What happens to illegal immigrants under reform?

While care for illegal immigrants is a hot topic in some healthcare circles--especially among hospitals in key border states--it seems that current plans to remake the healthcare system may not address the issue at all. None of the reform proposals being circulated on Capitol Hill address coverage for the country's approximately 11 million undocumented aliens, according to a new report from NPR.

Part of the reason for avoiding the topic may simply be political expediency, as anything related to immigrants and spending tends to touch off political flame wars. But part of the reason may also be that there's some disagreement as to just how serious the problem of paying for immigrant healthcare may be.

For one thing, estimates vary as to how many of such immigrants lack insurance. According to the Lewin Group, about 6.1 million probably aren't covered, though the number is very tentative, since some immigrants forge documents establishing legal status and so, don't show up on analysts' radar.

Another factor is that at least some analysts say the problem of immigrant health costs has been overblown. The Employee Benefit Research Group estimates that the total immigrant share of the healthcare system is about 1 to 2 percent, with only a small amount of that paid for by public funds. All told, EBRI estimates that the U.S. spends roughly $6 billion on patients who can't prove their legal status, or about two-tenths of 1 percent of federal health costs.

Still, for hospitals that care for large immigrant populations the issue still looms large, with some having to raise fees or cut their own overhead. Unfortunately for them, it looks like they're not likely to get much relief during this legislative season.

To learn more about this issue:
- read this NPR story

Related Articles:
Family sues FL hospital for deporting patient to Guatemala
Payments to help hospitals pay for immigrant care
U of IL hospital sending back Mexican immigrant
Community clinics cutting services to undocumented immigrants

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