Thread: Illegal Aliens Cost Florida Hospitals $100 Million

First Coast News
Phil Amato

Illegal Aliens Cost Floirda Hospitals $100 Million

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- There are between 12 and 20 million illegal aliens in the United States. No one has a hard number on how many illegal's are in the country but the Florida Hospital Association says the cost to hospital is staggering and everyone is paying for it.

Illegal aliens come into this country every day. In fact, more than one million live in Florida. The influx of illegals has a devastating affect on hospitals through out the state, including Tampa bay. Carol Plato, who testified before a legislative committee, says the Florida Hospital Association estimates the cost is $100 million for illegal patient care.

And part of the reason the cost is so high, is because illegal aliens often use the emergency room as their primary care physician. Usually illegal's don't have insurance and very little money, which means they can pay the bill. However, that doesn't mean the bill isn't paid. Those who have insurance pick up the difference and that's a major reason things are so expensive when you're in the hospital.

Bruce Rueben, President of the Florida hospital association, says there are unmet costs that have to be met somehow. Rueben says hospitals can not write off the $100 million debt being caused by illegals. According to Rueben, the hospitals have to cut costs or pass them on to people who can pay. Rueben says that is a big reason why health care costs are so high for people who have insurance.

Among the cases documented for a legislative committee looking into the problem include an illegal alien from Guatemala that ran up $1.5 million s in medical bills from 2001 to 2003 at Martin Memorial Hospital in South Florida. Carol Plato, who testified before the legislative committee, says lawmakers may question why she was telling them about a case that took place in 2003. However Plato says the case is still going on and the hospital has spent an additional quarter of a million dollars in legal fees. That's because the man's family, in the United States, is suing the hospital because they thought it was inappropriate for the hospital to return the man to Guatemala, his home country.

Many taxpayers we talked to agree with Cathy Allison, who says that people, who are here in the United State, are working hard and paying taxes. Allison says she doesn't think it is fair for people who don't have to pay a thing to get free care. Allison says she has a problem with it. While people like Allison are upset about the issue, the Florida Hospital Association says there is very little help from international or United States agencies.

Plato told the legislative committee that she has a patient from Mexico who has spent 760 days in her hospital. Plato says the man had severe brain damage. He has no family, no friends and his charges to date are $1.5 million. Plato says the hospital has contacted the Mexican Consulate 4 times, it has contacted Immigration Officials and no one will help get patient back to Mexico.

However some taxpayers agree with Marlene Copperman, who says the illegals are sick and need help. Copperman says hospitals can't let them die on the street. That is something hospitals won't allow. Rueben says hospitals are going to treat whoever is in need. He says that's what hospitals are fundamentally there for. Rueben says they are not going to turn someone away if they show up at the emergency room in need of health care.

But each time an illegal shows up at a hospital and doesn't pay, you do and estimates are each family in Florida pays at least 315 dollars a year to support people who have come into this country illegally.

Source: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/news ... yid=136591

Originally Posted by HAPPY2BME

First Coast News
Phil Amato

Illegal Aliens Cost Floirda Hospitals $100 Million

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- There are between 12 and 20 million illegal aliens in the United States. No one has a hard number on how many illegal's are in the country but the Florida Hospital Association says the cost to hospital is staggering and everyone is paying for it.

Illegal aliens come into this country every day. In fact, more than one million live in Florida. The influx of illegals has a devastating affect on hospitals through out the state, including Tampa bay. Carol Plato, who testified before a legislative committee, says the Florida Hospital Association estimates the cost is $100 million for illegal patient care.

And part of the reason the cost is so high, is because illegal aliens often use the emergency room as their primary care physician. Usually illegal's don't have insurance and very little money, which means they can pay the bill. However, that doesn't mean the bill isn't paid. Those who have insurance pick up the difference and that's a major reason things are so expensive when you're in the hospital.

Bruce Rueben, President of the Florida hospital association, says there are unmet costs that have to be met somehow. Rueben says hospitals can not write off the $100 million debt being caused by illegals. According to Rueben, the hospitals have to cut costs or pass them on to people who can pay. Rueben says that is a big reason why health care costs are so high for people who have insurance.

