Thread: More Healthcare Access Needed for Undocumented Immigrants

(Typical BS opinion of an IA hugger. - My comment)

brooklyneagle.com
By Boris Shapoval
Senior, Baruch College, CUNY
Special to Brooklyn Daly Eagle

BROOKLYN — Healthcare access and regulation have been a debate in the United States at least since the implementation of public assistance benefits through the Social Security Act of 1965. Medicaid was created for qualifying individuals and families based on income, family status and/or physical condition (including pregnancy). Federal funding was provided to each state to run their specific Medicaid programs. Policymakers have since made changes which targeted eligibility, funding and implementation to avoid fraud, waste and abuse.

One of the most important changes was denial of Medicaid benefits for undocumented or illegal residents in the United States. Legislation such as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986 and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 have reduced or taken away from undocumented persons one of the most important aspects of a prosperous society, its healthcare access.

The United States is a nation of immigrants, but our poor immigration policy has caused the government to exclude certain immigrant groups from proper health care access. Undocumented residents are mainly of low income and usually cannot afford private healthcare.

The Emergency Labor Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986 guaranteed emergency care to for undocumented residents without prior determination. These emergency care procedures did not cover disease prevention, immunization, dental hygiene and contraception. Elderly and disabled people who required long-term care were excluded from the Medicaid program based on their illegal status.

Since 1986, undocumented persons were forced to either choose emergency medical care or declare a false immigration status under penalty of perjury in a Medicaid application.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 put the “nail in the coffin” for healthcare access of illegal and undocumented residents. Under this legislation, Medicaid applicants are required to prove a legal residency status with proper documentation. This policy was implemented to cut fraud, waste and abuse, and balance the federal budget. Possible health issues or access to proper healthcare for the undocumented group was disregarded, and they were left with emergency care access only. The U.S. government continues to exclude this group of immigrants and fails to administer a proper immigration policy.

On one hand, the capitalist system draws illegal immigrants to the United States so they can provide for their families, send remittances home and look for better opportunities. On the other hand, this same system creates unaffordable private healthcare and inaccessible public benefits. Combined, United States policy creates a population vulnerable to disease, poor dental hygiene and even death.

Our government should not exclude undocumented immigrants from access to healthcare, but concentrate on proper immigration policy instead. The current approach to these policies is the real “fraud, waste and abuse” issue that the United States government needs to address.

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categor...id=10&id=48310

I suspect that when Boris Shapoval actually graduates from college and finds his first job, when he finds out how much in taxes he pays to support benefits to illegals, he will most likely change his tune. Nothing like the tax collector to take the stars out of Boris' eyes.

WHAAAT is this guy talking about??@!!! Illegals don't have access to health and dental care??!!! What planet is this guy sitting on? My 'former' dentist office was so full of fresh illegals whipping out medicaid cards I had to find another dentist. When I say 'fresh' illegals, I mean the ones who haven't been here long enough to know the toilet is INSIDE the building and that roll of soft paper provided for your convenience doesn't go in the trash can after you use it on your naughty parts. Oh, and I guess the 5 page list of illegals arrested in my county last month didn't get that TB treatment they needed while in the jail infecting all the other criminals who didn't have TB before sitting in the holding tank with the illegals who did have TB. No. I don't see where illegals are deprived of frickin ANYTHING while being illegal in this country. They aren't denied food, shelter, education, vehicles, cell phones, HBO, Hi-Speed, WiFi, health care, dental, vision, breast implants, viagra, sex change operations, organ transplants, hair plugs, MULTIPLE organ transplants....denied NOTHING. They are given EVERYTHING and we pay for it while our own people go without.

Just did a Google search of this author and found this:

Boris Shapoval
Date of birth:
May 29, 1984

Hometown:
Chernovtsy

Marital status:
married to Lyudmila Shapoval

sister:
Alis Alis

Contact Information
city:
New York City

beliefs
Polit. views:
Sotsialisticheckie

Personal Info
Interests:
muzyka, futbol, ​​tennis

Favorite music:
house (tech, minimal) - Booka Shade, Mandy, Danny Tenaglia, Trentemoller, Tiefschwartz, Behrouz, Deep Dish, Danny Howells. SKA-Leningrad, Manu Chao

Favorite movies:
Snova Golyi (Sweden), Bad Lieutenant (USA), Blow (USA), Back to the Future, Tochka (Russia)

Favorite book:
Otvertka - Stogoff

Groups:
41 schools
education
school:
№ 41 '01

Chernivtsi, 1992-1998

military service
Military Unit:
Air Force
United States, 2004-2008.

career
Place of work:
Robins AFB
Warner Robins, GA, 2004-2008

Finance
places
house:
Chernivtsi
The period 1984-1998.

http://vkontakte.ru/id6405681 Had to use Google translate

Originally Posted by ReggieMay

I suspect that when Boris Shapoval actually graduates from college and finds his first job, when he finds out how much in taxes he pays to support benefits to illegals, he will most likely change his tune. Nothing like the tax collector to take the stars out of Boris' eyes.

I hope he realizes that too. Some people have changed their stances on illegal immigration when they find out they are paying to support illegals.