Illegal immigrants, as well as legal immigrants in the country less than five years, are not eligible for free healthcare through Medicaid. A 2007 study estimated that less than 1 percent of Medicaid spending went to healthcare for illegal immigrants. Proponents of subsidized healthcare for immigrants argue that increased access to basic preventive care will lower the demand for costly emergency care. Opponents argue that immigrants in the healthcare system run the risk of becoming "permanent patients," because they have no relatives, insurance or an established address where they can go once released.
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@ISIDEWITH14yrs14Y
No
@9F8FN822yrs2Y
The US is already struggling financially. Holding the Federal Government financially responsible for non-American citizens would only further this struggle and make life harder for tax paying Americans.
@B6K5LWK2mos2MO
You realize in the constitution it states "people" not citzens, the right to healthcare etc. Immigrants also pay taxes, and they do most construction jobs etc.
@9F7R4MM2yrs2Y
If you are illegal, you shouldn't get rights in the U.S. , If you are legal you be able to get things that other Americans do. Not for free.
@B6LCCH62mos2MO
Yes, illegal immigrants were roaming free under the Biden administration, and he gave them rights, now under president Trump, I think those illegal immigrants should not have constitutional rights, cause they are using them, especially the second amendment to kill and destroy lives, American lives, our forefathers fought for our nation to be free, not for these illegal immigrants to steal our freedom
@9FRKDWF2yrs2Y
They are humans, they're people. Healthcare is a human right that should be given to everyone in any country in the world.
@9JJQZNS2yrs2Y
Not when you're illegally in the country. There is a process that you have to go through to become a legal immigrant, and just because it may be long or hard doesn't really change the fact of illegal immigration being wrong. They aren't entitled to come here and if they do they need to be here legally.
@Paculino1yr1Y
#3 Informed Immigration Healthcare
What is unethical about freedom of movement to justify such laws? Movement to other polities is important to democracy; it allows voting with your feet. People are people, regardless of the legality or even the morality of past or present actions. The legality of presence does not mean someone suddenly becomes a p-zombie.
@9S8MS8CRepublican1yr1Y
healthcare is not a right and it shouldnt be
@Paculino1yr1Y
#3 Informed Immigration Healthcare
Why not? It is easily derived from the golden rule, and if that is not the basis of ethics, then what possibly could be? Why is kindness revolutionary?
@B5752SN5mos5MO
stfu they're illegal bc they are bruh keep them on the other side.
@B78FTZNWomen’s Equality 2wks2W
I can tell you weren't raise right and you should treat everyone EQUALITY
@9FP227H 2yrs2Y
I believe many immigrants struggle without the help of their health. Therefore, creating an Immigration Healthcare program won't just make them more comfortable to seek health but also create a federal tax on immigrants just like any other human.
@9JJQZNS 2yrs2Y
Illegal=a crime. It is a crime to come over the border ILLEGALLY. There is a process to come over legally, and although it may be a long process that's just how it is. They aren't entitled to coming to our country. They have no rights as an illegal immigrant and they shouldn't even be here let alone deserve health care. ILLEGAL immigrants should be deported.
@foshy8mos8MO
It is "ILLEGAL" to rolling stop a stop sign, or to jay walk. Therefore you are a criminal and should also not be allowed in the US. Unless you are suggesting the punishment should fit the crime? Then why should families crossing the border to get away from a bad future for their children be punished for crossing an imaginary line by being concentrated in camps through force and sent in binds through military vehicles back to their nation they came from. I don't care about either of our political views for this, its dehumanizing. Are you suggesting a dehumanizing punishment fits… Read more
@B3C6XFY7mos7MO
All Illegal person doesn't equal of a crime. Some Illegal people are just looking for a place to live and start a better life.
