- A federal judge blocked Medicaid funding cuts for qualified noncitizen SSI recipients in Washington on September 30, 2026.
- The preliminary injunction protects more than 800 people while the lawsuit continues.
- The order applies only in Washington and does not protect other immigrant groups or decide the case’s merits.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly barred the federal health department on September 30, 2026, from ending Medicaid funding for Washington residents who are qualified noncitizens receiving Supplemental Security Income. The Federal Court’s order protects an estimated more than 800 people while the case continues.
The preliminary injunction came just before federal Medicaid restrictions took effect on October 1. Eligible recipients may keep Washington Apple Health coverage under the order.
The ruling applies only in Washington. It does not resolve the case’s merits.
The court barred the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from:
“terminating Medicaid healthcare funding for any qualified noncitizen SSI recipients in the State of Washington.”
The order remains in force pending further order of the court. The federal government could appeal.
The order turns on Medicaid rules tied to SSI
Judge Zilly concluded that cutting off Medicaid for this group likely conflicts with federal law. His analysis relied on a 1997 amendment to federal welfare law linking Medicaid eligibility for certain qualified immigrants to receipt of SSI.
Federal Medicaid rules generally require states to cover otherwise eligible qualified noncitizens, while also applying statutory restrictions. Those include a five-year waiting period for specified groups.
The relevant provisions address different parts of eligibility. 8 U.S.C. § 1612(b) covers state options and restrictions for certain qualified noncitizens; 8 U.S.C. § 1613 sets out the five-year bar for specified noncitizens.
The regulations include 42 C.F.R. § 435.406, which addresses Medicaid eligibility for citizens and qualified noncitizens. Under 42 C.F.R. § 435.956, states verify citizenship and satisfactory immigration status.
Coverage still depends on each recipient meeting state rules
The ruling protects qualified noncitizen SSI recipients only when they also satisfy the ordinary requirements for Washington Medicaid. The order does not make every immigrant who receives SSI eligible.
The protected group generally must meet all of these conditions:
- Live in Washington and qualify as a noncitizen under federal Medicaid law.
- Receive Supplemental Security Income.
- Meet Washington Apple Health’s other eligibility rules, including applicable income or categorical requirements.
- Have satisfactory immigration status verified as federal law requires.
Other statutory bars remain in place. The injunction does not waive those restrictions or replace the state’s eligibility checks.
Other immigrant groups faced separate coverage changes
The order did not preserve coverage for all lawfully present immigrants. Approximately 10,000 refugees, asylees, trafficking survivors, certain parolees and other lawfully present immigrants who do not receive SSI lost Washington Medicaid coverage beginning October 1, 2026.
Separate federal rules continue to preserve coverage for some categories. They include lawful permanent residents who have met or are exempt from the five-year waiting period, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and citizens of Compact of Free Association countries.
Other Medicaid provisions may cover children, pregnant individuals and people within 12 months after pregnancy, regardless of immigration status, if they meet the requirements of the applicable program. Those provisions operate separately from Judge Zilly’s order.
The distinctions leave eligibility dependent on a person’s immigration category and circumstances. The injunction addresses the SSI-linked group; it does not undo the broader federal restrictions or establish coverage for everyone affected by them.
The case remains open and the order has a narrow reach
Recipients may still receive eligibility reviews or requests to verify information. The order does not guarantee uninterrupted benefits in every individual case, and other Medicaid requirements continue to apply.
The injunction binds the case in the Western District of Washington, not courts elsewhere. Its continuation depends on further proceedings or appellate action, and the order remains preliminary rather than a final judgment.
People facing a coverage decision may wish to consult a qualified immigration attorney about how their status and benefits interact. This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific case.
