Trend: Hospitals deporting uninsured immigrants

Maybe we can get MexCare to go into the prisons and ship back the illegal alien criminals that comprise so much of the prison population. Could be very cost effective.

it's amazing we call ourselfs a country of law!

The NYTimes spin meister ("all the news that fits" the NYT political agenda) did not objectively report the facts: the correct term is illegal alien, not "uninsured immigrant." Finally, someone is taking action against the continuing hemorrhaging of billions of dollars to subsidize law breakers who should burden their own countries' socialist systems in the first instance rather than steal from the US taxpayers who are forced to support the welfare hospitals in this country.

I think it's a great policy. People don't seem to be aware of all the hospital closings across the US because they are stuck with patients without insurance and Federal Law states they have to care for them. What happens when we are down to a handful of hospitals before our government wakes up and realizes this is a major problem. We don't have the money to care for American citizens who are often kicked out and we should always care for our own first, Always...

Unbelievably common sense, no doubt some hateamerolewyeh whose parents were saved from the flames by mine will cripple the policy. Only in America.

Illegal Immigration & Health Care are two very difficult topics to address; especially when our government does nothing to deport the 20 million plus illegal aliens already here. I’m sure a Dr. and a nurse could care less of who they do and do not treat. But in the end, it’s about money and what is right! And if the hospitals can’t pay their bills; we as Americans suffer. And let’s focus on that word “illegal” while you’re thinking about everything associated with the current medical crisis? Hospitals are going broke and not getting paid and at the same time Americans are paying through the nose for Health Care and suffering the consequences of an exploding illegal immigration problem. So it’s a triple blow to our economy. Our health care system is over-taxed and understaffed and our government does nothing to remove the illegals already here “ILLEGALLY”. And to make matters worse, they do nothing to stem the flow of illegals who continue to flood into this nation. As human beings we naturally care about everyone around us. But lets restate the obvious, illegal’s are NOT Americans. Communities that don’t speak English are not American. Businesses that knowingly break the law and allow illegal’s to have jobs are Un-American! Living the American dream is hard enough for Americans as it is. We shouldn’t grant Health Care services to people who sneak across the border and we shouldn’t grant US citizenship to illegal aliens who have babies here. And we should definitely applaud hospitals that deport illegal aliens back to their country of orgin (BEFORE) providing medical care!

The biggest users of the American welfare system are american citizens. That's right I said it. I work wih American citizens who do NOTHING but eat sleep and shit and recieve free health care and a living wage as well (the so called disabled). This article is misinformed and racist to boot all illegals are not Mexican. Some are actually European or Canadian. The US has a big problem whith it's health care system and scapegoating immigrants is not a solution.

You people are so heartless! These aren't monsters or animals were talking about! They are living, breathing human beings! Would the fact that its a little girl or boy affect this story differently? If you have a heart, I would think so. I am a FULL BLOODED American, and I believe this policy is just wrong.

I agree. Besides our money is being spent on stupid things anyway....hmm...like the WAR! At least this is sparing the life of people who want to better their lives. Besides they also pay TAXES.

The key word here is ILLEGAL. They should be depoarted back to their country of origin as they have no legal rights to be in the U.S.`

As a legal immigrant I paid OASD, SS and federal taxes and as it is I am only entittled to the benefits I get from the health policy I am also paying for. I am in favor of comprehensive immigration reform, BUT as a way to provide opportunities to hard working people that would pay taxes, NOT freebie benefits to illegals. I am very sorry about his misfortune, but the hospital did the correct thing

just one question: if this was a US citizen in Guatemala do you think for one minute they'd consider providing free care for years on end or would it be bye bye have a nice flight?

Why isn't his family( which is sueing)paying for the expences.I work in a rehab hospital and I see people that pay insurance, having to pay thousands of dollars in what is not covered by the insurance at the end of their treatment. Is this fair? It is unfortunate for Jimenez but I am sure he can get medical care in Guatemala just as well.

Bloggers and sycophants unite - welcome to the world of anonymous ranting and raving. People on both sides of the issue have valid points, but no one has the stones to put their name to their post? Well, no one except me I guess. Sadly, this is 21st century America - where there is no pre-qualification to get an internet connection. The fact is that "illegal" may not be a PC term, but it is accurate. You can choose to be PC and call it "undocumented", or even "uninsured immigrant" - I choose to excercise my right to say whatever the hell I want, without the thought police or liberals breathing down my neck. Is this right? Maybe not to you, but read the First Amendment. Before it gets translated to Spanish

I am sorry but the hospital should have deported him. I just don't get what argument do illegal immigrants think they have in this country! The word Illegal! is enough for me. Should we treat everyone who comes to the ER ok I can live with that but once they are stable deport them! But in their defense the real problem originated from poor border patrol, and the people who HIRE THEM! why don't they pay for their health coverage! welfare and anything else they need! I don't mean to sound mean but enough is enough!. There are people out there who profit from hiring them as cheap labor and expect the rest of us to clean up the mess! Not to mention instead of these hispanic groups demanding free services to illegals why don't they collect $ 1.00 from all of them and perhaps sponsor free clinics.

Since federal law says we can NEVER discharge a person from a hospital unless his family is willing to take him home, we should just turn our hospitals into hotels!! Shouldn't all of us be allowed to live in a hospital forever without having to pay?