@B78FTZNWomen’s Equality 2wks2W
I highly disagree with you, they shouldn't be deported just because there are many immigrant families that want a better life for their child, And as a daughter who have immigrants parents you don't know how hard life is when they were in my age, And no it not a crime the act of being an undocumented immigrant is a civil office, not a criminal one. Without them helping the farm the fields and everything will turn worse and I bet the Americans wouldn't last a day to handle it. Matter in fact we SHOULD TREAT EVERYONE RIGHT AND EQUALITY, because this land and the whole earth that our god creates is to share and not treat everyone differently just because of their race, but I could tell you weren't raise right.
@9FP4K7R2yrs2Y
I definitely agree that Healthcare needs to be more accessible to immigrants but to be more specific I believe that there should be a single payer Healthcare system funded by the government, and that anyone who pays taxes (or anyone in an emergency situation) should be covered by it which would include immigrants.
@9FP3XM92yrs2Y
The United States is not responsible to care for those who came here illegally as they are not part of the citizenry that the government was made to serve.
@ISIDEWITH14yrs14Y
Yes
@B7BNV2C 2wks2W
Top Agreement
The people who stay in America should have the same basic rights as any citizen. Otherwise, they would be no different than the African American people before the civil rights movement; allowed to stay, but excluded from basic neccessities simply because of a trait that they are born with. It is simply a moral issue that, as an African American myself, I am extremely partial towards.
@B7CBQ822wks2W
No they shouldn’t. I have personal friends that came from foreign lands & they worked hard for their citizenship, approximately 8 years. They went to classes, studied the history of the US, & learned so speak English. Why should someone come to this nation, freeload, demand free education, & think it’s a right, no it’s not!!!
@B7DHK9Z2wks2W
Let's focus on people becoming legal immigrants first. I have no problem with immigration, it's when we have illegal people in our country that have no form of documentation and no form of who they are.
@B7C5XV32wks2W
To help an illegal immigrant by using government-subsidized healthcare would be robbing our own citizens of their resources. Immigrants should be able to get help, but first they need to become one with our community and nation. It would not be fair to allow outsiders a chance to steal from us. If the condition is not critical then they can go elsewhere. We are not a charity, we are a country full of it's own people and it's own issues. To help others requires one to be in a near perfect condition otherwise the help trying to be given is sloppy and hurtful.
@B7C73DZ2wks2W
Any US citizen has the basic rights of a citizen. people who are not citizens do not get the rights of a citizen.
@9F7WFTG 2yrs2Y
Top Disagreement
To help an illegal immigrant by using government-subsidized healthcare would be robbing our own citizens of their resources. Immigrants should be able to get help, but first they need to become one with our community and nation. It would not be fair to allow outsiders a chance to steal from us. If the condition is not critical then they can go elsewhere. We are not a charity, we are a country full of it's own people and it's own issues. To help others requires one to be in a near perfect condition otherwise the help trying to be given is sloppy and hurtful.
@9F9N86C2yrs2Y
The United States always claims that it is the best country in the world, but what kind of good country doesn't help someone that is in need? I understand that helping illegal immigrants may take away resources from Americans, but if we didn't have such a bad healthcare system, we wouldn't have this issue and healthcare would be available to all Americans, as well as outside immigrants, legal or not, that need help.
@9JJQZNS 2yrs2Y
Why is it immigrants are entitled to be here? I get that we may have a really great free country but that does not give everyone the right to be here especially illegally. We have laws and standards that need to be upheld. We can't just let anybody here any time under any circumstances. There is a legal process you must go through and although it maybe long and hard they aren't entitled to be here.
@HelcovichEmireRepublican5mos5MO
US is not the best country in the sense that it helps everyone, we are the best country in the sense that we have a strong military, strong moral values (which are being broken sadly), and personal freedoms (which are also being invaded)
@9S8MS8CRepublican1yr1Y
we actually have a pretty good health care why because we have better equipment and takes less time for example Canadians a lot of Canadians come to American hospitals for help because we have better equipment and its faster and no they should not be given stuff they broke the law hell if it was any other country they would be shot on site you can't break the law and expect to be given something that f up for the people that came here legally and a lot of times illegal immigrants make legal ones look bad for example my dad cam here for Venezuela lawfully and a lot of illegal Venezuelan… Read more
@9F9N5CJ2yrs2Y
I believe that everyone deserves help whether your a citizen or not. It doesn't matter where you come from everyone deserves help. And the fact saying that they steal is not really something that should be mention because to me they are not stealing to me is the fact they want a better life than the one they had before.
