AfghanEvac Explainer · New England
New England protects immigrant kids and mothers well. The gap is adults.
New England is one of the most protective regions in the country for immigrant children and pregnant people, and Afghan families have settled across all six states. Every state here covers kids and pregnancy, several regardless of immigration status. But the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act cut health and food aid for humanitarian adults, and no New England state has built state-funded insurance to replace it. Here is what each state protects, what it does not, and where Afghan families can get help. Read this alongside our national explainer at afghanevac.org/obbb.
The regional pattern
What holds across New England, and what does not.
The six states differ in the details, but the shape is the same everywhere. Read your state below, and start with what is protected.
Children are covered everywhere
Every New England state covers lawfully residing immigrant children in Medicaid or CHIP with no five-year wait. Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont go further and cover children regardless of immigration status. The federal law did not block states from doing this.
Pregnancy is covered too
Every state in the region covers pregnant people, most of them regardless of immigration status. Prenatal and postpartum care is one of the strongest, most reliable protections New England offers Afghan families.
Adults are the real danger zone
The federal law’s health cut hits humanitarian adults hardest. Now that federal Medicaid narrowed on October 1, 2026, refugees, asylees, parolees, and survivors who are not yet green-card holders lose coverage, and no New England state has stood up state-funded insurance to replace it.
Food help is thin across the region
Only Maine runs a state-funded food program, and it reaches a narrow set of people. No other New England state replaces SNAP for immigrants the federal law cut. Food banks serve everyone regardless of status, and WIC remains available to pregnant people and young children.
A green card changes everything. Permanent status restores federal Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP, in most cases with no waiting period. Getting to a green card is the single most important step for adults in the gap.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts: strong for families, widening gaps for adults.
Massachusetts has one of the deepest safety nets in the country, and one of the largest Afghan arrival populations in New England. It still covers children and pregnancy well, but the federal law is opening real gaps for adults across 2026 and 2027.
Children and pregnant women
MassHealth covers all lawfully present children under 21 on the same terms as citizens, and covers pregnant people comprehensively regardless of the five-year bar. These protections continue.
ConnectorCare losses in 2026 and 2027
On January 1, 2026, federal premium tax credits ended for lawfully present immigrants under the poverty line, and roughly 34,000 to 37,000 people lost ConnectorCare eligibility. A second, larger wave lands January 1, 2027, when only green-card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA migrants keep premium tax credits. The Health Connector estimates about 35,000 more enrollees lose subsidies then, including refugees, asylees, TPS holders, and Afghan parolees. The state used a trust fund to hold premiums down for existing enrollees, but has not created a replacement for those cut.
About 7,300 lost MassHealth
On October 1, 2026, roughly 7,300 MassHealth members lost federal eligibility, including humanitarian parolees. SIV holders who already have green cards keep coverage. People 65 or older or with disabilities shift to state-funded MassHealth Family Assistance, while adults 21 to 64 move to MassHealth Limited, which is emergency-only, plus the Health Safety Net.
No current SNAP replacement
Massachusetts ran a temporary state SNAP supplement for lawfully present immigrants, but it ended with a final payment in April 2024, and there is no current state replacement. The Healthy Incentives Program helps only people who already receive SNAP. Food banks serve everyone.
Connecticut and Rhode Island
Connecticut and Rhode Island: children covered, adults on their own.
Both states protect children and pregnancy well, Rhode Island regardless of status. Neither covers immigrant adults with state funds, and neither replaces lost SNAP.
Children and pregnancy in Connecticut
HUSKY covers lawfully residing immigrant children and pregnant people without the wait. State-funded HUSKY for Immigrants covers children regardless of status, with enrollment currently open to children under 16 who keep coverage through age 18. Pregnant people are covered regardless of status through HUSKY prenatal coverage, with a year of postpartum care.
Adults and food in Connecticut
Connecticut has no state-funded coverage for immigrant adults and no standing state food program that replaces SNAP for people cut by immigration status. About 36,000 residents are losing SNAP, roughly 1,745 of them refugees and asylees. A 2026 state grocery-card program helped residents who lost SNAP to work requirements, not status, and separately the state sent $3 million from its Federal Cuts Response Fund to resettlement agencies, which IRIS used for a four-month food bridge. Those are stopgaps, not a permanent program.
Children and pregnancy in Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s Cover All Kids, effective July 1, 2022, covers every child under 19 regardless of immigration status. Pregnant people are covered regardless of status through the federal CHIP unborn-child option in RIte Care, with 12 months of postpartum care. This is among the most generous coverage for families in the region.
