Washington, D.C. — As new federal Medicaid eligibility restrictions take effect Oct. 1, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is calling for urgent action to ensure refugees and other immigrants losing coverage can continue to access critical medical care.
Across the D.C. metro area, LSSNCA is already working with families facing the loss of Medicaid while managing tumors, chronic pain, disabilities, and other serious health conditions.
One refugee mother from the Democratic Republic of Congo became seriously ill after arriving in the United States in December 2024. After losing her job and health coverage, fear of an unaffordable medical bill kept her from seeking care even as her condition worsened.
“It took me almost four hours to convince her to go to the doctor,” said her LSSNCA case manager. “She was afraid of how much it would cost. She told me they live paycheck to paycheck and could not even afford a payment plan.”
When she finally sought care, doctors discovered a tumor. She is now waiting to learn whether it is cancerous while worrying about how she will afford treatment and what the financial burden could mean for her daughter and 11-year-old son.
Other families face similar uncertainty. Two Eritrean refugees with serious health conditions received notices that their Medicaid coverage will end Sept. 30 while they await decisions on their green card applications. One has undergone six surgeries and experiences chronic pain that prevents her from working. Another needs treatment for a uterine tumor after delaying her own care while her child was hospitalized.
An Afghan father who needs ongoing treatment and medication for hepatitis B was denied Medicaid along with his wife, although their children remain covered. While he waits for his green card application to be processed, his LSSNCA case manager is searching for free or affordable clinics and other options for care.
“Our clients keep asking us, ‘What happens now? How long will I be without insurance?’” said an LSSNCA staff member. “Many are unfamiliar with the U.S. health insurance system, and they need someone who can explain their options and help them navigate what comes next.”
LSSNCA CEO Kristyn Peck said losing coverage does not eliminate the need for care.
“When someone loses health coverage, their illness does not disappear,” Peck said. “A tumor does not stop growing. Chronic pain does not go away. A prescription does not become less necessary. No family should have to choose between seeking lifesaving medical care and paying for food or housing.”
LSSNCA is working with community partners to connect affected families to available care, but community clinics and service providers alone cannot meet this growing need.
LSSNCA calls on state and federal leaders to act urgently to close coverage gaps, expand access to affordable care, strengthen community health resources, and provide clear, multilingual guidance to families navigating these changes.
For the families we serve, the impact is already here. Ensuring they can continue to access essential health care requires a coordinated response now.
