Dreamers ineligible for US healthcare

United States, 26th September: New US health care law will exclude Dreamers from getting coverage.

And this is certainly a big blow to thousands of young undocumented immigrants living in the US.

New US healthcare act excludes immigrants--For long, the US President Barack Obama has been reiterating his pledge to offer undocumented immigrants almost every benefit while living in the US. But, Dreamers are finding it hard to come to terms with the latest US Affordable Care Act.

They are simply dismayed by the changed health care policy for undocumented immigrants in the US announced last month.

That’s because the White House has announced that young undocumented immigrants getting the privilege to stay in the US under the new US policy will no longer hold eligibility for US health insurance coverage. The ruling is part of the latest reform introduced to US health care.

What’s new Obama health care--As per the news, Dreamers getting relief under Deferred Deportation Act will be ineligible for Obama healthcare. Aim of Obama is, undoubtedly, to extend health care to all.

This means all US permanent residents as well as US citizens must get the privilege of Obama health care provided they have health insurance. So, the reforms introduced in US health care will make health coverage in the US more affordable.

New ruling baffles immigrants--Such restrictions for undocumented immigrants living in the US are a contradiction of the promises by Obama. It may be noted that Obama had announced in June this year that thousands of young unlawful immigrants in the US fulfilling eligibility criteria under deferred deportation program will now be able to get a relief from the fear of deportation

And the point is that immigrants fulfilling requirements of being lawfully present in the US should gain eligibility for US subsidies. However, much to the surprise of immigrants and immigration groups alike, the US administration announced that young undocumented immigrants are not included in the definition of being ‘legally present’.

This means immigrants getting deportation relief under US deferred deportation scheme will lose the opportunity for receiving Children Health Insurance Program or Medicaid.

The US administration has, meanwhile, defended such a ruling saying health coverage and immigration move are not related to each other in any way.

Speaking about the issue, secretary of health and human services, Kathleen Sebelius said anyone eligible for deportation relief cannot gain eligibility for US health insurance or other government health subsidies.