Posted on 04/12/2006 7:29:47 AM PDT by Rakkasan1
Diabetes is tough to manage for most well-to-do Minnesotans, but it's a greater burden for people like Maria, an illegal immigrant with little income and no health insurance.
Test strips to monitor her blood sugar cost $80 a box. Drugs are expensive, too, and so are the fruits and vegetables that people at La Clinica in Minneapolis tell her are a must.
When money runs tight, the medication runs out. The diabetes takes over and she becomes exhausted, which means she can't make it to work as a cleaner. That means less income for her family, and for her health care. It's a cycle that has lasted 10 years.
"It's the only way I can make it," said the 40-year-old, who only gave her first name because she came from Mexico illegally.
Stories like Maria's have increased dramatically in Minnesota in the past decade — reshaping the Hispanic community and changing the state's economy
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
Those costs just scratch the surface. They only account for people who truthfully disclosed their status. A legislative audit, expected to be released today, will consider among other things how often illegal immigrants obtain public health benefits without disclosing their status.
The state costs also don't include $120 million a year in uncompensated care provided by Minnesota's hospitals. Illegal immigrants are responsible for an unknown portion of those costs, which are ultimately paid through federal tax dollars and rising health insurance premiums.
It is only taxpayer money - paid by those silly and racist legal citizens of America. I wonder how many teachers or pot holes could be hired/fixed with that kind of money for on state...
Maria will end up being a burden to our society..and she's only 40 years old.
sw
In a way I'm glad we've got the deficits we do now because that means we won't have the money to engage in the huge social spending that the Democrats would otherwise engage once they get back power from the RINOs. The Democrats are going to succeed in keeping their new illegal voters here in the US, but they will be greatly limited in setting up new welfare benefits to support them.
sw
This is NOT our problem maria get the h*ll out of our country and make it mexico's problem NOT ours!
You broke our laws and you should not be rewarded.
We did not invite you here we are not a nanny state!
In addition these people have just caused a mumps epidemic in one of our cities that affects OUR American Children.
State health programs funded $37 million in medical care for illegal immigrants in 2005, compared with only $18.6 million in 2000, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services. That doubling of state and federal tax dollars occurred despite legislative changes in 2003 that made Minnesota's public health benefits unavailable to illegal immigrants.
The state costs also don't include $120 million a year in uncompensated care provided by Minnesota's hospitals. Illegal immigrants are responsible for an unknown portion of those costs, which are ultimately paid through federal tax dollars and rising health insurance premiums.
"she can't make it to work as a cleaner"And her employer is the only one who profits. "But my motel room is cheaper because the employer hires illegals", you say. Who do you think is paying all of those social costs and higher insurance premiums? You are not gaining income because of the cheaper room. You are just offsetting the cost. You are paying the difference in higher taxes and insurance premiums, AND the nation now has millions of illegals demonstrating in our streets.
And notice how the politicians are not addressing this issue. Why aren't the politicians addressing the employer side of this issue?
"Maria will end up being a burden to our society..and she's only 40 years old."
True, she will require a lot of health care, although diabetics often don't live long enough to collect social security.
But I thought that all these illegals were benefitting society. Appears that may not be the case, huh?
I hope your right. Unfortunately the Baby Boomers are just now starting to retire. As they begin to access their 401K etc. funds, the Gubmint is going to see huge windfalls of cash. They'll spend every dime.
There are 12,000,000 more Maria's in this country right now. She's nothing but the very small tip of the iceberg, and the American tax payer is the Titanic.
Get out. My poor brother, a citizen by birth(!) can barely afford his medications and supplies after a lifetime of work.
I don't see any tears over him...He still pays.
If she hadn't been stuffing herself, she wouldn't have gotten diabetes. No sympathy here. People make their own choices, and should have to deal with the results on their own. If she'd put all the money she spent on excess food into a savings account, the monthly interest would be enough to pay for her test strips and insulin for the rest of her life (but of course she wouldn't need them, and would have the money to use for other things).
the more I look at what it means to be a citizen, the more I think the law-abiding are a bunch of rubes.
my son's girlfriend got t-boned at an intersection last night. luckily when the moron took off, my son got his plate #.
he was caught shortly and (of course) had a DL that was revoked and no insurance.
why be here legally? you can get all the benefits of citizenship (and some extra goodies, too)
plus the sympathy of many Congresscritters and, from what some local pharisees say, a special place in heaven.
boo friggin hoo. Go back to Mexico for your health care. I just don't give a dam anymore!
Rush read the bill that almost passed in Washington the other day. No punishment - all reward! Even those illegal immigrants that have broken other national laws were given forgiveness!!
It was as if Washington was giving them more status than it's own citizens. If we break a law, we pay. If an immigrant breaks a law, it doesn't matter! That's honestly, seriously, what the bill was saying!
Washington is cowering and sacrificing the US citizen in exchange for these people. Has president Fox threatened to nuke us if we offend his people, or what? Sheesh! Washington is terrified of these people, and is simply surrendering to Mexico!
The profits from employing illegals are SO HUGE that those employers can easily afford the equally huge political contributions AND FAVORS necessary to sustain their position. NOTE HOW THE POLITICIANS ARE NOT REALLY ADDRESSING THE ILLEGAL EMPLOYER ISSUE OR PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS THAT EXIST. The politicians are doing all they can to: 1)Distract you by talking about other issues/causes. 2)Throw more of YOUR MONEY (not the illegal employer's huge profits) at the illegals.
You're correct. All the rights and none of the responsibilities. Only thing we can do right now is to keep on our gutless Senate. The House bill is good. The laws already in force are good but they're not enforced!
Now, I would like to know how much in tax payments they have been able to collected from illegals. They say that the tax receipts exceed the costs.
Let's see.
Becki
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