(Editor’s Note: Readers challenged a claim by letter writer JoAnn Lee Frank, published Wednesday, that Democrats in Congress want $200 billion in free health care for illegal immigrants. The letter repeated claims by The White House and by Republicans in Congress that fact-checkers call highly misleading. In fact, as part of a strategy to end the shutdown, Democrats want to restore health care such as Medicaid for lawfully present immigrants whose benefits are eliminated by President Trump’s One Bill Beautiful Bill Act.)
In her letter, JoAnn Lee Frank offers her non-medical opinion about how thickheaded Democrats don’t get the current policy on immigration.
Letter writers often choose to insult those who disagree with them rather than discuss the issue. But, as the expression goes, she’s entitled to her own opinions, not to her own facts.
She made an astounding assertion that Democrats seek $200 billion in health care funding for undocumented persons. I believe she referred to the cost of restoring the law to what it was prior to the evisceration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) market tax credits and previous standards for Medicaid eligibility.
Those were part of the Trump tax bill and have nothing to do with immigration.
A 1996 law enacted in the Clinton years prohibits federal funding for most health care programs for undocumented immigrants. What may upset Republicans is that the savings from cuts in health care pay for Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy — a case of Robin Hood in reverse.
Sheldon I. Saitlin, Boca Raton
An absolute travesty
I wish people would know the facts before making false assertions.
America has never paid health care for illegal immigrants, other than for critical emergency care, and even then, the person receives a bill.
Illegals are not and have never been eligible for health care subsidies. The people who are going to lose their health care are only Americans who can’t afford to pay outrageous prices (kept high by rich Republican health care lobbyists). Millions of Americans could lose access to consistent medical care if Republicans don’t compromise on this point.
My own children and grandchildren will lose benefits, as they work in jobs that do not offer health care. This is a travesty against hardworking Americans who suffer with high prices everywhere.
I’m surprised that Trump didn’t literally say, “Let them eat cake,” but he implies it in his campaign demonizing Democrats who actually support regular people, not just the uber-rich.
Let’s not forget that less than 250 years ago, we were all immigrants.
Barbra Nightingale, Hollywood
A ‘fright wing’ talking point
Yes, Ms. Frank, there is insanity here, but it lies in the Republican “fright wing” talking point you cite.
Democrats have not asked for $200 billion for health care for illegals (read the proposals).
In fact, the law specifically forbids illegals from participating in federally funded programs such as the ACA, Medicaid and Medicare. Democrats have not proposed changing this.
But federal law also prohibits emergency rooms from denying care based on ability to pay. So (drum roll) denying access to health care outside ERs means those needing care will go to ERs for more expensive care when outpatient care could have prevented the ER visit.
The cost of such care is born largely by legal residents, especially those with insurance. Is it wise to categorically deny access to insurance for non-ER care to any group, illegals or otherwise?
Richard Elliott, M.D., Boca Raton
Fact vs. fiction
When will people get it through their heads that those who are in this country illegally do not get health services? That is a fact. But of course, Trump’s supporters do not seem to recognize that.
Miriam Maher, Delray Beach
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