September 11, 2009 1:24 PM

Senate Revisits Illegal Immigrant Health Care Question

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Health Care
(AP)
Senators working on health care legislation are giving a fresh look at ways to make sure that only U.S. citizens benefit from an overhaul of the nation's health care system, after an outburst during President Obama's address to Congress put new focus on the issue.

After President Obama on Wednesday said his proposed health care reforms would not apply to illegal immigrants, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouted out, "You lie!"

To ensure that new programs or benefits created through health care reform do not apply to illegal residents, Sen. Max Baucus and his bipartisan "gang of six" legislators from the Senate Finance Committee are reportedly considering adding a citizen verification component to their health care bill, which should be unveiled next week.

"We spent some time talking about how one proves one's status to be eligible ... to prove that you're a citizen," Baucus told Roll Call newspaper on Thursday. "Illegal residents are clearly excluded."

Roll Call reports that the gang of six is likely to mandate the use of Social Security numbers as a form of citizenship verification. The group would also likely give alternative means of proving citizenship, since some citizens do not have Social Security numbers.

The committee met Friday morning to discuss the framework for reform that Baucus laid out this week and ways to improve it.

Baucus' framework explicitly states that "No illegal immigrants will benefit from the health care tax credits."

The legislation produced by the House of Representatives also expressly prohibits illegal residents from getting tax credits. As CBSNews.com's Declan McCullagh reports, however, the House bill does not restrict illegal residents from purchasing health care off the proposed health insurance exchange -- a marketplace of both public and private plans. Some illegal immigrants already obtain private insurance now, through their employers or individual plans.

In the House bill, illegal immigrants would also be subject to fines if they did not purchase health care, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.

Democrats have been reluctant to expand citizenship verification programs to more government-funded health care programs because studies have shown that such requirements for Medicaid have increased administrative costs for states and have made it difficult for some Americans to join the program, the New York Times reports.

In the case of six states where the program was reviewed by a congressional committee, the Times reports, verification increased federal costs by $8.3 million but only detected eight illegal immigrants using Medicaid.

The Washington Post points out today that taxpayers already subsidize health care for illegal immigrants through Medicaid since the program reimburses hospitals for emergency treatments.

Democrats' health care proposals include an expansion of Medicaid.

Though Mr. Obama on Wednesday insisted his proposals would not apply to illegal immigrants, he told CBS News' Katie Couric in July that there may need to be an exception for children.

"The one exception that I think has to be discussed is how are we treating children," he said. "Partly because if you've got children who may be here illegally but are still in playgrounds or at schools, and potentially are passing on illnesses and communicable diseases, that aren't getting vaccinated, that I think is a situation where you may have to make an exception."

Add a Comment See all 101 Comments
by KimMorrisatmedsave September 15, 2009 10:48 AM EDT
Millions of responsible immigrants - both legal and illegal ? have taken responsibility to buy their own health insurance coverage despite significant social and financial obstacles. They should be commended for their actions. See the surprising statistics in "Finding Health Insurance for US Immigrants" at http://www.freedombenefits.net/affordable-health-insurance-articles/Health-insurance-for-US-immigrants.html. The international health insurance exchange at Freedom Benefits will remain open to every person who wish to take responsibility to protect their health, regardless of any closed-minded attempts by federal lawmakers.
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by Hosheen September 12, 2009 12:59 PM EDT
What part of he bill that SPECIFICALLY excludes illegals don't you lame-brained wing nuts understand? I suspect that it makes no difference because anything proposed by the present administration HAS TO BE WRONG, no matter how fair, logical, and legal it is.

That's how the wing-nuts are destroying America. I hope the enjoy their new theocracy-ridden totalitarian country when they split from the rest of the country. I just hope they don't have any nuclear weapons when they go.
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by Otto_Dog September 12, 2009 12:07 PM EDT
Maybe we should send the bill for treatment illegals receive in this country to a gov't agency that'll forward it to the illegal's home nation for collection. Same with the costs for incarceration and restitution, as well as public education. Should payment not be made promptly, we can add import tariffs to goods originating in those countries equivalent to the costs borne by U.S. taxpayers for their provision, plus the administrative costs of the program itself.

Thoughts?
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by erasmus111 September 12, 2009 11:40 AM EDT
by slownewsday_5 September 11, 2009 3:37 PM EDT
I say we treat illegals once, and detain them at the place of treatment, and deport them immediately. Kind of a going-away present.


