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U.S. laws that determine who can and cannot get Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamps (SNAP).

Medicare

Who can get it:

• U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who’ve lived in the U.S. for at least 5 continuous years.

• People 65 or older.

• People under 65 with certain disabilities who have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least 24 months.

• People with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) automatically qualify.

Who cannot get it:

• People under 65 without qualifying disabilities.

• Undocumented immigrants (even if they pay taxes).

• Legal residents who have been in the U.S. less than 5 years (except in limited emergency cases).

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Medicaid

Who can get it:

• Low-income U.S. citizens and qualified immigrants (green card holders after 5 years or sooner in certain categories).

• Groups that qualify include:

• Pregnant women

• Children

• Seniors

• People with disabilities

• Low-income adults in states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA.

Who cannot get it:

• Undocumented immigrants, except for emergency medical care.

• Legal immigrants who have lived in the U.S. less than 5 years (some states provide state-funded alternatives).

• Those whose income or assets exceed the eligibility limits for their category.

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Food Stamps (SNAP)

Who can get it:

• Low-income individuals and families who meet income and resource limits.

• U.S. citizens and some lawfully present immigrants (green card holders after 5 years, refugees, asylees, etc.).

• Children of eligible non-citizens can often receive benefits even if parents cannot.

Who cannot get it:

• Undocumented immigrants.

• Most college students (unless they meet special exemptions like working 20+ hours/week, have dependents, or receive work-study).

• Certain legal immigrants within their first 5 years in the U.S.

• People who refuse to work or meet work requirements (in states where those apply).

Here are key U.S. Code citations for eligibility / ineligibility for each program:

• Medicare: Title 42 → § 1395 et seq.

• Medicaid: Title 42 → § 1396 et seq.

• SNAP (Food Stamps): Title 7 → Chapter 51 → § 2014 (“Eligible households”) and § 2015 (“Eligibility disqualifications”)

Does not include churches and county run food banks that are free to anyone that needs food .