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Health & Fitness

Should Undocumented Immigrants get Obamacare Health Insurance?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly called Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010 and is scheduled to start taking effect in January, 2014.  On June 28, 2012 the US Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of most of the ACA.

 The ACA represents the most significant overhaul of the US healthcare system since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, and is aimed at increasing affordability and insurance coverage for all Americans.

 What is the definition of “all Americans”? Should that include only US citizens?  Should it include Lawful Permanent Residents?  Should it include everyone living in America, legal and undocumented? 

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 It is an unfortunate that many people living in the US do not have health insurance and use the emergency rooms in hospitals, as a primary care physician.  People without health insurance know that the emergency rooms must take them, whether they have health insurance or not, and whether or not they can afford to pay.  This can result in overburdening our emergency rooms, causing long waits to be seen by a physician.

 Right now, the definition includes US citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents.

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 Section 1312(f)(3) of the ACA specifically states that undocumented immigrants are ineligible under the Act.  Access to the ACA is limited to persons who are US citizens and  Lawful Residents of the US. 

 With 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US today, Comprehensive Immigration Reform has already passed the US Senate and is currently under debate in the US House of Representatives.  Accessibility to health insurance is a significant discussion and concern.  Should there be private subsidies for illegal immigrants to receive health insurance, and if so, who should fund these subsidies?

 Many undocumented immigrants have US citizen children born in the US.  Although their parents may not have health insurance, the children may be eligible for state-funded health insurance programs such as KidsCare or HUSKY.  Should Comprehensive Immigration Reform mandate that all of the 11 million undocumented obtain health insurance before they can qualify for temporary status?

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