Thread: New Bill Targets Illegal Immigrant Health Care Costs

New Bill Targets Illegal Immigrant Health Care Costs
Dena Richardson
Posted: 8:40 pm MST November 4, 2009
Updated: 9:52 pm MST November 4, 2009

EL PASO, Texas -- Legislation introduced in Congress Wednesday attempts to pass the bill for illegal immigrants' health care to their country of origin.

Rep. Zack Space, D-Ohio, introduced the bill saying it will save the U.S. billions in health care costs for illegal immigrants. The bill calls for deducting the cost of illegal immigrants' health care from the foreign aid their home countries would normally receive from the U.S.

"We can essentially send them a bill," said Space.

The money deducted from foreign aid would go to the border patrol, not the hospitals or health care systems treating illegal immigrants.

"Those funds then will be applied to border security to help our borders and help eliminate or help stop the bleeding when it comes to illegal immigration," said Space.

Some El Pasoans support the proposed bill.

"All the money that is being used to take care of illegal immigrants or people coming over here to use our facilities, I think the money needs to go to our border patrol," said Sarah Garcia, of west El Paso.

Others hope the bill does not pass.

"I don't think I agree with what he's saying," said Yvette Sanchez, of west El Paso. "Because regardless of whether they're illegal or not, they're human beings. They need medical attention."

Space said a lot of the details about the bill still need to be worked out, and at this time, he has no actual figures on how much money the bill could save taxpayers.

http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/21526442/detail.html

"I don't think I agree with what he's saying," said Yvette Sanchez, of west El Paso. "Because regardless of whether they're illegal or not, they're human beings. They need medical attention."

So? They weren't human beings in their own countries? What's that got to do with us? I'd rather give the money to the BP.

"I don't think I agree with what he's saying," said Yvette Sanchez, of west El Paso. "Because regardless of whether they're illegal or not, they're human beings. They need medical attention."

They ARE getting medical attention - at American taxpayer expense. This bill would merely transfer the cost to their own government instead of burdening American citizens. As long as we're at it, could we add a tax on remittances to foreigh countries onto this bill? The illegals think it's fine to have us pay for their medical expenses, all the while sending their money out of the country.

Just watch Pelosi quash this, just like Reid has done. I think in their minds, anyone the works for the American people (and horrors, a Democrat) is working against the party in its attempts to give the country away.
This will be interesting to watch.

Agree with Space and I've said the same thing for a very long time.'

Charge the government that they illegally emigrated from. Charge them, too, for the costs of incarceration, deportation and restitution to the victims/families of any crimes they committed.

This just kills me, though.

"I don't think I agree with what he's saying," said Yvette Sanchez, of west El Paso. "Because regardless of whether they're illegal or not, they're human beings. They need medical attention."

Excuse me? Yes, they're human beings and yes, they're getting medical attention. The difference is that their government is going to have to pay for it, not ours. What part of that is Ms. Sanchez incapable of comprehending?

"We can essentially send them a bill," said Space

Ha. I'd like to see them collect it. No illegal aliens should be allowed to participate in ANY insurance programs that provide benefits for our citizens. NO MORE FREE RIDES. GET OUT. GO HOME.

Payback For Illegal Immigrant Medical Bills
Last Updated: Mon, 11/09/2009 - 2:00pm

A Democrat congressman from Ohio has introduced innovative legislation that would require foreign countries to reimburse American taxpayers for the exorbitant medical expenses of illegal immigrants.

Appropriately titled, PAYBACK Act (Preventing All Your Bucks from Aiding non-Citizens is Key), the measure would save the U.S. government billions of dollars annually and ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used to fund health care services for illegal immigrants, according to its author, U.S. Representative Zack Space.

Medical bills for illegal aliens would be passed along to their country of origin, according to the proposed law, which was introduced in the House this month. The government would mostly collect by deducting the cost of illegal immigrants’ healthcare from the foreign aid their home countries would normally get from the U.S.

If the U.S. does not offer foreign assistance the country would get billed for 110% of the medical costs. In the case where illegal immigrants are from nation’s to whom the U.S. owes money, the cost of medically treating their citizens would be reduced from the debt. The money would be applied to strengthening border security. “It is fundamentally unfair and outrageous to foot the bill for immigrants unlawfully in the United States,â€

Originally Posted by butterbean

"We can essentially send them a bill," said Space

Ha. I'd like to see them collect it. No illegal aliens should be allowed to participate in ANY insurance programs that provide benefits for our citizens. NO MORE FREE RIDES. GET OUT. GO HOME.

The payback will come right out of any payments the U.S. would normally make to the country of origin - I'm thinking assistance programs. For example, the U.S. pledged funds to help Mexico battle the drug cartels. Medical expenses for illegals in the U.S. would come off the top before those funds are sent out.

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

Originally Posted by butterbean

"We can essentially send them a bill," said Space

Ha. I'd like to see them collect it. No illegal aliens should be allowed to participate in ANY insurance programs that provide benefits for our citizens. NO MORE FREE RIDES. GET OUT. GO HOME.

The payback will come right out of any payments the U.S. would normally make to the country of origin - I'm thinking assistance programs. For example, the U.S. pledged funds to help Mexico battle the drug cartels. Medical expenses for illegals in the U.S. would come off the top before those funds are sent out.

Then Mexico wouldn't get a dime and would probably owe us.

The information received from the illegal alien receiving services should be turned over to law enforcement so they can be deported.

This is a little... "rob Peter to pay Paul" because the hospitals still suffer the burden of servicing illegals and border security gets their money.

Dixie