not a single State provides comprehensive coverage for the undocumented community.

“In New Jersey, we pride ourselves on ensuring equity and access for all, but these are empty words unless we ensure that every community, including the undocumented community, can access healthcare. With almost 800,000 undocumented individuals living in New Jersey, it is inhumane to ignore their healthcare needs.” said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-37) “In a moment of reckoning with issues of racial injustice and societal inequities, it is critical that New Jersey work to fill in the gaps that cause systemic inequities in our own backyards.”

“Uninsurance rates among low income immigrant and Latinx New Jerseyans have actually increased – spiking at the start of the pandemic – even as the state is on an upward trajectory to provide coverage to more individuals.” said Sara Cullinane Director of Make the Road New Jersey “Many immigrants, including green card holders, are excluded from Medicaid and New Jersey Family Care due to out of date and discriminatory laws.  The pandemic has taught us that we cannot survive as a state unless we all have access to health care. This legislation puts New Jersey on a path to providing almost 800,000 individuals with the opportunity to apply for coverage. It is a key part of our Respect & Dignity platform and we thank Assemblywoman Huttle for her leadership on this crucial issue.”