JPS immigrant care: good move, bad attitude (FR Mentioned; Texas Health Care)

Fort Worth Star-Telegram ^ | January 24, 2004 | Bud Kennedy

[DustyMoment]

"Quite an exchange insued with the author yesterday. He answered immediately. Said I had misplaced anger."

On the contrary, your anger is properly placed.

In Texas, most county hospitals are placed in what is called a Hospital Tax District. Along with school taxes, property taxes, sales taxes and the like, Texas property owners are also assessed a tax to fund the county hospital. The county hospital, as a result of these taxpayer funds, is REQUIRED to provide medical care to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Since most illegals DO NOT own property, they are NOT REQUIRED to pay for the healthcare provided by these hospitals. Along the border with Mexico, it is common for a Mexican ambulance to cross the border with an uninsured, injured or ill Mexican national in the back because the Mexican doctors won't provide healthcare for them. So, who pays the bill? You got it, the residents of the county that the Mexican ambulance dropped off the Mexican national.

Welcome to the American healthcare system.

[AuntB]

"Welcome to the American healthcare system."

I'm still waiting! For we citizens, if you worked hard, bought and paid for a home, have a bunch of physical maladies and can't get insurance because of pre-existing conditions, the only "healthcare" available is to turn over your house to the state. Crazy thing is...it's gonna cost the government a lot more when I have no where to live and need full time care. But then we knew the plan had nothing to do with cost effectiveness, didn't we?

[NewRomeTacitus]

For potential millions of illegal aliens to garner benefits from SSI (too many from fraudulent documentation) while so many citizens are systematically shut out after paying into the system their whole lives defines a whole new low for our political establishment. I read and signed the petition addressing the gross injustices meted out to the helpless and am thoroughly disgusted. No one can kick a downed citizen like a lifer bureaucrat, especially those who behave as if the money is their own.
You should gather stories of plights like yours and post them occasionally to increase awareness. Don't let your pride and inherent toughness make you hesitant.
Is there an attorney in the house not beholden to corruption? Here's a case where good could be accomplished.

[judgeandjury]

In Houston, undocumented immigrants pay their clinic bills more often than citizens do.

I believe that it is illegal for a hospital or medical clinic to ask of a patient's immigration status (correct me if I'm wrong). But if a hospital isn't allowed to compile data on illegal aliens, what data did the author of this article use to make the claim that illegal aliens pay their medical bills more often than Americans do?

[AuntB]

" No one can kick a downed citizen like a lifer bureaucrat, especially those who behave as if the money is their own. "

Yes, that pretty much says it all. It's been difficult to bring this subject up, no one wants to hear it and I thank you for your insight and goodness.

"Is there an attorney in the house not beholden to corruption? Here's a case where good could be accomplished." LOL!!! And you have a sense of humor, bless your heart!