Thread: Mass. grapples with immigrants' health care costs

Mass. grapples with immigrants' health care costs

By STEVE LeBLANC, The Associated Press
12:32 p.m. July 28, 2009

BOSTON — Massachusetts is grappling with the question of whether to deny subsidized health care to 30,000 legal immigrants living in the state.

The budget approved by lawmakers last month eliminated health care funding for legal immigrants, saving the state an estimated $130 million.
Patrick signed the budget, but asked lawmakers to partially reinstate the coverage by restoring $70 million.

House Speaker Robert DeLeo said the state's fiscal situation isn't getting any stronger, but he is hoping to reach some kind of resolution on the issue as early as Wednesday.

Immigrant advocates say the cut hurts taxpaying legal immigrants and sets a bad precedent for the national health care debate.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... dex=139706

legals or illegals?

The Government should keep the cut off but I doubt it will last they should at least restrict access for illegal aliens but Patrick is totally in the bag for them.

Originally Posted by ELE

legals or illegals?

Massachusetts is grappling with the question of whether to deny subsidized health care to 30,000 legal immigrants living in the state.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Originally Posted by ELE

legals or illegals?

Massachusetts is grappling with the question of whether to deny subsidized health care to 30,000 legal immigrants living in the state.

I must be missing something here or I dont understand the qualifications for "subsidized" health care. I think they meant illegals. Because why would there be any question of whether or not to insure 30,000 legal immigrants?

Originally Posted by butterbean

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

Originally Posted by ELE

legals or illegals?

Massachusetts is grappling with the question of whether to deny subsidized health care to 30,000 legal immigrants living in the state.

I must be missing something here or I dont understand the qualifications for "subsidized" health care. I think they meant illegals. Because why would there be any question of whether or not to insure 30,000 legal immigrants? :?

They aren't citizens and they might not be tax payers.

If an immigrant is legal, how is it he is NOT a citizen ?

Originally Posted by magyart

If an immigrant is legal, how is it he is NOT a citizen ?

He has a green card, that makes him a LEGAL IMMIGRANT. It does not make him a CITIZEN.

butterbean wrote:

Because why would there be any question of whether or not to insure 30,000 legal immigrants?

Since 1996 legal immigrants have not been eligible for federally reimbursed Medicaid and SCHIP coverage until they have lived in the United States for five years, except in emergencies (which include labor and delivery).

It sounds like the subsidized health care being given to legal immigrants in Mass. is given by the state, not the federal government. Obviously, because of cost, Mass. is rethinking there policy.