Among the cases documented for a legislative committee looking into the problem include an illegal alien from Guatemala that ran up $1.5 million s in medical bills from 2001 to 2003 at Martin Memorial Hospital in South Florida. Carol Plato, who testified before the legislative committee, says lawmakers may question why she was telling them about a case that took place in 2003. However Plato says the case is still going on and the hospital has spent an additional quarter of a million dollars in legal fees. That's because the man's family, in the United States, is suing the hospital because they thought it was inappropriate for the hospital to return the man to Guatemala, his home country.

Many taxpayers we talked to agree with Cathy Allison, who says that people, who are here in the United State, are working hard and paying taxes. Allison says she doesn't think it is fair for people who don't have to pay a thing to get free care. Allison says she has a problem with it. While people like Allison are upset about the issue, the Florida Hospital Association says there is very little help from international or United States agencies.

Plato told the legislative committee that she has a patient from Mexico who has spent 760 days in her hospital. Plato says the man had severe brain damage. He has no family, no friends and his charges to date are $1.5 million. Plato says the hospital has contacted the Mexican Consulate 4 times, it has contacted Immigration Officials and no one will help get patient back to Mexico.

However some taxpayers agree with Marlene Copperman, who says the illegals are sick and need help. Copperman says hospitals can't let them die on the street. That is something hospitals won't allow. Rueben says hospitals are going to treat whoever is in need. He says that's what hospitals are fundamentally there for. Rueben says they are not going to turn someone away if they show up at the emergency room in need of health care.

But each time an illegal shows up at a hospital and doesn't pay, you do and estimates are each family in Florida pays at least 315 dollars a year to support people who have come into this country illegally.

Source: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/news ... yid=136591

well when I go to the ER I have to pay they should also pay
Im not going to support the illegal Immigrants any more
No,Amnesty

Originally Posted by southBronx

well when I go to the ER I have to pay they should also pay
Im not going to support the illegal Immigrants any more
No,Amnesty

================================

What ALL hospitals are required to do (but MANY do not):

(2) CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS.—The following information shall be provided with respect to every enrollee:

(A) In the case of an enrollee whose eligibility is based on an attestation of citizenship of the enrollee, the enrollee’s social security number.

(B) In the case of an individual whose eligibility is based on an attestation of the enrollee’s immigration status, the enrollee’s social security number (if applicable) and such identifying information with respect to the enrollee’s immigration status as the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, determines appropriate.

Originally Posted by HAPPY2BME

First Coast News
Phil Amato

Illegal Aliens Cost Floirda Hospitals $100 Million

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- There are between 12 and 20 million illegal aliens in the United States. No one has a hard number on how many illegal's are in the country but the Florida Hospital Association says the cost to hospital is staggering and everyone is paying for it.

Illegal aliens come into this country every day. In fact, more than one million live in Florida. The influx of illegals has a devastating affect on hospitals through out the state, including Tampa bay. Carol Plato, who testified before a legislative committee, says the Florida Hospital Association estimates the cost is $100 million for illegal patient care.

And part of the reason the cost is so high, is because illegal aliens often use the emergency room as their primary care physician. Usually illegal's don't have insurance and very little money, which means they can pay the bill. However, that doesn't mean the bill isn't paid. Those who have insurance pick up the difference and that's a major reason things are so expensive when you're in the hospital.

Bruce Rueben, President of the Florida hospital association, says there are unmet costs that have to be met somehow. Rueben says hospitals can not write off the $100 million debt being caused by illegals. According to Rueben, the hospitals have to cut costs or pass them on to people who can pay. Rueben says that is a big reason why health care costs are so high for people who have insurance.

Among the cases documented for a legislative committee looking into the problem include an illegal alien from Guatemala that ran up $1.5 million s in medical bills from 2001 to 2003 at Martin Memorial Hospital in South Florida. Carol Plato, who testified before the legislative committee, says lawmakers may question why she was telling them about a case that took place in 2003. However Plato says the case is still going on and the hospital has spent an additional quarter of a million dollars in legal fees. That's because the man's family, in the United States, is suing the hospital because they thought it was inappropriate for the hospital to return the man to Guatemala, his home country.

