Health Insurance for Illegals?
So, to insure more people, the laws need to change. Did you know that California is one of the few states in the country that prohibits insurance companies from placing an elimination rider on an individual health plan? In other states, you may be able to get health insurance, but the insurance company would exclude from coverage treatment for your pre-existing condition that is causing you to be declined in California. There are many people that can’t get health insurance because of this regulation, and you would be surprised out how seemingly minor their pre-existing conditions are. Removing this restriction would allow many Californians, such as yourself, to move out of the rank of uninsured. Furthermore, California would need to be a guaranteed issue state for health insurance, meaning that the insurance companies will be required to insure everybody, regardless of health status. This is mentioned in the governor’s proposal, but is not going to solve the problem. If this happens, many insurance companies will stop offering individual health insurance in the state and premiums will sky-rocket for those that remain, which will make insurance unaffordable for even more California residents. New York is a prime example of this. They are a guaranteed issue state and have an uninsured rate of 15.5%. It is not as high as California’s 19.4%, but we are uncertain what percentage of the number of uninsured in California come from the illegal immigrant population. Health insurance rates in New York, compared to the benefits offered through their available health plans, are higher than those in California. Insurance rates are based on claims history and actuarial estimates of future claims from insured members. The high premiums in New York account for a large part of the 15.5%. New Yorker’s are not uninsured because they can’t get insurance, they are uninsured because they can’t afford it. Most states are not guaranteed issue states, but they allow elimination riders. Overall, these states have a lower percentage of insured residents than New York or California. There is a federal law that requires hospital emergency rooms to treat any person that walks in the door seeking medical attention, regardless of their legal status. We understand your frustration in having your tax dollars go toward providing health insurance to this segment of the population, but we are already paying for their medical treatment indirectly. The hospitals are taking the brunt of this expense, but they pass the cost on to insurance companies, who then raise our insurance premiums to offset the increased negotiated rates they must pay the hospitals. Since you aren’t paying a health insurance premium, we can understand how you, and persons in your situation, can be most frustrated by this proposed legislation. Now, let’s get to the advice part. Have you looked into the Major Risk Medical Insurance Program? 3 CommentsLeave a comment |
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Explain to me how this is fair. I live in California and I am uninsured. I make a decent monthly income, so I do not qualify for any state assistance programs, like Medicaid. I have applied with every insurance company in the state and none of them will accept me because of a pre-existing medical condition. How is it that a tax-paying California resident like me can’t get health insurance, but the state has no problem using my tax contributions to provide health insurance to illegal aliens?
We are more of an advice forum than a political blog, but we can probably add some insight to your concerns. First of all, they are valid and express the sentiments of many California residents. However, this is only proposed health insurance legislation and has not yet been implemented. The proposal is not to provide health insurance to all illegals, just their children, through the expansion of California’s Healthy Families program. We expect that there will be much heated debate over this matter in the weeks and months to come. This proposed legislation is part of the Governor’s plan to bring a universal health care system to California. He is touting his plan as providing health insurance to all Californians, but this is an impossible task. This can’t be done without changing current health insurance regulations in the state, such as those that allow the insurance companies to deny coverage to persons like you with pre-existing medical conditions. The state does not have enough money to offer subsidized health insurance to persons in your situation, and state sponsored health plans are only available to those families of lower income, such as the illegal immigrants that you mention. Sure, we could borrow even more money to assist tax-paying citizens like yourself, but who is going to pay it back? The children of the children of illegal immigrants? They are likely to be the only remaining residents of this fine state. 
That MRMIP program is a joke. The premiums are high and they limit coverage to a maximum of $75,000 a year. All other health insurance companies offer better coverage and lower premiums.
Comment by Diane — January 12, 2007 @ 10:44 am
Yes, it is true that the coverage under MRMIP is not as comprehensive, but it does provide a solution to your lack of health insurance. Once you have been on this program for 3 years, you can then move to an individual health plan without being denied coverage. The premiums for MRMIP may seem high, but due to the high claims ratio from people on this plan, the premiums received do not cover the claims paid out. The short-fall is paid by the state, primarily from funds collected by the state’s tobacco tax. When you move off this plan in 36 months, the state will continue to help subsidize your premium through this same fund. Premiums on your guaranteed issue individual health plan will be higher than standard issue, but at least you will have options available to you.
Comment by admin — January 12, 2007 @ 10:50 am
You are absolutely right in feeling wronged over this. My husband and I are both seniors and are receiving benefits from Social Security. We do not pay anything into Medicare, we have no subscriptions to Plan B,C or D. We only have the basic medical coverage which only provides basic hospitalization, no medicine or doctors care included. In order to qualify for Plan B, we would have to pay at least $80 from our SS and to get a prescription medicine plan would cost us an extra $150-$200! That is a lot for someone on SS.
When we go to a hospital they are required to admit us, but they will still bill us for what isn’t covered from Social Security. Is that really fair? While we are being chased down for money as senior citizens, illegal immigrants are now receiving health insurance despite not paying into SS or taxes, doesn’t seem fair to me.
Comment by Jeanette — June 9, 2009 @ 12:08 pm