





Although Mr. Obama in his speech referred to his “plan,” the White House has not developed a written legislative health care proposal and does not intend to do so, instead relying on committees in Congress, which have drafted several versions of the bill, some running more than 1,000 pages.

Mr. Cherlin said the White House was considering various enforcement options, including the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, which states now use to prevent illegal immigrants from accessing government aid programs for which they are not eligible.

Mr. Cherlin said the president’s position on immigrants was in keeping with a long-standing view that he first articulated during last year’s presidential campaign.

The White House said that illegal immigrants would still be able to purchase health insurance through the private market, as they can now, but acknowledged that the private market was certain to shrink after the creation of the new marketplace.

Many illegal immigrants must now seek medical treatment in emergency rooms, which by law cannot turn them away. In recent years, the federal government has spent $250 million a year to reimburse hospitals for bills that go unpaid as a result. The White House said those reimbursements would continue.

A draft of the health care legislation approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee would allow illegal immigrants to purchase insurance through the new marketplace, but would bar them from obtaining government subsidies to help low-income individuals and families afford coverage.

Under that House bill, illegal immigrants would not be subject to a new requirement that all Americans purchase health insurance. Some non-citizens legally residing in the United States would be required to purchase health insurance, but they would be barred from obtaining subsidies even if their income were low enough to otherwise meet the eligibility requirements.

Senators who have been negotiating a compromise health care bill in the Senate Finance Committee said on Friday that they were contemplating steps to prevent illegal immigrants from benefiting from the health system overhaul, but some aides said they did not believe lawmakers intended to bar illegal immigrants from purchasing insurance at full cost, through the new exchange or otherwise, should they be able to do so.

The White House position could draw a backlash from advocates for immigrants.

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Oh, great. So one of two things happens:

1. Illegal immigrants use phony SS#’s to access the marketplace and everything goes on as normal… or

2. Everyone will have to prove citizenship in order to access the insurance marketplace, subsidies or no.

Either it’s an empty threat or a stupid, expensive requirement that’s difficult to enforce. Are we going to have to get certified copies of birth certificates? Passports? Are we going to have to go to facilities to present these documents in person?

This is all pandering to the worst in US politics. One should have to produce tax-returns to access subsidies (which subsidies, btw?).

As long as there is an enforcement of provision clearing stating the consequences of fraud; as long as there are safeguards in place to eliminate waste and as long as there is tort reform. Then we will listen..

Gee, wouldn’t it make more sense to let people buy insurance (without subsidies) instead of paying having to pay for free care at the ER?

What a country! Where else could you turn a debate about providing health care into a forum for immigrant-bashing? Will the right wing not be satisfied with seeing Americans bankrupted by health care costs? Do we really have to make sure we can have some dead “Eeleagles” in the streets to make them happy?

Gee, wouldn’t it make more sense to let undocumented people buy insurance through the exchange (without subsidies) instead of taxpayers having to pay for their free care at the ER?

Umm yeah… this isn’t going to end well. Guess we’ll just push this problem down the road too!

This is ridiculous! These people do the dirty work that fat Americans refuse, they clean our homes, they pick our fruits, and they pay taxes. Immigrants, illegal or not should be able to have basic health care just like any human being! It’s morality not money!

We should allow illegal immigrants to buy health insurance because their health effects legals too. Americans have lost their humanity when they deny other humans basic rights like these. We are the Home of the Selfish these days…We are not brave, but scared – about anything that is not like what we know…If we all worked hard there would be plenty for all…oh, and stop eating so much you obese people.

This has all gotten a little stupid, hasn’t it?

Pinocchiogate continues. Meanwhile rightwing radicals are showing their support for Joe Wilson by promoting t-shirts and by screaming liar when President Obama’s name is mentioned at GOP rallies.


Why don’t Republicans require that they may support Insurance reform if democrats agree to slap all illegal immigrants, once a day ?

$250 million a year is just not such a huge number relative to the rest of the economics of health care. Conservatives stir up the hatred on this issue not with numbers but with racism and by tapping into that latent need to blame the other that so many uneducated southerners have.