Wow, that's actually a great idea.
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by cbsblogger September 12, 2009 11:22 AM EDT
The bill specifically needs to spell out specific details in "how and who and what funding" will be used to verify residents for eligibility. Also it needs to state that illegal immigrants and visitors and temporary workers with visas are not eligible.

If it does not specifically exclude these people, then we will become a magnet for more illegal immigration and people coming here only for our free health care.
Reply to this comment
by hungry1968-16 September 12, 2009 10:40 AM EDT
by Observer1504 September 12, 2009 10:10 AM EDT
As of today there is no one single health bill, there are 6 with two more being drafted. You can count on all the illegals becoming citizens with a mighty sweep of the presidents pen because its the easiest way out of this mess. The big question is how all of this is going to be paid for without a huge tax increase on the working middle class. So far all proposals to fund this nightmare are all smoke and mirrors so dig deep American workers.







"Amnesty for ALL Illegals" was Bush's pro-business, conservative based idea.

Unlike Bush, Obama has said several times that his stance on immigration is very clear: there is a legal, universally recognized path to citizenship, and THAT is the path that they should take.

I agree 100%.
Reply to this comment
by jimmyc1955 September 12, 2009 11:51 AM EDT
That does sound nice doesn't it? But since they have stopped funding the fence and are doing nothing to stem the flood coming over the borders this is a classic distraction - just like the concerns about checking citizenship.

You can say your opposed to giving health care away or illegal immigration but until something is actually put in place to prevent the problem they are empty words.

This is my fundimental problem with Obama - his words are always empty.

He promised so many things and then broke each promise without a second thought. Why after so many cases where is words are hollow distractions intended to make me stop watching would I believe him now?
by Observer1504 September 12, 2009 10:10 AM EDT
As of today there is no one single health bill, there are 6 with two more being drafted. You can count on all the illegals becoming citizens with a mighty sweep of the presidents pen because its the easiest way out of this mess. The big question is how all of this is going to be paid for without a huge tax increase on the working middle class. So far all proposals to fund this nightmare are all smoke and mirrors so dig deep American workers.
Reply to this comment
by texbelle123 September 12, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Idiots.

You guys that are so hung up on the possibility of an illegal alien getting some sort of benefit from a Health reform bill need to think it through.

The only way to make sure only citizens receive the benefits is to require EVERYONE to carry proof of citizenship at all times.

Wow. What a plan. Is that what you really want?

Before you say, "No, that's not what it will take!" think it through.

So, you're in a horrific accident on the freeway. Ambulance comes and carries you to the hospital. Oops. No treatment for you 'cause you don't have your birth certificate or a passport handy. Who knows? You might be an illegal. Sorry. Maybe you'll die before anyone shows up to prove your are a citizen.

Sounds like a plan.

Since the provisions as they are in the bills that are already being considered state clearly that no illegal alien shall benefit from the provisions, let's let them stay like that... even if idots elected from South Carolina can't help but behave like a six year old having a tantrum. The alternative is to create a repressive citizenship card that you will have to carry at all times. Sounds like Russia of the 1950's doesn't it?
Reply to this comment
by bubbadubba September 12, 2009 9:45 AM EDT
Joe Wilson, you are are the liar or maybe you just can't read? More likely Joe Wilson has never read the legislation but gets all of his information from Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck and just does things based on what they spew. When you can't read it is easiest to listen to a radio talk show to get information and guidance on what to do.
Now Joe go back to your trailer park and think up something else trashy to do and say.
Reply to this comment
by CTRetiree September 12, 2009 9:08 AM EDT
IF E-verify does NOT work, or won't be used by employers ... how in the world would illegals be excluded from the proposed new health care system.

MAYBE a certified birth certificate in addition to an "original" social security card may work. Of course, if there is a language problem (profiling is a "no-no") that might be a clue.

Illegals, the poor and drug abusers will always use our emergency room facilities and urgent care clinics -- they don't know any other health services. All these entitlement programs have to be curtailed ... America is going broke subsidizing every cause in this country and outside the borders. We already subsidize the illegals health care through medicaid (which reimburses hospitals for emergency care where the individual has no health insurance).

Congress needs to "reinvent" bill writing ... we need bill documents with 20 or less points NOT BILLS THAT ARE SEVERAL PAGES LONG AND ARE NOT READ BY THOSE WHO WILL EVENTUALLY VOTE ON THE PASSAGE. Who knows what is HIDDEN in this bill. The President and the Executive branch have no business introducing their own bill -- we have separation of powers. Congress has the mandate to WRITE bills NOT the President -- however, in the real world 'anyone' can write a bill and locate a sponsor (i.e., lobbyists, citizens, etc.)
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