Adults and food in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has no state-funded coverage for immigrant adults and no state food program to replace SNAP. The state estimates roughly 3,700 members lost Medicaid on October 1, 2026, and about 2,300 people lose SNAP starting February 1, 2026, though only around 930 had been removed as of early spring. WIC remains available regardless of status, and food banks serve everyone.
Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire
The northern three: strong on kids, Maine alone has state food.
Maine and Vermont cover children and pregnancy regardless of status. New Hampshire covers lawfully residing children and pregnancy but adds little else. Adults lost federal Medicaid on October 1, 2026, in all three.
Children and pregnancy in Maine
MaineCare covers children under 21 and pregnant and postpartum people regardless of immigration status, a state-funded expansion that is explicitly protected from the federal cut.
Adults, and a food program that grew
About 627 Maine adults in 426 households (refugees, asylees, trafficking survivors, and certain parolees) lost full MaineCare on October 1, 2026, and move to Emergency Services MaineCare, with no state insurance replacement. On food, Maine law now helps. LD 2051, signed April 6, 2026, added people who lost SNAP under the federal law to the state-funded food supplement, though it keeps a hardship requirement (65 or older, disabled, a domestic-violence or trafficking survivor, awaiting work authorization, or unemployed while seeking it). After the rule change, of roughly 1,839 Mainers who lost federal SNAP, about 1,191 kept state-funded SNAP and about 648 lost everything.
Children and pregnancy in Vermont
Vermont covers children and pregnant people through Dr. Dynasaur, which reaches lawfully residing immigrants without the wait for children under 21 and pregnancy, and through the state-funded Immigrant Health Insurance Plan, which covers children under 19 and pregnant people who cannot qualify because of status.
Adults and food in Vermont
Vermont’s Agency of Human Services testified that roughly 500 to 600 refugees and asylees would lose Medicaid on October 1, 2026, with no state insurance replacement. Act 119 of 2022, in force since July 2024, does require hospitals to give free care below 250% of the poverty level and discounts up to 400%, and its definition of resident includes people regardless of immigration status. Vermont has no state food program, and 3SquaresVT is federal SNAP only. About 119 noncitizen households were cut from food aid, and roughly 90 people were restored after December 2025 federal guidance, but refugees still waiting on green cards remain ineligible.
Children and pregnancy in New Hampshire
New Hampshire covers lawfully residing immigrant children and pregnant people in Medicaid without the five-year wait. That coverage continues after the federal changes.
Adults and food in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has no immigrant-specific state-funded coverage beyond children and pregnancy, so the roughly 296 residents losing federal Medicaid on October 1, 2026, have no state backstop, and there is no state food program to replace SNAP. One caution, the state’s own notice lists Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa holders among those cut, which is wrong for SIV holders who already have green cards. If you have a green card, submit it as verification rather than accept a termination. Emergency Medicaid, community health centers, and food banks remain.
What to do in New England
Protect what you have, then close the adult gap.
The regionwide message is the same in every state, so start with what is protected and move fast on the rest.
Keep the children and pregnancy coverage you have, then ask about adults
Every New England state covers immigrant children and pregnant people, so the first job is not to lose it. Apply or renew through your state (MassHealth in Massachusetts, HUSKY in Connecticut, HealthSource RI in Rhode Island, MaineCare in Maine, Dr. Dynasaur in Vermont, and NH EASY in New Hampshire), and ask directly which programs remain open to your status.
Keep coverage for children and pregnancy
These are protected across the region. Do not let coverage lapse, and answer every renewal notice by the deadline.
For adults, use emergency Medicaid, clinics, and food banks
Emergency Medicaid covers emergencies regardless of status, community health centers serve everyone on a sliding scale, and food banks serve everyone. In Maine, ask about the state food supplement; in Vermont, ask about Act 119 hospital financial assistance.
Make sure you were not cut off illegally
You must get written notice before coverage ends, and you have the right to a fair hearing. If your status still qualifies, or the notice looks wrong, challenge it and respond by every deadline.
Get to permanent status
A green card is what restores federal eligibility, and it brings back SNAP in most cases with no waiting period. Use V-PRIC to see your pathway, and the organizations below to move your case.
Where to turn
New England organizations serving Afghan families.
These organizations offer resettlement, benefits navigation, and legal help. Confirm current capacity before relying on any one office, since federal funding cuts reduced staffing at many agencies.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants
617-727-7888 · mass.gov/orgs/office-for-refugees-and-immigrants
State refugee office coordinating case management, health, employment, and legal services through a provider network.