This is incredibly disappointing. This was done clearly in reaction to Joe “You lie” Wilson’s outburst and the anti-immigrant sentiment that’s been pervading the land. The Prez is really letting me down. What harm could there possible be for undocumented immigrants buying private insurance through the exchange. There is no way in hell any undocumented immigrant, or most U.S. citizens for that matter, can afford to buy insurance on the individual market. What about the “character of a nation”???

The devil is in the details. Let’s see, specifically, what the presidents bill looks like before we judge. And, the bill should be in plain language, not the legal mumbo jumbo that is in the original house bill 3200. It’s an insult to the public that they try to ram through an incomprehensible bill like 3200.

Why the hell not???? It’s going to end up costing USCs more in the long run b/c this just funnels all undocumented persons into the ER. And–it’s not like the government would be insuring them for free–they would be PAYING (at least the few who could afford it)!!! This health care reform and “american values” business is BS.

So now illegals cannot buy insurance even if they want it and can afford it? Anyone who buys insurance is going to have to present proof of citizenship?: Passport? Birth certificate? If you have to prove citizenship not only to enter the country, but to buy goods and services, this campaign of resentment against immigrants is leading straight to a national identification card, something I’m sure conservatives don’t want any more than anyone else.

Once again Obama shows himself to be a sheep in wolf”s clothing.

That is tremendously bad policy. Illegal immigrants should be allowed to purchase their own health insurance on the competitive exchange, but without government subsidy. This policy would prevent illegals from obtaining coverage, and thus continue the practice of passing their medical costs on to us.

disgraceful that you use th eterm ‘illegal aliens’ what is an illegal alien and how can a human being be either illegal or alien? What is wrong with undocumented?

The Supreme Court has spoken on this and illegals will be covered whether congress or the White House concurs.

!982’s Plyler V. Doe will allow illegals the same 14th amendment protection as Americans with little or no exception.

This is the same misdirection garbage as hiding behind the Hyde amendment on abortion funding. Hyde only disallows such funding when deliverd through HHS – all the health care reform bills redirect that funding to escape Hyde.

Lies, lies and more lies from the liberals.

Sounds good but I dont trust the Dems…they know that anyone coming to an emergency room gets taken care of, which is fine, but why then did the Ways & Means committee shoot down a GOP proposal to require proof of citizenship under the public option. I smell a rat

It’s unfortunate that politics and anger towards illegal immigrants will force us to make and accept unwise policy. While no one wants to encourage illegal immigration, I want anyone with tuberculosis, hepatitis, swine flu, yellow fever, etc to be able to access treatment before they risk infecting my family and friends. Unfortunately, sick immigrants will be forced to endure their illness in the shadows and act as vectors for infectious disease.

When they finally do seek treatment their emergency department bills (which we end up footing) will be much larger than if they had received preventative or early treatment. Luckily, we Americans can count on more compassionate and financially affordable health care when we travel to other civilized countries with universal healthcare.

It always makes me so proud of our nation when I see our politicians appealing to the deep reservoirs of hate and bigotry dwelling in the American people. Catering to the voters’ worst instincts, to the lowest common denominator, is never a mistake. And you can never go wrong playing dog in the manger against the poor and powerless, as if the poor and powerless were invented for the sole purpose of serving as targets for our loathing and abuse.

And what a good example of Christianity our homegrown Christians display! We all know Jesus Himself would refuse to help a sick illegal alien. Of course He would.

That our nation continually obsesses over how to DENY care instead of provide it, waving such red herrings as illegal immigration (among socialism, death panels etc) shall give future historians yet another notable marker for the long decline of the republic. We are a nation rich enough in treasure to provide health care to all, yet too morally destitute to implement a system to do so, all in the name of profit and now bigotry. 46 million without any Health insurance, 13% poverty rate, but making sure a tiny minority of immigrants lack access to health care is considered a priority.

Why not allow any person residing in the country, whether legally or illegally, to buy coverage? Seems like it would contribute to reducing the government’s expenses incurred in emergency treatments, and even lower the cost for legal residents and citizens.

Isn’t the haste to deny illegal immigrants of any benefits counterproductive in this case?

Isn’t this discussion perpetuating the hypocrisy surrounding the immigration issue?