Illegals & ObamaCare

President Barack Obama looking angry and spitefulIn his most recent (August 22, 2009) weekly radio address, President Obama railed about the supposed “outrageous myths” surrounding his plan for Health Insurance Reconstruction, a plan that is often shilled as Healthcare Reform.

One of the things he attempted to refute was that illegal immigrants would be covered under ObamaCare.

From Reuters (Washington, DC):

Today, I want to spend a few minutes debunking some of the more outrageous myths circulating on the Internet, on cable TV, and repeated at some town halls across this country.

Let’s start with the false claim that illegal immigrants will get health insurance under reform. That’s not true.

That idea has never even been on the table.

In a Rovian sense what President Obama asserted is true, or at least not completely false. Title II, Subtitle C, Section 246 of the bill (HR 3200) – dealing solely with insurance subsidies – states:

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.

That is very clear and concise verbiage. Under the provisions of HR 3200 illegal immigrants would not be allowed to receive federal subsidies with which to acquire health insurance from the proposed Health Insurance Exchange.

But illegal immigrants are allowed – as anyone should be, irregardless of residency status – emergency medical care under Medicaid and HR 3200 not only expands Medicaid eligibility but also restricts (via Section 1702) inquiries about immigration and residency status. This would make it difficult for state agencies to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving fully subsidized medical care above and beyond what they are currently entitled to receive.

I didn’t quote the text of Section 1702 because it is very long and is not written in anything close to clear and concise verbiage.

So technically President Obama is telling the truth in that illegal immigrants will not be eligible to receive federal subsidies for the purpose of acquiring health insurance via from the proposed Health Insurance Exchange. He is, however, being extremely disingenuous in his statement – hence the above reference to Karl Rove – since HR 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (AAHCA), would grant illegal immigrants greatly expanded access to medical care. Indeed, the provisions in Section 1702 of the bill could allow them access to 100% taxpayer subsidized non-emergency medical care.

Whether or not allowing illegal immigrants such expanded free -to them at least – medical coverage is a right or wrong depends on your worldview.

So is the claim that ObamaCare will cover illegal immigrants an “outrageous myth?” No, but it is an oversimplification of the matter. This is very much the same as President Obama’s “outrageous myth” that ObamaCare won’t cover illegal immigrants.

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8 Responses to “Illegals & ObamaCare”

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  3. Kelly Mahan Jaramillo Says:

    Well, this is not a comment about health care, but about a healthy cooking site! I have an idea! Lets all take better care of ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually, and maybe we wont need to go to the Doctor’s AT ALL!

    (Except for that pesky sprained hand I got from falling down the stairs two weeks ago – hand, heal thyself. Wow – it kind of is) 🙂

    Hey Jonolan – Interesting post. I am staying out of the healthcare fray for now, as everyone is way too wound up about it and if one were to wade in, they could lose an eye with all of the soundbytes flying around, lol.

    BUT – here is the recipe site you probably already have – thought I’d pop over here and see what pot you were stirring, no pun intended. 🙂

    http://delishfood.wordpress.com/

    Hope you find something fun – – – –

    Cheers,
    Kel

  4. thekillerj Says:

    Jonolan,
    How do you have the energy to research and call out every deception the current administration hurls at us? That’s a compliment by the way. I try, but ultimately throw my hands up and say “why try?”

    Cheers

    thekillerj

  5. jonolan Says:

    thekillerj,

    Thanks. I’ve been asked that same question many times. I’m unsure of the answer, but the fact that I rarely sleep at all might have something to do with it.

    Having the research material available to me helps as well. Since I know where to look for a lot of the information and have access to such, it takes less energy for me to do the research than it might others.

  6. Abortion & ObamaCare | Reflections From a Murky Pond Says:

    […] Illegals & ObamaCare […]

  7. Reprimanding Wilson | Reflections From a Murky Pond Says:

    […] on Health Insurance Reconstruction before a joint session of Congress. President Obama tried to convince people that illegal immigrants wouldn’t be covered and Rep. Wilson bellowed, “You […]

  8. Abortion & ObamaCare | Mizozo Says:

    […] like President Obama’s statements about illegal immigrants & ObamaCare, in a Rovian sense what President Obama asserted is true, or at least not completely false. There […]

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