Money for Illegals' Care Runs Out

[Kelly4C]

Federal money set aside to reimburse hospitals for the care of illegal immigrants is going to run out at the end of this year.

For the past four years the federal government has set aside $250 million a year to reimburse border hospitals for the care of illegal immigrants.

An Arizona Republic article this morning told of an illegal immigrant involved in a motorcycle accident who had three surgeries for her injuries and then was sent back to Mexico to recover.

"Indeed we spend millions upon millions each year, for care for these patients," said Dr. Michael Christopher, chief of staff at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Christopher would like to see the federal program continued past this year.

"We understand that the realities of the current fiscal situation in this country and we're not terribly hopeful," Christopher said.

Christopher said in reality hospitals weren't getting much money from the feds to help cover those care costs.

"What it amounted to was literally pennies on the dollar," Christopher said.

But every little bit helps.

"There's hospitals throughout the country that have closed as a result of being fiscally insolvent from the outflow of care that's been demanded upon them," Christopher said.

Christopher said this is a federal problem that is unfortunately being forced on the backs of states and hospitals to figure out.

http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=765971

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Send the bill to President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa!

[I'm all 67X]

Having experienced the negative aspects of this first hand in an ER with an extremely sick child, I regret to say I am pleased to hear this.

Nothing like spending 7 hours in an ER waiting area with a near lifeless child while all the illegals go first...the ones with the sick kids all playing and running around...

:frust:rant

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It is no wonder the illegals feel so entitled in this country.

[SummerSailing81]

This just gets my goat!!!!! The hospitals are willing to accept pennies for the care of people who are in this country illegally, but tax paying citizens can't get past the front desk of a hospital without proving we have insurance and having to sign our lives away in order to pay whatever insurance doesn't cover!!!!!! :gaah

[Kelly4C]

This just gets my goat!!!!! The hospitals are willing to accept pennies for the care of people who are in this country illegally, but tax paying citizens can't get past the front desk of a hospital without proving we have insurance and having to sign our lives away in order to pay whatever insurance doesn't cover!!!!!! :gaah


It's sickening isn't it? If we had unlimited funds I'd be the first to shout "Hey come on over for free healthcare!" But we don't. And our people are suffering or will suffer the consequences of all this. I don't understand why the Hospital ER's allow themselves to be used like doctor's offices. I definitely understand how they shouldn't turn away a life threatening emergency but if they come in with minor stuff they should be sent to a Mexican consulate to get funds from THEM for their health care coverage.

[yeshuasavedme]

It's sickening isn't it? If we had unlimited funds I'd be the first to shout "Hey come on over for free healthcare!" But we don't. And our people are suffering or will suffer the consequences of all this. I don't understand why the Hospital ER's allow themselves to be used like doctor's offices. I definitely understand how they shouldn't turn away a life threatening emergency but if they come in with minor stuff they should be sent to a Mexican consulate to get funds from THEM for their health care coverage.


As in the presidential elections, health care coverage is a big issue.

It's an issue because many Americans cannot afford health care and go without health care because of this. For a long while (several months) I had no health insurance, I had chest pains and just laid down and prayed because I could not afford to go as it could cost my family $10,000 or so dollars if it was just hearburn. Incidentally, a friend of mine was in the same situation but she went on to the hosptial and it cost her 10K and she never had a formal diagnosis and is now owiing 10K even though she and her child are below poverty level.

For about 6 months I paid 377 a month for health insurance that had a $3500 deductible before it paid anything and then it was only 50%. Once you got to$8500 it covered 100%. I never once went to the doctor under it.

Reasons such as these are why it is amazing that our country earmarks millions of dollars for non-citizens (NON TAXPAYERS) so that they can go get medical care at the drop of the hat whereas citizens go without or else are in medical debt the rest of their lives.

Seems like this fact needs to be noted in the current presidential race especially where helath care is such an issue. WHO voted for the FREE health care for illegals? WHY did not they not instead legislate some type of help in the health care arena for LEGAL citizens?

I'm not saying socialized medicine. I'm saying some type of tax rebate to be used towards health insurance and /or some type of legislation towards constraints on health care costs.

On the flip side, if health care were only for legal residnents you can see how a national ID card could come into play. If there were such a thing required, then the illegals would have to present it prior to being seen. Hey in a doctor's office they won't see you until you have paid your copay.

If I didn't know that a national Id was a precursor to the MOB I'd say that this would resolve the illegals closing down hospitals because of abuse of the ERs.

Furthermore, these hosptials that will have to close mean no hospital for the communtiy that they were in. So, the legal residents who pay their insurance or pay their way won't have a health care facility even though they are able to financially access it.

Is this a sore spot with me or what?:)

[iSong6:3]

Incidentally, a friend of mine was in the same situation but she went on to the hosptial and it cost her 10K and she never had a formal diagnosis and is now owiing 10K even though she and her child are below poverty level.


citizens go without or else are in medical debt the rest of their lives.


Is this a sore spot with me or what?:)

Yeah, it's a sore spot with me, too. And lately I'm like a dog with a bone about it, but I truly hate to see people suffer, especially when there are many remedies in place so that the stranglehold of debt doesn't have to hover over people the rest of their lives. I'm sorry for your story... :hug

As for your friend, I would strongly urge her to get legal advice. If she is below poverty level and judgment proof, I believe she may not be liable to pay this, but it seems to me worth it that she check it out.

[Kelly4C]

YeshuaSavedme,

nobody in the "greatest country in the world" should have to go through that. I've gotten jumped on here for wanting socialized medicine but we have to do something. I like your idea: "Some type of tax rebate to be used towards health insurance and /or some type of legislation towards constraints on health care costs." There's no reason why this wouldn't work. If ONLY our Govt. stop wasteful spending and get the right priorities. I'm going to write and E-mail my Reps. about this.

[yeshuasavedme]

YeshuaSavedme,

nobody in the "greatest country in the world" should have to go through that. I've gotten jumped on here for wanting socialized medicine but we have to do something. I like your idea: "Some type of tax rebate to be used towards health insurance and /or some type of legislation towards constraints on health care costs." There's no reason why this wouldn't work. If ONLY our Govt. stop wasteful spending and get the right priorities. I'm going to write and E-mail my Reps. about this.



It's worth a try to email them. Thanks for your support in our mutual "sore spot" :thumb