Thread: Free Health Insurance for California Illegals?

Arnold dangles a new carrot, like we don't have ENOUGH of them here:

http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/press-release/4933/

12/18/2006 GAAS:888:06 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version | En Español

Gov. Schwarzenegger Tours Hospital Emergency Room and Discusses Health Care, Calls Economic Burden of Uninsured a "Hidden Tax" on All Californians
New America Foundation Joins Governor with New Analysis of Economic Cost to State

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, committed to finding common-sense solutions to fix California's broken health care system, today toured California Hospital Medical Center to get a first-hand look at the financial burden the uninsured place upon consumers with insurance. In California, 6.5 million people, more than any other state, have no medical insurance for all or part of the year.

At a press conference following today's tour, the New America Foundation released a white paper that estimates the average family pays about $1,186 a year in health insurance premiums to cover the uninsured.

"The millions of Californians without health care have created hidden tax on every person in this state. Working families are paying more and more of their hard-earned dollars for their health care. They pay higher insurance premiums, deductibles, co-pays and they're left with higher out-of-pocket expenses," said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "This is unfair to all those families who pay health insurance for themselves, and it is a terrible drain on our economy. We simply cannot continue. As we prepare for a year focused on getting Californians the health care they need, everything must be up for debate. Tackling the problem of the uninsured is not only about expanding coverage, it's about addressing this hidden tax on healthcare that Californians can no longer afford. I know if we work together, we can make health care more affordable, accessible and equitable."

First opened in 1887, California Hospital Medical Center was renovated in 1986 to provide care to 35,000 patients a year. However, the hospital treats about 55,000 people a year, many of whom are uninsured, and federal law requires emergency rooms turn no one away. According to the hospital, more than $60 million in hospital bills are unpaid each year.

The National Institute of Medicine estimates that the United States spends nearly $100 billion a year to provide health services to the uninsured, with costs passed on to the rest of the population. For a family with insurance through an employer, the amount they paid in 2006 increased by 9 percent, to $2,824, more than twice the rate of inflation, according to the California HealthCare Foundation. Employers' share increased to $9,036. For employees working in small companies, the numbers are worse. Twenty five percent of those employees saw their premiums increase more than 15 percent.

In July, Governor Schwarzenegger convened a groundbreaking Summit on Health Care Affordability. Experts from various fields, such as academics, government, business, health care and labor, seriously discussed California's health care cost and coverage challenges. In addition, the Governor has made children's coverage a priority, resulting in nearly a quarter million additional children covered by the state's Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs. Governor Schwarzenegger this year also signed legislation to provide discounts on prescription drugs of up to 60 percent for our neediest citizens and to help expand school-based health centers, making medical treatment more accessible to our children. This year, the Governor also signed an executive order to expand the use of health information technology, which will help lower healthcare costs in California.

The Governor has made a commitment to make health care reform the center of attention when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

The National Institute of Medicine estimates that the United States spends nearly $100 billion a year to provide health services to the uninsured, with costs passed on to the rest of the population.

This right here is another shining example of our government's mentality! Its costing tax payers over 100 billion?? It seems to me we're getting ripped off (no really!). That much money could possibly fence the ENTIRE border. Yeah, I'd say we're getting SERIOUSLY ripped off.

Well, this ought to be interesting. We've known those with insurance help pay for the uninsured. How about getting serious about the millions of uninsured illegals in this state and send a big fat bill to the feds? Oh, that's right, can't ask if people admitted are legal or not!
And let's just say everyone gets covered, then people will scramble here from other states like bees to honey.
And will this somehow keep hospitals from closing?
Seems like an impossible task to tackle in California, of all places.