Illegals affect Healthcare?

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There seems to be no measures to get rid of the illegal immigrants in America, how does this affect hospitals, healthcare workers etc... Are illegal immigrants a problem in the future of healthcare, the shortage of nurses?

Thanks....

Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.
I'm from Arizona, and have seen the problem of Mexican illegal immigration. The county hospitals take the brunt of the problem. It's true that they (immigrants) can't afford routine medical care, so when they do show up in the hospital, they're pretty sick. I've always thought that the hospitals should bill the US government who, in turn, should forward the bill to the Mexican government for payment. If the Mexican government was forced to shell out the money, maybe it would decide to take better care of it's people. Right now, it's cheaper for the Mexican government to allow people to cross the border than to provide programs for the poor like we do. The poor in Mexico have absolutely zero resources - that's why they're willing to risk their lives coming here.

I agree with you half ways, and only because I have seen the kind of money some illegal aliens make and lets remember they pay no taxes. Some live in one apartment with 15 others for cheaper rent. I used to work with the underserved and many had their stash of money under their mattress but would cry mercy when it was time to pay for a rx or medical expense. Yet, they had rings and gold chains like Mr. T

I think it is quite unfair to say that ALL illegal immigrants are poor and can't afford this and that only because I have witnessed this so many times and they know how to use their "no ssn status" wisely to their favor. Again, I know this may not be the case for all but it is also a stereotype to say they are all poor.

Yes, they are people and should be treated accordingly. But I also believe we cannot keep using that excuss to mask the reality. In many instances they are much better off than those of us who work tirelessly, pay taxes and cannot afford healthcare. Yet, they have an adavantage when it comes to services because "poor people". I don't see the government or the hospital feeling pity for those like us. It is a double-edged sword.

The issue here is....why do they get free this and that, and I don't? :)

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Clearly, it is VERY important NOT to stereotype or generalize. And , we need to remember, not all who enter the USA from Mexico or other countries, do so illegally. The issue of illegal immigration is huge, like everyone has said. It won't be solved on this bulletin board, obviously. The answer is to become educated and politically-active, if you want anything to change in the way of illegal immigration and health care (or ANY issue, for that matter).

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Resource Pool, Dialysis.
I agree with you half ways, and only because I have seen the kind of money some illegal aliens make and lets remember they pay no taxes. Some live in one apartment with 15 others for cheaper rent. I used to work with the underserved and many had their stash of money under their mattress but would cry mercy when it was time to pay for a rx or medical expense. Yet, they had rings and gold chains like Mr. T

I think it is quite unfair to say that ALL illegal immigrants are poor and can't afford this and that only because I have witnessed this so many times and they know how to use their "no ssn status" wisely to their favor. Again, I know this may not be the case for all but it is also a stereotype to say they are all poor.

Yes, they are people and should be treated accordingly. But I also believe we cannot keep using that excuss to mask the reality. In many instances they are much better off than those of us who work tirelessly, pay taxes and cannot afford healthcare. Yet, they have an adavantage when it comes to services because "poor people". I don't see the government or the hospital feeling pity for those like us. It is a double-edged sword.

The issue here is....why do they get free this and that, and I don't? :)

I agree with you. I was generalizing quite a bit, but I think it was justified. If you have ever lived in a border state such as So Ca, AZ, NM or TX you would see a very different immigrant than ones who have migrated to the midwest or New England. In some cases, there is a sense of entitlement on their part, and a lack of respect. The majority though, I think, are hard working men with an extended family still in Mexico, whom he is trying to support however he can.

It's not that the government shows pity to them, and offers free medical care. It's that the government and the hospitals have no way to collect from illegal immigrants. No address, no SSN, no record. For the rest of us, they know where to find us. That's why we should start billing the Mexican government for the costs.

