Imagine leaving everything you’ve ever known: your home, family, entire livelihood, all to
come to a country that doesn’t even believe you deserve a basic necessity as simple as
health insurance. The Affordable Care Act was dedicated to eliminating the discrimination
that has evolved in the health insurance realm in the United States, but did it really
accomplish this goal? Discrimination is as prevalent as ever, just in a different form than
was initially targeted: discrimination against illegal immigrants. The ACA bars millions of
illegal immigrants from any sort of access to Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance.
Only “lawfully present immigrants” are eligible for any sort of coverage through the health
insurance market place.
According to the Final Report to the Commonwealth Fund, by 2016, 5.1 million
undocumented immigrants in the United States will be uninsured. (Wallace, 2012) But,
under the 1986 policy EMTALA, hospitals cannot turn away a person in need of care,
regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. Furthermore, according to a 2013 report
by Kaiser Health News, Emergency treatment costs to Medicaid amounts to about $2
billion a year, mostly for illegal immigrants. (Galewitz, 2013) In 2009, according to
research by the Center for Immigration Studies, the estimated the cost of treating
uninsured and undocumented immigrants at $4.3 billion per year at safety-net facilities like
emergency rooms and community health clinics. (Camarota, 2009)
All of this expense and emergency healthcare could be greatly reduced if these immigrants
were given access to primary care. Without preventative care, these people are putting their
life at risk everyday until drastic measures are needed. The United States has these people
