For shame!
We know the government is trying to control illegal immigration in this country--- but now they are denying American citizens from receiving the healthcare they need?
For shame!
Yes, you’ve read correctly. According to the NY Times article, Infant-Care Rule Cites Immigrants in U.S. Illegally, babies “born in the United States to illegal immigrants with low incomes will no longer be automatically entitled to health insurance through Medicaid.” Now the parents must fill out an application and prove the child’s citizenship. According to one advocate of the new policy, “all you have to do is provide a birth certificate or hospital records verifying birth.” The problem is it can take weeks for the child’s documents to be in order – ie. birth certificate, social security number, etc. “Hospital records verifying birth”? (We guess a roomful of doctors and nurses isn’t proof enough. ) What if the child needs special medical attention due to a birth complication? What about the vaccines that should be given to babies during their first year? Will the child be denied treatment – even though, according to the Constitution, they are an American Citizen?
Apparently so.
A spokeswoman for the Tennessee Medicaid Program said “we will not be able to cover any services for the newborn until a Medicaid application is filed. That could be days, weeks or months after the child is born.” Some of you may say that it is easy enough to file an application and prove the child’s citizenship--- however, according to some of the opponents of this new policy, “illegal immigrants may be afraid to apply because of ‘the threat of deportation’” --- which is understandable.
The main point here is that innocent, American citizens --- babies--- are being hurt in this attempt to control illegal immigration. This new policy denies American citizens from receiving the healthcare they are entitled to.
For shame!
Yes, you’ve read correctly. According to the NY Times article, Infant-Care Rule Cites Immigrants in U.S. Illegally, babies “born in the United States to illegal immigrants with low incomes will no longer be automatically entitled to health insurance through Medicaid.” Now the parents must fill out an application and prove the child’s citizenship. According to one advocate of the new policy, “all you have to do is provide a birth certificate or hospital records verifying birth.” The problem is it can take weeks for the child’s documents to be in order – ie. birth certificate, social security number, etc. “Hospital records verifying birth”? (We guess a roomful of doctors and nurses isn’t proof enough. ) What if the child needs special medical attention due to a birth complication? What about the vaccines that should be given to babies during their first year? Will the child be denied treatment – even though, according to the Constitution, they are an American Citizen?
Apparently so.
A spokeswoman for the Tennessee Medicaid Program said “we will not be able to cover any services for the newborn until a Medicaid application is filed. That could be days, weeks or months after the child is born.” Some of you may say that it is easy enough to file an application and prove the child’s citizenship--- however, according to some of the opponents of this new policy, “illegal immigrants may be afraid to apply because of ‘the threat of deportation’” --- which is understandable.
The main point here is that innocent, American citizens --- babies--- are being hurt in this attempt to control illegal immigration. This new policy denies American citizens from receiving the healthcare they are entitled to.
posted by CareTALKGals(tm) at 11/02/2006 11:33:00 PM
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