@9F9CFCH2yrs2Y
I believe that everyone should be able to have free access to health care. It is in the best interest of our community to control the spread of infectious and communicable diseases.
@9F9BNX42yrs2Y
This is a country built on the backs of hardworking immigrants. They contribute just as much as anyone, and should be entitled to just as much as anyone. If our government mismanages money, I think the ceos of large companies should be held responsible, considering that they have the largest amount of influence. Why should people who aren’t considered citizens bear the weight of our country’s failures?
@9F8FN822yrs2Y
Illegal immigrants don't pay into the benefits that they would be afforded, therefore they shouldn't be allowed to accept those benefits.
@9F7Y4262yrs2Y
For one, they are not paying the taxes or the money citizens in the country have paid just to have halfway decent health care. Why should someone who isn't even in the country LEGALLY get free health care?
@ISIDEWITH14yrs14Y
No, and we should deport all illegal immigrants
@B79HTDX 2wks2W
Top Disagreement
Everyone deserves healthcare, immigrant or not; in many cases healthcare can benefit many either if they have a life threatening disease, or need surgery to help a person live.
@B79RKGM2wks2W
Healthcare should be a universal right to have. Nobody should have to suffer through that just because of their skin color and where they have come from. Some are also disabled, and as a disabled person who never asked for this, they shouldn't have to suffer.
@B7C3S6C2wks2W
Yes, I agree with this comment. Immigrants are the backbone to our economy, by removing their right to healthcare strips them away of their autonomy and alienates them as individuals.
@9G8KFBNLibertarian 2yrs2Y
illegal immigrants should be treated evenly and given the same opportunities as a citizen, it allows them to be less likely to commit serious crimes and instead help the country as a whole.
@9G92VM4Progressive 2yrs2Y
Immigration healthcare is a very important aspect. As a child of Immigrants, I think that every human being deserves the right to be treated equally and given all of the same opportunities whether they were born there or not. As the Author states, this makes people much less likely to commit crimes and even builds up the community as one whole family. Healthcare is a necessary resource so all people should have access to some form of it.
@9G935GC2yrs2Y
I agree with that because not only will it prevent them to commit any crimes and it can also convince them to become citizens of America.
@9G923WSWomen’s Equality2yrs2Y
My thoughts are yes treat illegal immigrants evenly and fair but not for the reason that they will do harm when not given these opportunities.
I agree, because they are already here either way they are not going to leave, so it is best they do things legally and help as a whole instead of causing destruction only because they were not born here. They want to achieve the American dream for their children and family for them to be successful.
@B7G78K7 1wk1W
Healthcare is a basic right. Illegal or legal We should be humane and give them whats necessary for basic survival.
@B7GBFMP1wk1W
They should not receive what is necessary because they didn't do what was necessary to receive it, being a legal immigrant and going through the process of becoming an American. It wastes resources that be used to save actual American citizens.
@B7GBZJJ1wk1W
I agree, healthcare is something every human being needs to survive. People should have the right to healthcare at all times and it doesn’t matter if they’re legal or not “illegal” everyone deserves to have healthcare since it’s a necessary for basic survival.
@B7K55LL4 days4D
Health care to be able to have acess to help when its needed so why decline someone because they dont have a certain paper. Theyre still human beings. Refusing to give them health care is risky because if theyre on their death bed and theyre refused at a hospital and pass away then the hospital should be held accountable for allowing someone to die. Health care is needed no matter where your from or your background.
@B79ZWNM 2wks2W
We have a human duty to help those in need, the nationality or legal status of the person is unimportant in this regard. I think many of my conservative brothers and sisters would agree with this claim if they stopped to think about it, especially Christians. For example, should a child brought by parents with no money to the U.S. not receive treatment that we can afford to give? This question does not take into account whether the child SHOULD be here but only whether the child should be treated while they are here. If the answer that was no, what ground do you stand on?
