Immigration reform could add millions of people under Obama health law

The Hill ^ | January 26, 2013 | Elise Viebeck

[2ndDivisionVet]

Comprehensive immigration reform could make millions of people suddenly eligible for assistance under President Obama's healthcare law, assuming a final deal paves the way for undocumented immigrants to receive papers.

Illegal aliens are now prohibited from purchasing coverage through the Affordable Care Act's insurance exchanges, which will launch next year.

They are also ineligible for Medicaid under most circumstances, making the law's expansion of the program fruitless for people without documents.

Even young illegal immigrants with "deferred action" status, known as "DREAMers," cannot access the law's benefits.

But the picture could change completely if Hispanic lawmakers get their wish — an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy that includes a path to legalization.

"We have to figure out a way in which [undocumented immigrants] incorporate themselves into the larger workforce, and into our society in general, and not be a burden," said Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), a leader in the immigration debate.

"Do we want them to go to the exchanges? Absolutely we do — if and when they don't have healthcare through their employer," he said.

Immigration is expected to be a major issue for President Obama's second term, and advocates like Gutierrez are pushing hard to make reform a reality.

Recent polls show the public is increasingly on board. According to a CNN/ORC poll from Jan. 21, 53 percent want a path to legalization for illegal immigrants — a major shift from 2011, when most wanted Washington focused on deportations.

The consequences for Obama's signature healthcare law, as well as healthcare providers, could be huge...

[tumblindice]

I agree with everything but the `no choice but to adopt a socialist/communist agenda.’
Two points. The stock market was at almost 14,000 today. On the other hand, the last time this happened was in 2007.
Two movies: `Downfall’ and `Letters From Iwo Jima.’ Two extreme nationalists, A German and a Japanese, stress that their fight is against “the Reds.”
Like Spain about `39, after the dust settles (or the survivors are drying off on the deck of HMS Carpathia) I can see a lot of people claiming, well, gee, they had nothing to do with the events that led to the collapse.
And unfortunately I see a lot of people getting hurt, but it won’t be those who deserve to hurt.
Random, I know, so bedtime .. but the difference is that the rest of the country sees conservatives as—gee I dunno—xenophobic, stingy, unlike Santa Barack, half-nuts hoplophiles with old-fashioned work ethics and outmoded notions of right and wrong, shouting at the tops of our lungs “Stop!”.
So when the sun goes down—and it will—we simply can’t go on like this much longer, running a printing press 24/7 and kiting T-bonds (”The ship will sink. You’re certain?” Thomas Andrews: “Yes. In an hour or so, all of this will be at the bottom of the Atlantic.”) when the metal meets the ice—we aren’t the Reds and we aren’t driving the boat.

Forget it. I’m just worn out by bad news.

[sten]

and they think I’ll pay for it?

ROFLMAO