Thread: Illegal Immigrants Difficult To Remove From ObamaCare

By SEAN HIGGINS, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILYPosted 09/10/2009

It was the heckle heard round the world. During President Obama's Wednesday speech, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., shouted "You lie!" when Obama said his health plan wouldn't cover illegal aliens.

Democrats — and many Republicans — cried foul at the breach of decorum. Wilson apologized for his "inappropriate and regrettable" outburst. Obama said Thursday he accepted the apology.

But was Wilson inaccurate? Some independent analysis indicates — contrary to Obama's claim — that the House health bill could result in coverage being extended to illegal immigrants.

The Congressional Research Service, a nonpartisan agency that analyzes legislation for lawmakers, notes that most of the language in the main House bill does not include illegals — but has few mechanisms for enforcing this.

The bill's individual mandate to get coverage does include illegals.

"Wilson was inappropriate and rude, but he does have a point," said Steven Camarota of the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors immigration restriction.

As an Aug. 25 CRS report notes, the bill's individual mandate to get health coverage extends to "unauthorized aliens" who have a "substantial presence" in the U.S. That means they have lived here for at least 31 days in the current year and 183 days in the past two years.

Trust, Don't Verify

Another provision would create health exchanges for people to buy public or private insurance. The CRS notes that the bill "does not contain any restrictions on noncitizens — whether legally or illegally present," from participating.

The bill would also provide subsidies to buy health coverage, but not for "individuals who are not lawfully in the United States."

Yet the CRS notes the bill has no verification mechanism. It leaves that up to a newly created "Health Choices Commissioner."

During Ways and Means hearings, Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., sought to amend the House bill to require screening illegals via the Income and Eligibility Verification System and the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements.

Heller's amendment was voted down along party lines. A committee spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

"The congressman believes the House bill does not restrict illegal aliens from accessing the services in the bill," said Stewart Bybee, Heller's spokesman.

No Health Patrol?

CIS's Camarota agrees, saying the bill's language gives little reason to believe it would screen out illegal immigrants.

"It is kind of like putting up a speed limit sign on a highway and then the police saying we'll never patrol that highway," he said.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysi ... ?id=505826

Also see:

45% Of Doctors Would Consider Quitting If Congress Passes Health Care Overhaul

By TERRY JONES, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILYPosted 09/15/2009
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysi ... ?id=506199

I just have this gut feeling that somehow the American taxpayers will end up with the bill for those illegals.
They will keep using emergency rooms, unless we get rid of EMTALA. Unfortunately, with them having no medical care, we will never know what nifty new communicable diseases we can get.
If each person in this country will have to buy insurance, that will be just another law the illegalls will not follow, just like they drive without licenses and buy stolen IDs, run an underground economy without paying taxes, etc.
If employers of illegals have to provide them with private insurance, there goes the price of every head of lettuce they pick to the consumer.
The only way out of this mess I can see is deport everyone of them, including their anchor babies, otherwise they will keep bankrupting our hospitals.