What is the status of illegal immigrants and other noncitizens in health care reform?
The current proposals do not cover illegal immigrants, but some people have questioned whether there are loopholes that would expand care to them. For instance, HR3200 does not have any restriction on who could participate in the proposed health insurance exchange, according to a Congressional Research Service report issued two weeks ago. However, qualifying for health insurance subsidies requires an individual to be “lawfully present” in the United States, according to the CRS report. The country’s health commissioner would be instructed by law to establish immigration status before giving subsidies. Noncitizens living and working legally in the United States would be required to obtain health insurance or be penalized with a tax. But they wouldn’t be allowed to apply for a subsidy. Illegal immigrants are already eligible for emergency care through the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. Health care overhaul also expands Medicai