I DO agree with Mr. Doug Skinner (welcome to the world of anonymous ranting and raving)on the rather cowardly trend for people who are willing to complain the most viciously, to being UNWILLING to put their names on their work. But, that is were any similarities stop. I do not agree with his underlying perceptions and insinuations that because U.S. medical facilities and hospitals have treated individuals from across our borders, that our very Constitution, our culture, or our adopted native language, English, is in jeapordy. That is gross exageration and only serves to inflame this already confused debate. How has the immigration issue, and it's perceived drain on our economy, become involved with the need for healthcare reform here on our own native soil, for our own U.S. citizens? I have no healthcare because I can't afford the peremiums being charged to cover someone in my age group (I'm 57), but I would absolutely LOVE to be able to find a program that would offer a healthy, middle-aged, self-employed woman a plan for healthcare that didn't cost $550-750 a MONTH unless you choose a deductible of $5000 or higher. With a deductible that high, it'd only be valuable if you had a brain tumor, or God Forbid, you were hit by a bus...it's called "castrophic insurance".... immense deductible, lower premiums. The immigration issue is a seperate problem, and though it does have a modest impact on our overall U.S. social services budget, to refuse to implement careful, necessary changes to our healthcare delivery system because you don't like EVERYBODY that it might serve is short-sighted. We need to work on obtaining healthcare for people in the U.S. at a reasonable price, then, seperately work on ways to make our borders more secure, and keep track of the immigrants, illegals, aliens, or whatever name people prefer to call non-U.S. citizens. I don't want to connect the two unrelated issues, because 1st and formost,I want to acheive healthcare reform, and immigration reform will be in 3rd place, after making sure I can keep working in a down economy. I'm not uninformed about the misuse of social service funds in the U.S., but the "Legal Immigrant" who commented that the largest group of abusers of our welfare system were our own American citizens is absolutely correct....think all 12 million illegal immigrants are on welfare, food stamps, and free medical? Think again. Only a small percentage of these illegal immigrants have managed to wiggle into government sponsered programs for long term. Some are seeking religious and political asylum, some are just plain cunning and have lied their way into the system. And they're all NOT from south of our borders, they're from Iran, Iraq, Africa, Ukraine, & Russia, the list goes on and on. This latest wave of "immigrants" are receiving numerous benefits from dozens of programs. It's happening right here on my own block. Of the latinos that are here, the vast majority have been here 10-20 years, are self-employed, pay their taxes to the IRS with government-legal Tax ID #'s obtained by going to an IRS office and showing photo ID with proof of a legal U.S. residence. Amazingly, the IRS doesn't even care if they're here legally, they just want the government to be sure to collect it's tax $'s. Which I think is a great thing! I want anybody who's working in the U.S. to PAY THEIR TAXES! I do, everybody should. Most illegal immigrants that I know of have petitioned the U.S. immigration offices for permission to stay and achieve residency so many times that they've lost count. They try to stay as healthy as possible and when they have to, they pay out of pocket to see the doctor or dentist. Cash..just like I am having to do. They couldn't get on a public welfare program if they stood and passed out in one of it's offices! But a pregnant woman who's a U.S. citizen and chosen to have her child without benefit of a partner to help raise the baby, and who has decided to put off working for a few years, can go and get all types of assistance on numerous programs. And they do, every day and in every state in America. There's your big sucking sound, ladies and gentlemen, our own American citizens. And lets not forget the old and sickly, they're a huge drain of resources with nothing to put back in to help fill the "pot" back up. And hey, aren't you just TERRIFIED of what will happen as the "baby boomers" (of which I am one) age and REALLY start to cost the 25-50 yr. olds (who we out-number by at least 2-1) BIG $'s? Everyone needs to realize that there are a WHOLE LOT more rapidly aging Americans than the 12 million illegal immigrants (a small percentage of which are undoubtly mooching off the system) that has been the subject of such an ugly debate. Baby boomers, now, THERE'S a big problem. We won't be working, we'll all want our Medicare, and the majority aren't financially prepared to live off savings. 1 person/couple would currently need about $1 million in savings to pay: rent/house payment, utilities,food, auto insurance/repairs, healthcare/prescription/hospital bills- for 30 yrs. & without working. The baby-boomers are looking to their Medicare and everything they can get out of their social security to supplement their finances. We're taking better care of our bodies & technology is helping us live longer..read: "we'll be costing you big bucks for a looooong time". I suggest we stop fighting about immigration for a brief time....6 months or a year, and get to the problem of fixing our dysfuncional healthcare system before we're all literally "up to our asses in alligators" and then you'll all be screaming because nobody bothered to find the switch to "drain the swamp" before all those alligators found their way into it.
Government has never been good at multi-tasking. We need to prioritize for them. Pick an issue of the most importance RIGHT NOW, and have them work on it. If its the economy, do the economy, if its immigration reform, do that...but if it's healthcare reform, DO HEALTHCARE REFORM, and don't throw everything else that even remotely touches it into the picture. Fix it first, then you can do the modifications that will make it more efficient and less vulnerable to abuse by all parties involved. The welfate/public assistanc debate has been a "pet-peeve" of the American public since it was implemented. This immigration gripe is just a new take on an old issue.
Could be we SHOULD make a path to legal residency (I did NOT say citizenship!) for some of those 12 million or so illegal immigrants that some Americans claim are dodging paying their taxes. Our government could start collecting their tax $'s to help out all those grossly out-numbered 25-50 yr. olds pay for the baby-boomers rapidly approaching gigantic healthcare and social security expenses. Then again, maybe all the "legal" Americans would rather pay for it all by themselves. I'm sure the country will be oh, so much richer and safer without all those Mexican fry cooks, Guatemalan yard workers, and Honduran dishwashers & chicken pluckers here to corrupt and create mayhem in our economic and social systems.
I don't want the bulk of my healthcare expenses to rest exclusively on the shoulders of the country or my children. Please, work towards a healthcare program here in the U.S. that people can do by themselves, for themselves. We can work out the "kinks" in it a few more months down the road. I've decided THAT'S MY priority.