Mark Tapscott discovers a nugget in the analysis provided by the Congressional Research Office on HR3200, the House version of ObamaCare coming to the floor. While Barack Obama insists that the idea that ObamaCare will cover illegal immigrants is a "myth," the CRS points out that the bill does nothing to prevent it. Since HR3200 doesn't require people to establish citizenship or legal residency before applying to exchanges for health insurance, including the public option, taxpayer money will certainly flow to illegal immigrants:Plus, check William Jacobson's report, "The House Bill Does Cover Illegals."
Congressional Research Service (CRS) says this about H.R. 3200, the Obamacare bill approved just before the recess by the House Energy and Commerce Committee chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-CA:
"Under H.R. 3200, a 'Health Insurance Exchange' would begin operation in 2013 and would offer private plans alongside a public option…H.R. 3200 does not contain any restrictions on noncitzens—whether legally or illegally present, or in the United States temporarily or permanently—participating in the Exchange."
"Under H.R. 3200, a 'Health Insurance Exchange' would begin operation in 2013 and would offer private plans alongside a public option…H.R. 3200 does not contain any restrictions on noncitzens—whether legally or illegally present, or in the United States temporarily or permanently—participating in the Exchange."
See also, Pat in Shreveport's got the story, "What Happened to Those 17 Million Uninsured?" And Andrea Tantaros, "Obama Just Doesn't Get It."
Image Credit: The Palmetto Scoop, " Get Your Free 'I'm With Joe Wilson' T-Shirt." (Via Memeorandum.)
2 comments:
...the CRS points out that the bill does nothing to prevent it.
By the same token, it does nothing to promote it, either. At best, the particular plan you're discussing--which may or not be the one Obama was discussing, considering that much of what he spoke about sounded more like the freshly-minted Senate plan, rather than HR3200--maintains the status quo where illegal aliens are concerned. Just as today, they could purchase insurance from those selling it, but could not receive federal money to do so.
Since HR3200 doesn't require people to establish citizenship or legal residency before applying to exchanges for health insurance, including the public option, taxpayer money will certainly flow to illegal immigrants:
I'm pretty sure there is no federal money in the health care exchanges, other than credits for those who cannot afford the cost of insurance on their own--credits that illegal immigrants are prohibited from receiving, both under current law and in HR3200. Rather, they are an opportunity for individuals who cannot buy healthcare through their employer to receive the same "group" benefits that one receives from employer plans. In addition, it allows the individual consumer a one-stop option, where they could compare a variety of plans from different companies all at once, creating more competition for better plans &/or lower prices. (While I still support the public option as well, these exchanges likely will create some of the same effects, though nowhere near as pronounced or beneficial to the consumer.)
And, while HR3200 doesn't restrict illegal aliens from using the healthcare exchanges, it does restrict their getting federal money to pay for the plans they may sign up for, there:
"H.R. 3200 includes a provision that specifically says that there will be no federal funds spent to cover illegal immigrants:
H.R. 3200: Sec 246 — NO FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS
Nothing in this subtitle shall allow Federal payments for affordability credits on behalf of individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States.
The preceding section reiterates this, stating that “the term ‘affordable credit eligible individual’ means … an individual who is lawfully present in a State in the United States.” In other words, no federal subsidies for you if you’re in the country illegally. Besides, illegal immigrants aren’t eligible for federal health programs under current law. (Tax dollars do, however, cover emergency care.)" - Misleading GOP Health Care Claims | FactCheck.org
Here's a second source, with a more detailed explanation, including the fact that better enforcement provisions almost certainly will be a part of the final law as implemented:
"If you're illegal, you could buy insurance there [from one of the new "healthcare exchanges], as long as you pay the full freight--no direct federal subsidies allowed. The proposals already describe the income checks necessary to get helping hand on coverage. But, Jennifer Tolbert, a policy analyst at Kaiser says, "there's no language that indicates whether or how immigration status or citizen status will be verified."
That doesn't mean there won't be any once it comes time to implement the exchanges, she says. "There are obviously going to be federal guidelines," she explains. It's also possible, given the hubbub, that further work in the Senate Finance Committee or later in conference could clarify the situation.
But that may not be necessary. The Congressional Research Service took a look at the illegal immigrant question last month and concluded that even without an explicit enforcement mechanism in a leading House bill, a commissioner overseeing the exchanges would be responsible for coming up with one. Wilson invoked the report today to support his position, but we read it differently.
It's worth bearing in mind that Medicare and Medicaid have long barred the participation of illegal immigrants other than for emergency services. Even legal non-citizens, such as refugees or folks with a green card, can't sign on to Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program within five years, except for pregnant women and kids at the discretion of states. "Health reform doesn't change any of the rules relating to public coverage programs for immigrants," Tolbert says." - Illegal Immigrants Left Out Of Health Overhaul - NPR Health Blog : NPR
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