Fact Check – Did Ronald Reagan sign a law guaranteeing emergency health care for all, including undocumented immigrants?

Media Bias Fact Check (MBFC) publishes daily vetted fact checks from verified IFCN-approved sources. Each claim is independently reviewed for accuracy and context.

Claimant: Social Media

Claim: Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in 1986, requiring ERs to provide emergency care to anyone regardless of immigration status.

Rating: TRUE

Explanation: The 1986 law mandates emergency rooms accepting Medicare to provide care to all patients, regardless of ability to pay or legal status. However, it applies only to emergency care, not general health services.

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Date: 11/03/2025

 

Last Updated on November 3, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check

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