Changes in US healthcare regulations deny health coverage to illegal immigrants

US changes healthcare regulations

A new Bill has been introduced in US who will not allow federal subsidies for “people not present lawfully in the United States.” The bill would allow illegal immigrants to buy coverage through proposed health insurance exchanges.

Senate Democrats are making an effort to change the language of the bill so that illegal immigrants can be barred, irrespective of the fact that they can pay the full amount of coverage.

In case of emergency illegal immigrants are paid for the health care along with uninsured Americans. Stopping them from affordable insurance will worsen up the affair.

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan had signed a federal law according to which hospitals are to treat any patient coming with an emergency regardless of his insurance plans, his affordability to pay the bills or even his residency status need not be looked into.

New Jersey Hospital Association spent $ 1.3 billion in charity care to those patients who had no insurance coverage.

According to a report, uninsured people received $ 166 billion across the nation to meet up the health care demands from hospitals, doctors and others in 2008.

"The Government says that the new law will cover 95% of the American population. This will bring in 32m people who do not have a proper insurance coverage. Another 5% of the population falls beyond this bill that is likely not to get any attention from the Government."

The office of the Congressional budget estimates that about 23 m people will still be without insurance even after 5years of this law coming into effect. About one third of this population will be illegal in spite of having lived in US for many years now. Their children will be offered the benefits as they are considered to be Americans. The younger generation of this population would prefer to pay a small amount of fine rather than insuring themselves.  

The centre for Public Policy Priorities, Austin informs that most of the people not covered under the Bill depend on low wages jobs. They cannot afford to pay the high insurance premium as they struggle to survive the basic needs of life.

A debate is going on in the country about providing health care services to 12 million illegal immigrants who deserve some benefits by virtue of being in America and contributing in some way or the other to the nation’s development.