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CBO: Some undocumented immigrants will get insurance under reform

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I guess it comes down to a case of you win some, you lose some. While it remains true that the formal language of key health reform proposals doesn't authorize health insurance coverage for illegal immigrants, rules that would make it tough for them to get insurance would also screen out significant numbers of eligible Americans, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.

The CBO, which was responding to a request for information from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), examined the impact of the current health reform bill under revision in the Senate Finance Committee and the related House bill, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.

As things stand, the current nonelderly unauthorized immigration population will total about 14 million in 2019, the CBO projects. It assumes that almost 60 percent of that group will be uninsured, 25 percent will have work-related coverage, 7 percent will have coverage other than Medicaid, and 10 percent will have limited Medicaid coverage available under laws authorizing such coverage for emergency care.

The letter notes that states will probably be good at screening out ineligible immigrants from getting Medicaid, but that it could prove a costly process to make sure they're not included in health insurance exchanges or getting refundable tax credits for coverage. It also notes that while blocking illegal immigrants from entering the program might save on medical care, the savings would be offset by administrative expenses.

What's missing from the CBO's analysis are numerical estimates as to just how many unauthorized immigrants would slip through the screening process for broad-based health coverage. In essence, the CBO hasn't really answered the questions Grassley and other critics have raised as to just how big a problem coverage for the undocumented immigrants might be. This may be good politics--it's sort of a nobody-wins issue--but not terribly useful either.

To learn more about the CBO's estimate:
- read this letter to Chuck Grassley (.pdf)

Related Articles:
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Group says immigrants boost ED costs

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Comments

So, he did lie, right? Incredible that we are turning over healthcare reform to folks who have no idea how it works.Bring in the smartest medical doc's. insurance companies, and all involved in healthcare and match them with a team in Washington, maybe Congress and hammer out reform. But, what is going on now is similar to taking your car to the local barber shop for a tune up, ouch, people, this does not make sense. But then again, some folks in Congress has been on record saying they know more than the public at large, wow, is that arrogance. What's new??

Why does it even matter??? Especially if it costs more to do the intake (and delay access to care for everybody else while the investigation of each applicant is proceeding and the long lines are growing) than what is saved. "Illegal immigrants" who work pay taxes too.

Those who need medical care will get it at ED's anyhow; why do you prefer to force hospitals to increase their uncompensated care burden?

Experience in states so far is that for each "illegal immigrant" who is turned away, 8 citizens who don't have the right documentation are also disqualified.

The previous commenter forgets the biggest constituency who is "involved in healthcare": patients.

When it comes to "fiscal discipline" and "efficiency", conservatives don't even live up to their claims and wouldn't know it if it bit them on the butt.

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