Health Care Bill’s Immigration Provisions a Concern

March 11, 2010

Immigration advocates and concerned lawmakers are increasing the volume of their objections to language in the health care reform bill that would prevent illegal immigrants from being able to purchase health insurance in the new exchanges with their own money.  Without such access, it is feared that many immigrant families would be unable to receive primary care and be compelled to rely on emergency room care.  This would harm not only immigrants and their families, but the financial burden on the American public would increase, as Americans would pay for uncompensated medical care through the federal budget or higher insurance rates.