International Institute of New England
Resettlement, English classes, employment, and immigration legal services; Boston at 617-695-9990 and Lowell at 978-459-9031; active with Afghan arrivals.
Refugee & Immigrant Assistance Center (RIAC)
Boston and Worcester nonprofit with Afghan-specific programming through its Afghan Support Assistance program.
Ascentria Care Alliance, Services for New Americans
774-243-3100 · ascentria.org/service/services-for-new-americans
Resettlement, housing, employment, health enrollment, and legal help, based in Worcester and West Springfield.
Catholic Charities Boston, Refugee & Immigrant Services
617-464-8500 · ccab.org/refugee-immigrant-services
Immigration services in Boston; it still lists resettlement, but call to confirm intake, since the national Catholic network exited the federal resettlement program in 2025.
Connecticut
IRIS, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services
New Haven resettlement agency with legal, housing, employment, and health navigation; continues resettling Afghans. It closed its walk-in office in March 2025 and works from satellite sites; the number shown is the client help line, and the main line is 203-562-2095.
Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI)
203-336-0141 · cirict.org/contact-us
Bridgeport resettlement and immigration legal services.
Jewish Family Services of Greenwich
203-622-1881 · jfsgreenwich.org/refugee-resettlement-1
Full resettlement services in Greenwich, with a Norwich office; a HIAS affiliate.
Connecticut DSS, Refugee Assistance Program
portal.ct.gov/dss/knowledge-base/articles/cash-assistance/refugee-assistance-program
State-administered refugee cash and medical assistance.
Rhode Island
Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s primary resettlement agency, with immigration legal help, English classes, and citizenship services; active on Afghan cases.
Refugee Dream Center
401-300-0544 · refugeedreamcenter.org
Providence post-resettlement case management, English classes, and health navigation.
Diocese of Providence, Immigration & Refugee Services
401-278-2530 · dioceseofprovidence.org/immigration-refugee-services
Resettlement and immigration services in Providence.
Rhode Island DHS, Refugee Assistance Program
855-697-4347 · dhs.ri.gov/programs-and-services/refugee-assistance-program
State refugee program and benefits coordination.
Maine
Office of Maine Refugee Services
207-781-8550 · ccmaine.org/refugee-immigration-services
The state refugee program administrator, coordinating refugee services across Maine; housed within Catholic Charities Maine.
Maine Immigrant & Refugee Services (MEIRS)
Lewiston immigration, behavioral health, and family and youth programs; its resettlement program is currently listed as closed.
Catholic Charities Maine, immigration legal services
207-560-7689 · ccmaine.org/refugee-immigration-services/services
Immigration legal help in Portland, with a roughly 12-month waitlist; no longer a resettlement agency.
ProsperityME
207-797-7890 · prosperityme.org
Portland financial education, housing, employment, and education support for immigrants and refugees.
Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP)
Statewide immigration legal representation, including asylum and SIV casework.
Vermont
USCRI Vermont, Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program
802-654-1704 · refugees.org/uscri-vermont
Colchester resettlement agency with housing, employment, legal, and health services; serves Afghan arrivals.
Vermont Afghan Alliance
802-999-7182 · vtafghanalliance.org
Burlington Afghan-specific support and coordinating organization; the strongest Afghan referral in Vermont.
Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALV)
Burlington integration case management, workforce development, and interpreter and legal services for newcomers.
ECDC Vermont
Refugee case management, housing, employment, and healthcare navigation, serving the Brattleboro and Bennington areas.
New Hampshire
Ascentria Care Alliance, Services for New Americans
603-224-8111 · ascentria.org/service/services-for-new-americans
Concord resettlement agency with housing, employment, English classes, and health and school enrollment.
International Institute of New England, Manchester
603-647-1500 · iine.org/contact
Manchester resettlement, job placement, English classes, and citizenship services.
Overcomers Refugee Services
603-856-7507 · overcomersnh.org
Concord refugee-led integration, case management, and workshops.
Verify before you rely. Confirm hours, capacity, and current phone numbers before traveling to any office, since federal funding cuts reduced staffing at many agencies.
Go deeper
The national picture, and your pathway.
This New England guide sits alongside our national explainer of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. For the full breakdown of what changed federally and how permanent status restores benefits, start there, and use V-PRIC to map your pathway.
This guide summarizes federal, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire policy for informational purposes and is not legal advice. It reflects the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21, enacted July 4, 2025) and state program rules as of September 24, 2026. State coverage programs, enrollment rules, and food programs change frequently and turn on your specific immigration category and which state you live in. Confirm your own situation with your state benefits office, a qualified immigration attorney, or a Department of Justice accredited representative. AfghanEvac is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.