Stan Geiger

What of the Illegals?

Two words: “You lie!” Those words were shouted relative to the great one’s health care plan and the possibility of illegal aliens being covered by it. The administration denies. But the fact is, covered or not, illegal aliens present a problem.

I don’t know how many illegal aliens are in this country. I have no way of knowing, exactly. But I have heard numbers thrown out that range as high as 12 million. Big border-states like Texas and California are probably eaten up with them.

The goal, as I understand it, is universal coverage; health insurance for all. If illegals aren’t covered, that’s not possible.

There is no way Americans will stand for paying taxes to provide health insurance for millions of people that aren’t even supposed to be here. That’s a given.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest bitches I hear comes from hospitals that are required to treat the sick and injured when they show up---insurance or no insurance. I’m pretty sure the law says that, but, even absent such a law, would it be a proper thing from a standpoint of medical ethics to turn people in dire need away based on a lack of insurance or the probability of getting paid?

Covering illegals is politically untenable. Not covering illegals leaves a big hole in the scheme. People, whether legal citizens or not, will go to the hospital if sick or injured. And the hospitals will eat the cost of treatment and pass it on to others just as they do now.

So where do we go from here?

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