Many taxpayers we talked to agree with Cathy Allison, who says that people, who are here in the United State, are working hard and paying taxes. Allison says she doesn't think it is fair for people who don't have to pay a thing to get free care. Allison says she has a problem with it. While people like Allison are upset about the issue, the Florida Hospital Association says there is very little help from international or United States agencies.

Plato told the legislative committee that she has a patient from Mexico who has spent 760 days in her hospital. Plato says the man had severe brain damage. He has no family, no friends and his charges to date are $1.5 million. Plato says the hospital has contacted the Mexican Consulate 4 times, it has contacted Immigration Officials and no one will help get patient back to Mexico.

However some taxpayers agree with Marlene Copperman, who says the illegals are sick and need help. Copperman says hospitals can't let them die on the street. That is something hospitals won't allow. Rueben says hospitals are going to treat whoever is in need. He says that's what hospitals are fundamentally there for. Rueben says they are not going to turn someone away if they show up at the emergency room in need of health care.

But each time an illegal shows up at a hospital and doesn't pay, you do and estimates are each family in Florida pays at least 315 dollars a year to support people who have come into this country illegally.

Source: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/news-article.aspx?

storyid=136591

well they close down 10 hospital In NYC. of all the free Bee
go the hell home
No amnesty

And what really upsets me about all these costs is that under Obamacare, illegals are specifically exempt from the provision that requires all of us citizens to purchase insurance. They can continue on their merry way, not paying bills and having us not only buy our own insurance but pay their way as well.

"That's because the man's family, in the United States, is suing the hospital because they thought it was inappropriate for the hospital to return the man to Guatemala, his home country. "

The hospitals can do this?????? Than why the h**l are they going bankrupt left and right instead of just getting every illegal who comes in deported??? I mean, doesn't it just make sense? Can't these hospitals figure out the fact that if they start getting these individuals deported EVERY TIME they come in, this non-sense will stop? And why the h**l are they not getting these pregnant women deported right after they have their baby?

"Plato told the legislative committee that she has a patient from Mexico who has spent 760 days in her hospital. Plato says the man had severe brain damage. He has no family, no friends and his charges to date are $1.5 million. Plato says the hospital has contacted the Mexican Consulate 4 times, it has contacted Immigration Officials and no one will help get patient back to Mexico."

Of course they don't want to help; why would they when he can stay here and WE will pay for his care?????????

Copperman says hospitals can't let them die on the street. That is something hospitals won't allow. Rueben says hospitals are going to treat whoever is in need. He says that's what hospitals are fundamentally there for. Rueben says they are not going to turn someone away if they show up at the emergency room in need of health care.

Well if that's how you feel, Copperman and Rueben, they YOU should PERSONALLY pay their bills with your personal monies. You cannot decide that all of us are going to contribute to your charity. I'm sure both of you are commanding very plush paychecks, aren't you? Get real!!!

In Ontario hospitals report illegals. You now need a healthcard which has your picture on it. From 16 years of age and up you get your picture taken everytime it is renewed. You also have to provide ID proving you are a citizen or legal immigrant. If you go to the hospital and do not have a healthcard you pay and if you tell them you are illegal they notify immigration. We should be allowed to report them here as well.

Pregnant illegal aliens should be reported and deported before they give birth, when they present for their non-emergency taxpayer funded prenatal care. Health departments are filled to the brim with these people who are neither experiencing an emergency nor are they in active labor; they're just taken care of while they await the birth of their anchor child.

I guess this news among many other resources provided for illegal immigrants on a daily basis explains why this Country is falling apart so rapidly.

Read this story!

I know a lady that is unemployed and has diabetes, when she arrived home from a hospital, ill and could not work the lady applied for food coupons through a Social Service Department and was told she need to work at least 30 hours a week before she would be eligible for any type of Government assistance's. The lady said she asked the social worker that spoke with her, why unlawful aliens that have never paid any amount of tax money into the system are eligible for Medicaid, Food Stamps, the Wic Program and paid hospital bills when they have children in this Country? The lady also expressed to the social worker she worked 47 years and paid taxes, now that she is sick with diabetes, she cannot receive any food coupons, but any illegal immigrants are eligible for all Government benefits. The social worker replied to the lady, i.e., “I do not know what you are talking about.â€