« Sometimes You Read About the Neatest People | Main | "Hospital Seeks Brain Surgeon" »

November 29, 2007

The 800 Pound Gorilla In The Healthcare Discussion

Here's a clue: it's initials are "I.I."

About 30 percent of all immigrants and their children lack health insurance, Mr. Camarota reports, compared with 13 percent of native-born Americans. One of every three uninsured people in the country is an immigrant or a young American-born child with at least one immigrant parent, he found. Immigrant families account for almost three-quarters of the increase in the uninsured in the past 15 years, he concludes.

...“Immigrants have had an enormous impact on the lack of health insurance,” Mr. Camarota said. “If we are going to have a debate about health insurance, we should recognize that most of the growth in the uninsured comes from recently arrived immigrants and their American-born kids.”

For many many reasons we simply must secure and regain control of our borders.

Posted by Mr. Bingley at November 29, 2007 07:04 AM

Comments

They are a huge burden on the Emergency Rooms of this country, which must treat all comers, regardless of ability to pay.

Posted by: John at November 29, 2007 01:25 PM

I like the idea of deducting the costs of health care for foreigners from their country's foreign aid.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at November 29, 2007 01:29 PM

Or we could deduct those healthcare costs from Congressional paychecks and bennies. There might even be enough to cover the costs.

Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at November 29, 2007 02:50 PM

...About 30 percent of all immigrants and their children lack health insurance..."

Legal immigrants, or border-jumpers? There is a difference, though you couldn't tell by the way this is written.

Posted by: mojo at November 29, 2007 04:26 PM

To that writer, there is no difference.

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at November 30, 2007 11:37 AM