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California healthcare service cancelling undocumented residents

October 23, 2014

Covered CaliforniaCovered California, the state health exchange set up under the Affordable Care Act, is threatening to terminate the insurance plans of more than 10,000 enrollees who have yet to verify their immigration status. [KEYT]

If the enrollees in question do not provide documentation confirming their legal status, they will have their policies terminated. Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee said the undocumented residents are receiving pre-termination notices and have until the end of the month to comply with the order.

Undocumented Californians qualify for neither Covered California, nor Medi-Cal.

State officials estimate that between 2 and 2.5 million undocumented immigrants currently live in California. Of that total, about 1 million are uninsured.

Immigrant advocates say the denial of health insurance is putting at risk children who were born in the U.S. and are eligible for coverage.


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Of course their coverage needs to be cancelled! It’s not right, fair, or economically prudent

for hard-working Californian middle-class taxpayers to subsidize another country’s citizens! Duh!


When are mal-practice journalists going to report stories about how OTHER COUNTRIES are not taking care of their OWN citizens??? That’s the real story!!! Hello!


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Eight years ago I spent a week in Sierra Vista hospital having had hip replacement surgery.

I shared a room with an undocumented individual from Oceano, He had been admitted to the hospital for a brain injury due to a gang related assault.

During his stay an official ( I suspect county, but not sure) came to visit this patient and to ask him a number of questions. She asked if he was a citizen,,,answer NO, She asked if he had a job…answer was NO. She asked if he had a permanent address…answer NO. She asked if he had a SS card…the answer was NO. She asked if he had a drivers license…the answer was NO She asked him if he had any bank accounts either checking of savings…he said NO. She asked if he had any assets,…he said NO. She then proceeded to tell him that given the circumstances, HE would not be financially responsible for any medical services rendered on behalf of Sierra Vista Hospital.

I was shocked and appalled, as my surgery cost my insurance company well over $150,000,00.


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This is the part where we should bring in INS and deport that guy.


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and then the gov’t re-imburses the hospital.


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“If the enrollees in question do not provide documentation confirming their legal status, they will have their policies terminated.”


So they don’t need documentation to vote, drive, or receive financial aid but they do need it for health care? Covered California is a mess. Tear it down and start over.


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I would think that you would view this as a good example for other government programs in regards to undocumented immigrants. Why are your criticizing Covered California for doing what you want done for voting, driving, getting financial aid, etc.?


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Because if they are here to stay around me and we can’t send them home. I want them disease free. I don’t want my ER packed with people that have a cold. Covered CA needs to be completely rethought and re instituted for many reasons. The main reason Covered CA will sink under it’s own weight is the rising cost of individual coverage. Rather than kick ILLEGAL ALIENS off the plan make them pay for it thus helping the plan work. I guess that kind of common sense is just too much to ask from government these days.


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No thanks. I am saving $400 a month less than my previous coverage, and it is much better coverage, too.


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Could this be that the Covered CA people are about to come out with stats saying “some high percentage” of those that signed up have paid their premiums and before they do that they need to remove a large number that have not paid?


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A likely hypothesis.


These are the same people who claim to have blanced the budget by removing unfunded pension and medical liability from the accounting process (approx $27B).


Meanwhile we have the highest income taxes in the country, the highest gas taxes, the most regulations of any state and the 4th highest unemployment rate.


All smoke and mirrors.


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But we get to live in California and that’s a good thing!


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I don’t think 1-1.5 million illegal immigrants have health insurance, that shows a lack of logic and critical thinking.


They use the ER for free health care. A guy in a taqueria told me, “When I go in, I tell them my name in Ramon Garcia… the next time I go in, I tell them my name is Ramon Martinez…”


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How do you know someones legal or illegal? Surely we’re not taking their “word” now are we? Plus, if they need emergency services they walk in, present data linked to a covered person and are treated.


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They are treated first, then questions are asked


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Finally, do I smell the scent of sanity in Sacto?


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“Covered California, the state health exchange set up under the Affordable Care Act, is threatening to terminate the insurance plans of more than 10,000 enrollees who have yet to verify their immigration status.”


Is that enrollees or voters?


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They are likely both


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That’s ok. They will just go to the ER and then the California Tax payers will pick up the tab…what’s everyone worried about? We like our cheap veggies and labor right…so you live with the consequences.


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sorry, but how much of our stuff goes out of state. they can pay, too


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Pay a little more for veggies so our citizens can do the work and we don’t have to use illegals… Farmers are getting an unfair advantage and we tax payers are supporting them. Get rid of the subsidies, pay a fair wage for our citizens to do the job and pay a little more for the products. We’ll be ahead!

Besides they don’t stop after picking crops, they become tradesmen and laborers competing with our out of work citizens. Eliminate the illegals and we eliminate our deficit.


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