@ISIDEWITH13yrs13Y
Yes, if they pay taxes
@9FLQ8KV2yrs2Y
Illegal immigrants are illegal. They are not citizens and therefore cannot be taxed, if they wish for healthcare then they need to go the legal way. Then they will be a citizen, pay taxes, and not be deported.
@Paculino1yr1Y
#3 Informed Immigration Healthcare
Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers allow anyone ineligible for a social security number to pay taxes. This is not uncommon, as a history of paying taxes tends to help the process of having a legal status.
if they pay taxes then they should be able to appreciate the money they give to the government and should be allowed to use tax benefits
Taxes are an important thing here in the U.S and if immigrants aren't allowed healthcare while paying taxes then that's not fair.
@9G5CSZG2yrs2Y
Currently drug cartels in Mexico are worse then ever, committing heinous crimes and selling illegal contraband
@ISIDEWITH13yrs13Y
Yes, and grant them citizenship
@B6NCX22Independent 2mos2MO
Coming to the United States legally is very hard because almost every immigrant is facing hardship in their country, like they have no money, they can't buy food or clothes and so to buy a password or ask lawyer to help them get in the US is not an option because they do not have the money or the time since a lot of us are getting persecutaed in their own countries, like if they go back they will be killed. Not only that, but getting your citizenship granted is VERY HARD for immigrants. It is a really long process, like I've met immigrants who took them 7-10 years to get their citiz… Read more
Some of the reasons as to why are; Protection from deportation. Becoming a U.S. citizen protects you and your children from deportation., Citizenship for your children, Family reunification, Eligibility for government jobs, Freedom to travel, and Ability to vote.
@9F4KR77Independent2yrs2Y
A nation has a moral obligation to first and foremost take care of her people. Until we're providing a decent standard of living for all Americans, we shouldn't waste a single dollar on others.
@Paculino1yr1Y
#3 Informed Immigration Healthcare
What makes people who tend to be in better living conditions more needing of assistance?
@9FFZK94Republican2yrs2Y
Anyone who is in the United States illegally should not be taking taxpayer dollars to pay for their healthcare. If they want healthcare, they must become a citizen legally just like everybody else.
@ISIDEWITH13yrs13Y
Yes, but only for life threatening emergencies or infectious diseases
@B79HTDX 2wks2W
follow the fourteenth amendment when it mentions, "...nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty..." and after mentions "without due process of law"
@B79YQ6R2wks2W
Illegal immigrants cannot pay taxes without illegally acquiring a social security number, thus they should under no circumstance benefit from any tax payer funded domestic program. These programs are for Americans, not the world.
@B7C55M22wks2W
i don't think doctors wage should be lower because healthcare is free but people deserve to be healthy and should be able to get help they need at a lower price and there should be a government insurance because we pay taxes.
@9TYV3ZHRepublican1yr1Y
They can’t just have the health care that US citizens get because they’re a citizen. But if it is a threat to the citizens life or immigrants life then it should be looked at.
Illegal immigrants should not expect government money to help them if they don’t come to the United States the right way
@ISIDEWITH13yrs13Y
No, but they should be allowed to purchase private healthcare
@9FP227H 2yrs2Y
I believe many immigrants are scared to seek health care for themselves due to the high cost. However, creating a private immigration healthcare program will make immigrants more comfortable and continue to establish a system to help them.
@9FP99WXIndependent2yrs2Y
The immigrants should have the right to healthcare, they are trying to have a better life than the ones they didn't have back at home. That's their right when coming into the stare.
I agree with this comment and would encourage the government to take this stance because its against their human rights to not be able to seek medical health.
@9FP4GRC2yrs2Y
I agree with this comment because immigrants came to America for better health care. The fear of asking for help in a country where they want to keep immigrants out is terrifying. A program that is private is a great idea.
