PearlHowardman Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/200...-house-says/?hp September 11, 2009, 6:38 pm Illegal Immigrants Could Not Buy Insurance on New ‘Exchange,’ White House Says By David M. Herszenhorn The White House on Friday said it would bar illegal immigrants from purchasing health coverage through a proposed insurance marketplace. But the administration also said that the federal government would continue to require hospitals to provide emergency treatment to illegal immigrants at taxpayer expense. The question of how illegal immigrants would fare under a proposed overhaul of the health care system came into sharp focus on Wednesday during President Obama’s speech to Congress. Representative Joe Wilson, Republican of South Carolina, shouted “You lie!” when Mr. Obama insisted that his health care overhaul would not insure illegal immigrants. And the Obama administration’s determination to show that immigrants will not benefit from the health system overhaul highlighted the extraordinary sensitivity to the issue at a time when lawmakers still remain divided over whether the government should pay to provide health coverage for all American citizens. A White House spokesman, Reid Cherlin, said that the president’s proposals would bar illegal immigrants from purchasing private insurance through the new government marketplace, known as an exchange, and that verification of immigration status would be required for anyone seeking to purchase coverage. 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 This article makes no sense. The way I've been reading it lately, the WH plans to develop it's own health care plan/proposal/whatever they're calling it. That's why Wilson was wrong in calling Obama a liar about illegals, because Obama promised everyone that HIS health care bill won't allow illegals, won't allow abortions, etc. So this isn't about HR3200, but rather the plan the WH is going to put together, which will probably have some of the components of all the bills currently out there, except with the undeniable truth that neither illegals nor abortions will be permitted. Where they completely fall flat on their face is by saying "Okay, illegals can't be covered by the plan, however they can still receive treatment in the emergency rooms," which is an unbelieveable strain on the heath care system. So not addressing that is not real health care reform. And in California, if an illegal gives birth here, the newborn is automatically an American citizen and the baby's family is elegible for welfare, food stamps, etc. I understand the fact that Obama is getting his own plan together (or at least that much be the case because HR3200 does not prevent illegals from getting coverage, so we'll give Obama the benefit of the doubt), but every day that goes by, it's pretty clear how much Obama reminds me of Dick Jauron. It seems sometimes like only he thinks he knows what is going on, when no one around him seems to know what's going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pBills Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Simply said... Wilson was NOT right. Not right in any way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magox Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 The way I understand it is that the bill wouldn't intend for Illegals to receive health care coverage, but the reality is that it would be very difficult to completely enforce it. Personally, I don't have a very strong stance against illegal immigrants, and I do believe that we should relax the rules for admittance. Most people who come across here, have a strong desire to better themselves and advance their opportunities, which in turn means a more productive economy. However, I am not advocating that all immigrants should be able to enter, there needs to be some sort of backround checks from these individuals before they are accepted into the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PearlHowardman Posted September 12, 2009 Author Share Posted September 12, 2009 The Bottom Line: When TOTUS was speaking in front of the full Congress three nights ago, he was just pretty much making up things as he went along. Obama hasn't even crafted his own plan yet, as the linked article states! That's embarrassing! And, when is all said-and-done, Illegals will be covered and there is likely to be NO Public-Option. How is Obama going to explain that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Simply said... Wilson was NOT right. Not right in any way. Wrong, at least as his comments relate to HR3200, which has been the frontrunner in the health care bill race. HR3200 does not specifically prohibit banning illegals or abortions. In fact, the GOP offered amendments to ban both, and Democrats voted both of them down. The Obama bill, whatever that ends up to be, must now specifically prohibit both clearly, as was promised by Obama on Wednesday. Obama's final bill will determine whether Wilson was right or wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PearlHowardman Posted September 12, 2009 Author Share Posted September 12, 2009 The Obama bill, whatever that ends up to be, must now specifically prohibit both clearly, as was promised by Obama on Wednesday. Obama's final bill will determine whether Wilson was right or wrong. Per the New York Times linked article, TOTUS has no plans to write a bill. Moreover, Senate Democrats clearly have a different health care agenda than TOTUS does. Earlier in the week Chris Matthews of MSNBC was starting to ask whether Democrats simply know how to govern. Right now it looks like they can't. TOTUS live in Minneapolis, today - just prolonging the inevitable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted September 12, 2009 Share Posted September 12, 2009 Earlier in the week Chris Matthews of MSNBC was starting to ask whether Democrats simply know how to govern. Right now it looks like they can't. At least the Democrats have something in common with the Republicans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted September 13, 2009 Share Posted September 13, 2009 At least the Democrats have something in common with the Republicans Yes, but when Tingles is questioning whether the left can govern, that can't be a good sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PearlHowardman Posted September 13, 2009 Author Share Posted September 13, 2009 Yes, but when Tingles is questioning whether the left can govern, that can't be a good sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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