This post is based on an interview conducted by KFF Health News, which published an article on March 17, 2025. The KFF article is also available in Spanish.

Medicaid is a critical lifeline for millions of Americans, providing health coverage to low-income individuals and families. However, persistent myths about Latinos and Medicaid continue to fuel misinformation about who benefits from the program and how it is used. Here, I break down some of the most common myths and set the record straight.  

Myth: Latinos on Medicaid do not work  

Fact: The vast majority of adult Medicaid enrollees are either employed or live in a household with a worker.  

Latinos are overrepresented in industries that do not offer employer-sponsored health benefits, such as food service, construction, and domestic work. Without access to employer-provided insurance, many rely on Medicaid as their primary health coverage. Structural barriers, such as unstable work conditions, caregiving responsibilities, disabilities, or enrollment in school, also affect employment stability among Medicaid recipients.  

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), most adults (ages 18-64) on Medicaid are either working or part of a working family. The notion that Medicaid primarily serves those who are unemployed is simply not true.  

Myth: Latinos are the largest group on Medicaid  

Fact: While Latinos make up a significant portion of Medicaid recipients, non-Latino Whites are the largest group.  

Despite being overrepresented in the low-income population, many eligible Latinos do not enroll in Medicaid due to concerns about immigration status, fear of the public charge rule, or lack of access to enrollment information. Meanwhile, non-Latino Whites, who remain the largest racial group in the country, account for the biggest share of Medicaid enrollees.  

As indicated by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), non-Latino Whites make up 41% of Medicaid enrollees, followed by Latinos at 30%, Black Americans at 21%, and other racial groups at 8%.  

Myth: Latinos use Medicaid services the most  

Fact: Latinos are not the biggest users of Medicaid services—in fact, they use them less than other groups.  

Systemic barriers, including limited English proficiency, lack of healthcare navigation resources, and fear of engaging with government systems, make it harder for Latinos to access the healthcare services available through Medicaid. Even when enrolled, many Latinos face difficulties in finding providers who speak their language or understand their cultural needs.  

Research from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) highlights how access to Medicaid providers and navigation resources for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) individuals varies significantly across states and metropolitan areas, further complicating healthcare access for Latinos.  

Myth: Undocumented Latinos benefit from Medicaid  

Fact: Undocumented immigrants are ineligible for full Medicaid coverage under federal law.  

Federal law explicitly prohibits undocumented immigrants from enrolling in Medicaid, except in cases of emergency medical care. While some states, like California and Illinois, have used their own funds to provide limited Medicaid-like coverage for certain groups, such as children and older individuals, the vast majority of undocumented immigrants remain uninsured.  

According to LPPI, expanding access to state-funded healthcare programs for undocumented immigrants could help address high uninsured rates in Latino communities, but this remains a state-by-state policy decision.  

How Do Latinos Actually Use Medicaid?  

Latinos primarily rely on Medicaid for essential healthcare services, including preventive care, maternal health, and chronic disease management. However, fears stemming from policies like the “public charge” rule have led to lower enrollment rates, even among those who qualify.  

The Trump administration’s 2019 expansion of the “public charge” rule discouraged many Latino families—both immigrants and U.S. citizens—from accessing Medicaid due to concerns that it could jeopardize their ability to obtain a green card or citizenship. While the Biden administration has since reversed this expansion, the chilling effect remains. Additionally, new restrictive immigration policies, such as mass deportation orders or attempts to end birthright citizenship, continue to create uncertainty and fear, leading some eligible Latinos to forgo Medicaid altogether.  

The Bottom Line  

Medicaid plays a crucial role in ensuring healthcare access for millions of Latinos, many of whom work in industries without employer-sponsored insurance. However, persistent myths about Latinos and Medicaid fuel stigma and misinformation. Addressing these misconceptions is essential to ensuring that all eligible individuals can access the healthcare they need without fear or hesitation.  

Dr. Arturo Vargas Bustamante is a professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy & Management and serves as faculty research director at the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute.