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White House Says Illegal Immigrants Will Be Explicitly Barred from Using Health Insurance Exchange

September 12, 2009 10:10 AM

Though the House health care reform bill, per the Congressional Research Service, explicitly prohibited illegal immigrants from receiving subsidies to purchase health insurance, with an enforcement mechanism to be designed by the Health Insurance Commissioner, the legislation did not ban illegal immigrants -- millions of whom purchase private health insurance every year -- from using the Health Insurance Exchange.

Additionally, current law pays for emergency health care for illegal immigrants through Emergency Medicaid. But expanding Medicaid eligibility, the House bill would also possibly increase the pool of those illegal immigrants who use Emergency Medicaid. We took a look at what the CRS report says about the House bill HERE.

But since the White House is now defending only the 2 1/2 page its health reform proposal it posted on Whitehouse.gov Wednesday night and not any actually legislation on Capitol Hill, they set the "rules."

And within this conceit, the White House has declared the following:

• "Undocumented immigrants would not be able to buy private insurance on the exchange. Those who are lawfully present in this country would be able to participate.

• "Undocumented immigrants would be able to buy insurance in the non-exchange private market, just as they do today. That market will shrink as the exchange takes hold, but it will still exist and will be subject to reforms such as the bans on pre-existing conditions and caps.

• "Verification will be required when purchasing health insurance on the exchange. One option is the SAVE program (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) which states currently use to make sure that undocumented immigrants don’t participate in safety-net programs for which they are ineligible.

• "There would be no change in the law that requires emergency rooms to treat people who need emergency care, including undocumented immigrants. There is already a federal grant program that compensates states for emergency room costs associated with treatment of undocumented immigrants, a provision sponsored by a Republican lawmaker."

- jpt

September 12, 2009 in congress, health care | Permalink | Share | User Comments (183)

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Unfortunately we cant rust the main stream media news anymore, we have to investigate things for ourselves, ABC makes illegals look like poor victims, when they drive hummers and denalis , they get so much money from the state for their kids, more than american or african americans, Fox is the only station i can somewhat trust, but they are a little liberal and bias to,Fox is the only station that mentioned ACORN FOR MONTHS, MSNBC and ABC , NBC is run by the obama administration, they even admitted it,, MSNBC sponcered him due to that cap and tax, G & E who own the station have alot of money to make off the tax payers. very sad that the dems are so to the left, they are totally out of touch with common sense, the repubs are in the middle instead of to the conservative right where they should be :(

Posted by: Cheri | Nov 23, 2009 2:35:42 AM

YOU ALL HEARD OBAMA, HE TOLD LARAZA THAT THEY WONT BE ILLEGAL HE WILL LEGALIZE THEM,, I THINK THIS HELATH CARE BILL IS GOING TO TIE INTO LEGALIZING PEOPLE WHO DONT BELONG HERE. HOW IN THE WORLD HAS THIS HAPPENED?? WHAT HAPPEN TO BORDER PATROLS? THEN THEY SAY THEY CANT DEPORT 40 MILLION PEOPLE?? WHY NOT? I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THEM!.. BUT THEY WILL GET TREATED ANYWAY,BUT IT SHOULDNT BE FOR A FRIGGING HEADACHE IN THE ER! This administration is always trying to pull the wool over the american people!

Posted by: Mary Jane | Nov 23, 2009 2:14:29 AM

WHAT HAPPENS TO TAXES WHEN ILLEGALS HAVE AROUND 8 CHILDREN AND THEIR 8 CHILDREN HAVE BABIES AT 14, ITS A VISCIUOS CYCLE, MEXICO IS HIGHLY OVER POPULATED, WILL OUR TAXES CONTINUE TO RISE AS THE POPULATION GROWS OUT OF CONTROL?

Posted by: jean | Nov 23, 2009 2:07:21 AM

I know this sounds crazy, but I really believe this whole health care over haul is for illegals.. think about it,calif and the border states are going broke paying for them and all their kids.. they really need to go home, be deported, cut off the welfare checks they get for each kid, and they automatically get welfare checks for kids rather they work or not, I know Im a social worker in nursing labor and delivery. they make great money here, nost dont work in the crops, as soon as they have a child they get hud housing, wic, welfare checks free lunches, and continue to work, they are making more money than the average american with their wages and welfare checks. They need to repeal that 14th ammendment, or we will be drained like Mexico.cut their welfare checks off and quit coddling them, and maybe they will go home?? One illegal told me, they dont like america, they want to go back to mexico, they want amnesty so they can retire with a social security check and go back home. they need to put the border patrols back out again, its really out of hand in calif,, very scary! so many of them with so many kids yikes! over crowded schools ect..

Posted by: mary | Nov 23, 2009 2:03:51 AM

Nothing is a 100 percent perfect and that goes for the government application E-Verify? The answer for any irate hired worker is simple, that if the employer is not satisfied with the results of the immigration verification identity process? You take a copy of your 1-9 form to the Social security agency, to resolve the issue? YOU WILL OBVIOUSLY NOT APPEAR BEFORE AN AGENT OF THE GOVERNMENT, IF YOU HAVE NO AUTHENTIC PAPERS? This is not a complex approach to the problem, although the US Chamber of Commerce, ACLU and a multitude of detrimental businesses have tried to escalate this situation? They say categorically nothing about how to rectify the matter, owing to their main objective is to demonize the process any way they can? Even their adolescent attitude of filing some frivolous lawsuit with the courts fell through?

E-Verification--MUST--become a permanent law, not just subject to an employer’s whim? The public who savor their jobs not being appropriated by foreign workers--AS HAPPENED IN EUROPE--should demand E-Verify in every industry, every business with heavy penalties for those who rebuke the law including mandatory jail sentences. EUROPE over several decades has also been overwhelmed by legal and illegal immigrants, thats why health care across the Atlantic has become compromised? E-Verify could be easily expanded for many other uses in the US, including admittance to health care, drivers licenses, government subsidies that would include education and home mortgages? My family wants a comprehensive package of health care reform pass, then to me it's obviously important to me as well? However, what illegal aliens remain will always get taxpayer backed free health care in the emergency rooms. My answer to this, is federal investigators should track down the illegal workers employer and demand they pay for the individuals surgery or other ailment?

But we must remain vigilant as the status quo has in their influence a group of stalwart politicians. They have secretly conspired to table E-Verify in the past and will no doubt try to eradicate it's accessibility in the future. Hundreds of pariah businesses are devoid of a conscious towards the American working man or woman. They have corrupted the lawmakers in Washington, with special interest money and extravagant favors. They have already indoctrinated some of our previously honest leaders with favors and in return we have seen the weakening of 287 G police training apprehension of illegal immigrants. Already President Obama has listened to Sen.Harry Reid D-NV, California's own Nancy Pelosi and Napolitano who have weakened other enforcement laws. NO! Innocent children of illegal immigrants who were transplanted by their parents here are not to blame. Our borders have remained like sieves, thanks to some of the lawmakers whom we voted for over the years. Legislators are ultimately culpable as they make the decisions, as by inheritance of each administration who resides in the White House?

Money was wasted on building the single length border fence instead of Rep.Duncan Hunters planned two-tier barrier as in San Diego? ICE raids have been reduced and even the No-match-rescinded. More money is wasted overturning enforcement laws, instead of using the full force of these procedures in combating the illegal immigrant invasion. IF YOU HAVE SOME SOLID KNOWLEDGE OF ILLEGAL WORKERS, CONTACT ICE! ADDRESS YOUR POLITICIANS AT 202-224-3121 NO MORE COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM! IT IS NOT IN THE COUNTRIES INTEREST. USE AMENDMENTS TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS WITH THE 1986 IMMIGRATION LAWS ALREADY ENACTED. Learn facts not rhetoric or lies at NUMBERSUSA & JUDICIAL WATCH & CAPSWEB.

Posted by: Brittancus | Sep 22, 2009 7:29:22 PM

How much do Obama's czars make lets see 33czars X $00.000 = ?

Posted by: Agervator | Sep 15, 2009 5:37:33 PM

Maybe Wilson should contest Obama for presidency. He seems more than capable by all standards and is already raising funds.

Posted by: pana | Sep 15, 2009 1:07:44 AM

Joe Wilson was right!

Posted by: DJ | Sep 14, 2009 12:55:23 PM

Obama lies and runs scams....if he is able to get his health scam thru, it will be bad for the US.

