Immigrants said sapping U.S. health care

The Washington Times ^ | Feb. 26 2004 | UPI

[yonif]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- The current surge in immigration is straining the U.S. health care system to the breaking point, a new report contends.

Immigration policy was identified as a key factor in a growing increase in the uninsured and the fiscal crises burdening public health care systems nationwide, according to a report from the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Just absoluteley shocking.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

The hidden cost of free immigration.

No it's not hidden. The Bedford County Medical Center in Shelbyville, TN is having a difficult time making ends meet for precisely that reason. It is NOT hidden anymore. It's just that no one has the nerve to stand up and say you can't take what you don't pay for.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Hmmm...I know some natural born residents that are doing that...

[DannyTN]

"No it's not hidden.... It is NOT hidden anymore. It's just that no one has the nerve to stand up and say you can't take what you don't pay for."

I agree. Maybe we should charge the illegal aliens for Medical insurance before letting them into the country.

[FITZ]

It only says 1 out of 4 are immigrants --- many uninsured obtained legal visitor visas --- they aren't immigrants but they come to the USA for free medical care and go back home. If they come here for free care, they often have insurance in Mexico that isn't good here --- but they prefer the free medical care they get here. Partly because they might think the medical care in Mexico isn't as good --- and also because they are expected to pay something for it. They'll bypass their own hospitals, come here where they don't have to pay --- assets such as homes and other assets in Mexico don't count --- they legally get free health care.

[Lancey Howard]

bump

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Hey Fitz,

Tell everyone here (who will listen) that if you ask almost any Mexican or Latin American who has lived in Mexico/Latin America or has recently come from Mexico/Latin America if you can get health care (regular or emergency) without PAYING UP FRONT what the answer will be.

[Mamzelle]

Bush's immigration suggestion would make SS benefits very easy for illegals to access.

[staytrue]

TN is having a difficult time making ends meet for precisely that reason

TennCare is an over expansive joke that is going broke, with or without illegals. Yes, it probably goes broke sooner with illegals, but it is overly generous and will go broke anyway.

[FITZ]

Obviously they must pay something there --- which is why many border crossers come over just for their free care here ---- why pay when you can get something that is probably better quality at no cost to yourself?

That's one reason they cross over daily to use the schools here --- it keeps them from having to build their own, they must pay for books and other supplies if they attend school in Mexico and there is no free lunch --- if they come over the bridge, they get everything free --- including breakfast and lunch.

If you have a baby in Mexico, you must work for a living, if you make it over the border and have it here, you get welfare checks, food stamps, housing, free health care and much else.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

We should stand up and tell them they will not be treated if they don't have the money.

That is exactly what I'm trying to draw out of Fitz, who knows all of this. It MUST be said to these individuals that if they can't come up with a hefty deposit (they call on family, friends, etc. to come up with it almost always), they will NOT be treated.

[FITZ]

Welfare and handouts are more to blame --- they're just taking what's being offered on a silver platter.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

They will tell you: You will literally be allowed to die at the door without payment.

[Mamzelle]

re: Have you been raped or robbed by these criminals yet?)))

Not to mention the uninsured illegals driving on the highways. If they hit you, you have to file a claim on your own insurance. Then your premiums go up.

My own area has a "godfather" who brings 'em in, finds 'em jobs and a trailer, then keeps the peace. Have to say, he's a pretty good jefe, padron...but I wonder what his replacement will be like in a few years? Maybe a vicious ganglord instead of a religious disciplinarian? Could be...after all, we in the community he lives in have absolutely no say.

I live hundreds of miles from the Mexican border--in the rural mountainous South.

[FITZ]

This is one reason they don't fix their system --- they can use ours and don't need to pay the taxes etc that it would cost to fix their system.

I worked with a woman whose mother lived in Mexico and needed surgery. They were well-off with nice home and other things --- retired and receiving a pension and have Mexican insurance because they always lived and worked there. The mother came to the county hospital --- actually expecting to pay a good amount, knowing their insurance wouldn't pay here --- she was very pleasantly surprised to find out that since they were retired, they were considered to be low-income, assets like their nice house in Mexico didn't count --- you can't put a lien on theirs like you can on ours. An American would not have been so pleasantly surprised to find out what a country hospital that they pay huge money to keep open would have charged an American with a nice home.

[citizen]

All so true, Hoppy.

It's a pity so many can't see the forest for the trees.

[citizen]

When "Guest Workers" are used the Employers will have to offer health care.

You talk as if that has already been codified into law. It has not, it's only guidelines rignt now.

When all the business lobbyists and immigrant lobbyists and Dim politicians and advocates for the poor and health care gurus and the CDC get through Swiss-cheeseing the eventual legislation, I seriously doubt there will be much incentive for businesses to provide health care for minimum wage jobs. Nor will there be meaningful sanctions against businesses that violate whatever regulations come to pass.

IOW, we will have pretty much the same situation as we have now gussied up and painted over with the veneer of legitimacy. And many more will come as a result.

Just my opinion.

***an ex-Republican base voter***