The claim that Medicaid costs for emergency services for illegal immigrants skyrocketed by 142% to $9.1 billion in fiscal year 2024 is mostly false because multiple reliable sources indicate that emergency Medicaid spending for noncitizen immigrants remains a very small fraction of total Medicaid costs, with no evidence supporting such a large increase or total amount.
Mostly False
In fiscal year 2024, Medicaid costs for emergency services for illegal immigrants skyrocketed by 142% from the previous year to $9.1 billion.
The Truth About Medicaid Coverage for Immigrants – and the Looming Threats
Source: ccf.georgetown.edu
At a glance
Verified October 4, 2025Key Evidence
KFF reports emergency Medicaid spending was $3.8 billion in FY 2023 and less than 1% of total Medicaid spending.
kff.orgkff.org5 Key Facts About Immigrants and Medicaid
FactCheck.org confirms undocumented immigrants only qualify for emergency services under Medicaid and disputes inflated cost claims.
factcheck.orgfactcheck.orgA False Claim About Illegal Immigration and Medicaid
Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families highlights misinformation about immigrant Medicaid costs and lack of evidence for large spikes.
ccf.georgetown.educcf.georgetown.eduThe Truth About Medicaid Coverage for Immigrants
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Analysis of the available sources shows consistent findings that emergency Medicaid spending for undocumented or noncitizen immigrants is a small portion of overall Medicaid expenditures. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), emergency Medicaid spending represented less than 1% of total Medicaid spending between fiscal years 2017 and 2023, with $3.8 billion spent in FY 2023.kff.orgkff.org5 Key Facts About Immigrants and Medicaid
kff.orgkff.orgLess than 1% of Total Medicaid Spending Goes to Emergency Care for Noncitizen...
There is no credible data indicating a jump to $9.1 billion or a 142% increase in FY 2024. FactCheck.org and Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families emphasize that undocumented immigrants are only eligible for emergency medical services under Medicaid, and claims about large surges in spending are often exaggerated or misrepresented.factcheck.orgfactcheck.orgA False Claim About Illegal Immigration and Medicaid
ccf.georgetown.educcf.georgetown.eduThe Truth About Medicaid Coverage for Immigrants The Empire Center report on New York state shows increased enrollment in emergency Medicaid but does not support national spending figures anywhere near $9.1 billion.+2 more
Overall, the evidence contradicts the claim’s scale and percentage increase, suggesting it is misleading or false.
Primary trail
Verified Sources10
Open source