Insurance for legal immigrants stripped

As many as 30,000 legal immigrants in Massachusetts will lose state-subsidized health insurance as the state tries to control health-care costs.

[thinking]

I can't believe that any logical person wouldn't say stop all benefits including free use of an emergency room for anyone here illegally! It simply amazes me that we give people who break our laws (come illegally) any rewards for doing so. Stop the anchor baby law and the free services and they wouldn't come, freeing up money for legal citizens. Taxes to support these people are getting out of control!!!

[taxpayer]

Thinking - these are LEGAL resident immigrants. Can't you read? These are asylees, people fleeing their home countries, usually due to death threats. Those are the people that our legislators are harming.

[Conrad]

The article claims these people are here legaly, although I don't really buy that. But even if they are; why do they get their first 5 years free health care and then become eligible for Medicade. Another scam.

[taxpayer]

Conrad, do you understand how US immigration works? Every person who immigrates here starts out without being a citizen, including your ancestors. Why would you doubt that some legal immigrants are here? That's total prejudice against ANY immigrant.

[billmar]

I think if they are not taking the steps to becoming citizens, they shouldn't get anything. That includes health insurance or tuition breaks.

[Maggie]

I think it is a shame they are hitting the LEGAL immigrants. How about targeting the ILLEGAL ones instead . They are probably costing nore then the legal ones.

[Musty Mike]

Most likely the AMA and the entire American health care industry (and it is an industry) love these benefits. No Blue Cross or other insurance company to question treatments. Us poor saps in the middle class with our private health insurance go to the back fo the line after the poor, the immigrants (illegal is best), and the seniors. We have to force them to treat us. You need to wait 6 months for some diagnostics these days unless you are on the goverment dole.

[Tony]

Sen. Pang. says it's not about the numbers, but the money. Correction Senator: It's about the ILLEGALITY! You're a lawyer. What part of ILLEGAL don't you understand? They're trespassing on our property, namely the USA. NO insurance, no licenses, no tuition, Nothing for illegals except deportation.

[A big Sham]

Yes they get the best of care while LEGAL low income workers get the shaft.
The health care centers are a rip off also as you see a nurse practsioner and not a real doctor but they bill you the doctor rate.
A legal low income resident can't get Masshealth so any immagrent should be cut off of ALL FREE care. Start looking out for the Legal poor in this country and not the unwanted what ever their reason for being here.

[question]

I don't understand why any,other than a American citizen,is getting any kind of benefits.

Please don't give me some B.S. we owe it to them either. This country is in deep poo-poo because of all the bleeding heart liberals.

Where does the average American working class Woman,or man go for this handout??

I'll go with the FED's on this one to eliminate.

[Whitey]

Yes!! Now get them the hell out of the country!!!

[so stop]

Let's get this straight. I work my butts off to get my tax taken away. Then, having to pay for other people to get free health care, which came here illegal, and I am paying for high insurance cost for my family. So, they can laugh in my face for being able to work the system, which I think should be fair for all. These people have done nothing to contribute for "US". Let these people go!

[Facts]

Why would massachusetts offer free care for 5 years when the feds don't contribute. We have a shortage of jobs or isn't our officials aware of that, do we need more immigrants in this state legal or illegal, come on, what other perk do you offer so they come to Mass straight away.

[NICE]

My father born in Italy came here when he was 15 by himself. No parents no nothing. He learned the English language, he had to work his butt off just like everyone else. He is legal by the way. He didn't get any help from anyone especially the government. Then on top of all the dumb enough things taxachusetts does they force you to get health insurance. If my father has to pay for his health insurance so does EL ESPANOL. But what i don't get is if they can't afford to give legals health insurance how can they afford to give ILLEGALS college tuition.

[Okay]

NICE wrote:

My father born in Italy came here when he was 15 by himself. No parents no nothing. He learned the English language, he had to work his butt off just like everyone else. He is legal by the way. He didn't get any help from anyone especially the government. Then on top of all the dumb enough things taxachusetts does they force you to get health insurance. If my father has to pay for his health insurance so does EL ESPANOL. But what i don't get is if they can't afford to give legals health insurance how can they afford to give ILLEGALS college tuition.

I work my full time, I can't afford college, why should anyone get free college, let alone people who are illegal, prisoners also get free college great just great.

[Bob B]

"Time for a change." "Yes we can."

[Surrounded by idiots]

This is so wrong - those that have gone through the correct procedures to come here LEGALLY are getting the shaft. Let alone the fact that those of us born here get nothing. But those ILLEGALLY here can get all the benefits they want.
What a slap in the face!
Why doesn't our Government see this?
I've heard they do it for the votes - don't you have to be a LEGAL Citizen to vote?
Someone let me know when the Revolution is to begin I want to be in the front line.

[Amused]

billmar wrote:

I think if they are not taking the steps to becoming citizens, they shouldn't get anything. That includes health insurance or tuition breaks.

One of the steps to becoming a citizen is time. You have to live here for at least 5 years as a permanent resident alien before you can apply. Part of living here for that time is taking care of your and your family's health. Many immigrants work at low-paying jobs where the employer does not offer health insurance. How are these people supposed to survive while they wait to become eligible for citizenship? Sorry, your kids can't see a pediatrician for 5 years until you become a citizen?

Here's something else to think about: when people with no insurance show up at an emergency room with no means to pay for care, the hospital has to treat them anyway. Who do you think pays for that? Answer: you do! Hospital charges are higher to reflect that cost of doing business. Insurance premiums for those with insurance are higher because higher hospital charges get passed on to the insurers and then to those paying premiums. So, the choice is really whether you want to have a system of subsidies, where people are contributing some share according to their income and are able to see doctors when their health problems are minor and easily treated or would you rather have a sstem where the poor pay no part of the cost of their care and don't see a doctor until they need to go to the emergency room, which is far more expensive than a private doctor's office, for much more expensive treatment of a problem that has progressed to an expensive to treat crisis? Perhaps you'd like to ponder this while sitting endless hours in an ER waiting room overcrowded by all the people with no choice but to use the ER as their primary care physician?

[Amused]

Surrounded by idiots wrote:

I've heard they do it for the votes - don't you have to be a LEGAL Citizen to vote?
Someone let me know when the Revolution is to begin I want to be in the front line.

Yes, and legal residents who are not citizens do not vote, so politicians cater to ignoramuses like Conrad who can vote, but can barely read and have a hysterical reaction any time they see the word "alien", regardless of the words around it like "legal".

[Paul Kersey]

They shoot horses don't they?