Posted by: PotatoeGater22 | Sep 14, 2009 12:12:30 PM

They don't even kick out illegals that they put in jail---Houston turned loose thousands of known illegals who committed other crimes. All about votes.

Posted by: PotatoeGater22 | Sep 14, 2009 10:53:16 AM

Economists do have difficulties forecasting. But the consensus view does seem to be similar to that of the administration's Larry Summers --the improvement in labor markets will be unusually slow. There are currently unemployed in almost all occupation and all levels of skills. Inner city blacks and rural poor are particularly hard pressed. For example, the unemployment rate in the city of Detroit is close to 30%. With the downturn real incomes are lower than they were a decade ago. Males without high school education find their real wages approximately 25% below the level several decades back. Amidst all of this the government issued 1.5 million Visas to foreign workers in the last year. In the short run immigration (except for legitimate spouses and a few other groups) should be stopped. In the longer run immigration should be set at a level that will provide adequate opportunities to those already here and be consistent with maintenance of environmental objectives.

Posted by: merchantilist | Sep 14, 2009 7:56:18 AM

All illegal immigrants should be given 6 months to pack up their belongings and leave and after that ICE should deport every one PDQ. Obama and the top brass needs to follow the rule of law.

Posted by: Mary | Sep 14, 2009 1:19:59 AM

Illegals only clog emergency rooms when they have emergencies. It is perfectly legal for an ER to refuse treatment to anyone if they don't have an emergency. We spend $250 million each year reimbursing hospitals for this care. (We spend alot more money trying to enforce immigration law - every $100 in enforcement saves us 14 cents in benefits).

The real problem is that someone with hepititis, TB, or swine flu who is picking your lettuce is going to wait until they can't function anymore to get medical help.

Posted by: Flash Override | Sep 13, 2009 2:08:04 PM

The "Legal" immigrant landscaper doing my yard told me that he needs to pay a "coyote" $5000 to get his mother here from Mexico. She is sick and her treatment in Mexico is expensive. He said "when she comes here, it will be free."
He is a nice guy and all, but that comment really brought the point home regarding our "open borders" and Obama's weak argument that illegals will not benefit from the "new plan."
There is nothing in any of the plan to make illegals verify citizenship and they will continue to receive health care free anyway. Obama needs to address the issues that CAUSE the problems with health care -- We DON'T NEED HIM to change our care.

Wilson was RIGHT. I'll be donating campaign funds to him.
George Steph. needs to allow these discussions.

Posted by: pcafe | Sep 13, 2009 1:42:01 PM

When illegals show up at an Emergency Room, they should be treated and then deported.

Compassion followed by rule of law.

Posted by: Jordan | Sep 13, 2009 1:23:50 PM

According to Rueters report, the US has the highest number of citizens over 100 years of age (96000). Japan is second with 40000. Japan has half the population of the US.

I'd say our healthcare system is pretty good, helping us live longer lives.

Posted by: Sigmonde | Sep 13, 2009 12:11:07 PM

If it is against the law to turn a patient away, illegals will still clog emergency rooms while not paying for the service. The rest pick up the tab, the reforms proposed are nothing more than additional welfare. At least it won't cost anything !

Posted by: bob | Sep 13, 2009 11:22:45 AM

Makes one wonder why we are having this discussion at all.

Illegal immigrants are criminals that are supposed to be deported.

Still there are people who want to give them long term support.

Politicians lie like heck in campaigns and do what they want in office.

Posted by: James L. | Sep 13, 2009 10:40:39 AM

The following language must be included to avoid loopholes (politicians love loopholes):

Americans and legal permanent residents must show documents such as US birth certificates; US passports; or certificates of naturalization to prove they reside in the United States legally. Or they can show a valid social security card (SSC). I say a valid SSC because illegal aliens use fake SSCs.

Posted by: Lesly | Sep 13, 2009 10:34:49 AM

This has got to be a comic book.

If you enter this country illegally, you can stay and receive free medical care, but we will not help you get insurance.

If you are a US citizen, you have to get health insurance or pay a fine. If you do not pay the fine, I guess you are a criminal and will have to go to jail.

Got it.

Posted by: James L. | Sep 13, 2009 10:33:46 AM

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