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Forums - General - Does Universal Healthcare include Illegal Immigrants?

Kasz216 on 16 October 2009
TheRealMafoo said:
MrBubbles said:
we have to present our health cards before we can get service (which illegal residents cannot get)

i assume they could go to the emergency room though and still get seen.

 

Person: "I would like a health services card please"

State worker: "What's your SS#"

Person: "123-45-6789"

State worker: "Are you an American citizen?"

Person: "Yes"

State worker : "Here is your health card. Have a nice day"

That's not just Califonia.  40 states run on self decleration.  7 More conditionally allow it.

Self Decleration of citizenship for Medicare is the rule more then the exception.  Workers can challenge it if they feel the declaration is suspicious.  Though many don't for a number of reasons... I mean it's a bunch of work to possibly be called a racist.

Some information.

http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-02-03-00190.pdf

 

It's really not a matter of will they though so much as should they if your taking on healthcare as a responsibility.



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RCTjunkie on 16 October 2009

ONLY is the condition is life-threatening.

The problem is what is the line?



WHO IS JESUS REALLY?

925azn on 30 October 2009
Kasz216 said:

Still... really what i'm trying to gauge is... not really "should we" or "should we not" have universal healthcare etc.

Just... if we do accept universal healthcare as a responsibility... is it a responsibility we have to everybody or just to our citizens.

Personally, I actually lean towards covering illegal immigrants. If we are going to say "Healthcare is a right" such right should apply to everybody. It's not like freedom of speech or gun ownership rights only belong to US citizens. They belong to everybody in the country.

Whether or not it's financially viable... I'm not sure. Since the US has some unique concerns like, well mexico and people with really bad conditions like cancer and such trying to sneak into the country for treatment.

However if i lived in a country like France or England... I would think a universal government plan SHOULD cover illegal immigrants. 

But i tend to be a bit more of a globalist then most i guess.

You stated a big problem in your view, which is if you cover even illegal immigrants, basically anyone can just enter and be covered.  This is a utopian view and a view which I would love to have which is "universal health care for every single person in the world".  But the truth of the matter is, you can't.  Health care isn't free, there is a cost to everything. 

Here's my take on your view: Let's say you want to feed everyone in your town, can you do that before you feed your family first?  It's not about what is "right", it's a responsibility to take care of your family first.  It may sound selfish but like Maslow's hierachy, you HAVE to take care of your needs and those in your life first.  In the same fashion, I believe we should have health care for the citizens first before we try to cover EVERYone, that is spreading yourself thin.  Until we are able to provide the citizen, how will we be able to provide for the illegals? 

Globalist viewpoint is a respectable view and a view I believe everyone should have but in this particular situation, it doesn't work.  It is fine to think of health as globally but not when it comes to financing, there is a cap. 

I work in the health field and currently at a community hospital and almost all the patients are low-income or homeless.  And my desire IS a global heath system but releastically there is so much 'help' needed in our communities already.  The most cost-effective way to reach everyone, including illegal is health teaching and preventions. 

Is it financially viable?  Like the saying " don't eat anything bigger than your head", let's take this one step at a time before making such a big empty promise. because there's alot at risk.... people's lives.