@9FP6FZN2yrs2Y
I believe many immigrants are scared to seek health care for themselves due to the high cost. However, creating a private immigration healthcare program will make immigrants more comfortable and continue to establish a system to help them.
If the immigrant has a deadly disease and isn't cured then the immigrant could die. We don't want them to die even though they aren't a citizen. We should cure the immigrant only if the immigrant has a deadly disease.
@9H26N5Z2yrs2Y
they should be allowed to have any type of health care they can afford whether it be public or private.
@9GSF5BQ2yrs2Y
There is no reason for them to get certain healthcare they deserve the same treatment regardless of their race.
@ISIDEWITH13yrs13Y
No, and the government should never subsidize healthcare
@9GQ5LY7Independent2yrs2Y
I feel it's inhumane to deny people medical care simply because they were not born in the United States.
@9GHPHKB2yrs2Y
Healthcare should be **** ing free, there are so many people in debt due to this, raise the taxes make healthcare free.
@9GNGF2J2yrs2Y
I feel like everyone should have the right to healthcare and have the ability to have every vaccine or medication that everyone gets
@9GNLWN62yrs2Y
Many immigrants come to the U.S. based on the idea of the American Dream. It's sad to see that they cannot even be achieved solely because they are immigrants. Immigrants are people too and not every single one is a threat to society. They deserve basic human rights and one of those is affordable healthcare.
@ISIDEWITH13yrs13Y
Yes, but they should be deported after treatment
@9GZNQ24Republican2yrs2Y
American tax paýers fund healthcare so it should be exclusive to American citizens. There is however a moral duty to help a person with a healthcare emergencý, American or not. After treatment, the illegal aliens can be deported.
@9LZ6TR61yr1Y
These are still humans hurt no matter if they are from Canada or Mexico they are in need of help and we can help them.
@9GN6ZGF2yrs2Y
As long as they are in the country legally and have no criminal record in their home country, they should be given healthcare just like every other law-abiding citizen in America.
@9FPBG4ZRepublican2yrs2Y
If they were following US laws they should be able to remain in US territory and be required to obtain citizenship
@ISIDEWITH13yrs13Y
No, but their children should have access
@4S4CH925yrs5Y
This is insane. How can you use illegal and benefits in same sentence? Someone should not become a citizen just because they gave birth here. Mexico for sure does not allow this, and the rest of the world with exception for two other countries. This way of taxing others to pay for such expenses is insane.
@97WLQHG3yrs3Y
And yet you have people saying YES. Liberals should be able to collect disability for their mental illness.
@928PJ8QLibertarian3yrs3Y
Unfortunately that opinion isn't insane in C*lifornia
@8L3QY7Z5yrs5Y
If they weren't born in america, no if their children were born in america, yes
@8MRSWZJ5yrs5Y
Yes, as long as the illegal immigrants in question are good, honest people with no criminal record who plan on becoming citizens. Anyone should be granted access for life threatening emergencies or infectious diseases, but then they need to be provided assistance to become a legal citizen.
@NationalGuy47 9mos9MO
Engaged Immigration Healthcare
“with no criminal record”
i'm pretty sure all illegal immigrants who come here are criminals, because they entered here illegally.
@4WXYGMH5yrs5Y
YES, WE ARE THE RICHEST COUNTRY ON EARTH... our insurance companies and hospitals are making BILLIONS!!!
@Cuz-I-Know-Stuff9mos9MO
Engaged Immigration Healthcare
Your very wrong. We are not the richest country. The richest country is in fact Luxembourg "...with a GDP per capita of $143,742..." according to The Indian Express.Top 10 richest countries in 2024 by GDP per capita; Europe and Asia dominate the rankingshttps://indianexpress.com/article/trending/top-10-listing/top-10-richest-countries-in-the-world-by-gdp-per-capita-in-2024-9547514/#:~:text=Luxembourg%20is%20the%20world's%20wealthiest,its%20strong%20financial%20services%20sector.
@8PXMNXF5yrs5Y
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