Remember, there are plenty of legal American citizens who take advantage of all of our systems. Many of them rake in money illegally, and don't pay taxes.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
I agree with you half ways, and only because I have seen the kind of money some illegal aliens make and lets remember they pay no taxes. Some live in one apartment with 15 others for cheaper rent. I used to work with the underserved and many had their stash of money under their mattress but would cry mercy when it was time to pay for a rx or medical expense. Yet, they had rings and gold chains like Mr. T

I think it is quite unfair to say that ALL illegal immigrants are poor and can't afford this and that only because I have witnessed this so many times and they know how to use their "no ssn status" wisely to their favor. Again, I know this may not be the case for all but it is also a stereotype to say they are all poor.

Yes, they are people and should be treated accordingly. But I also believe we cannot keep using that excuss to mask the reality. In many instances they are much better off than those of us who work tirelessly, pay taxes and cannot afford healthcare. Yet, they have an adavantage when it comes to services because "poor people". I don't see the government or the hospital feeling pity for those like us. It is a double-edged sword.

The issue here is....why do they get free this and that, and I don't? :)

You are really reaching Jessica. I don't think that 15 people living in one apartment could be qualified as any great quality of life in any form or fashion. The reason they live like that is because they are often saving to send for a loved one or they are sending money back home to take care of love ones. I am not impressed by flea market jewelry either, I don't look at how someone is dressed and use that as a measure of their wealth. I don't see how anyone can look at those living circumstances and think that they are better off than most of us. It's amazing what people will envy when they choose to believe that person is somehow less deserving than they.

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Let's remember too that illegal immigrants aren't necessarily not paying taxes. Payroll taxes come out thanks to fake SSNs same as they do for those of us with real SSNs. Frankly, I think everyone should have access to healthcare, no questions asked. I also think everyone should have to contribute to healthcare which is why I favor a type of payroll tax to pay for health insurance. A lot of regular Americans don't pay their healthcare bills either, so this would apply to everyone. Honestly, I think the "they get it for free and I don't cause I work" line is a little.... well, silly. Honestly, if you think their lives are so great, would you want to trade places with them? I wouldn't. You can still go to the ER and get treated then stiff them on the bill if it really means that much to you.

Since my patients are babies born in the US, their immigration situation is pretty clear regardless of the status of their parents.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

This thread is about one post away from being closed. Please do not address other posters personally, and keep the discourse polite......otherwise I will have no choice but to shut things down.

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Anybody who has worked ER in a border state (esp border TOWNS ) would tell us that illegals effect healthcare...just look at the sheer numbers using our ER's for their routine healthcare needs. :(

This administration does not wish to address the problems of illegal aliens in our midst and I'm surprised the populace is standing for it since 911. Our current lax policies make it almost a certainty that 911 will be repeated.

Write your congressmen/women if this lax policy disturbs you as it does me.

I am not anti immigration, but it MUST be done legally.

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I live in Southern Cali, ...the undocumented immigrants in the town where I live mostly live in the canyons and stand in the parking lot of Home Depot waiting for work all day. I agree that something has to be done ....but it is also sad when you see this everyday. I found it very funny when I moved out here that everyone complains about them but if you go to a park EVERYONE has a Mexican nanny watching their children. The Minutemen were patrolling part of the border in s. cali recently...and they were getting rocks thrown at them from across the border and there was a threat issued by an LA gang ...that they were going to come out there ...because where they were patrolling was a huge drug entry route. There also was an immigration forum out here to discuss various issues. The police where there in riot gear because there were threats of violence made. I think the situation has been ignored too long and has gotten way out of hand.

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You are really reaching Jessica. I don't think that 15 people living in one apartment could be qualified as any great quality of life in any form or fashion. The reason they live like that is because they are often saving to send for a loved one or they are sending money back home to take care of love ones. I am not impressed by flea market jewelry either, I don't look at how someone is dressed and use that as a measure of their wealth. I don't see how anyone can look at those living circumstances and think that they are better off than most of us. It's amazing what people will envy when they choose to believe that person is somehow less deserving than they.

you have to realize that 10 or 15 people living in an apartment here is much better than living in squaller with no running water, sewage, or electricity. You have to look at the conditions they are coming from not the conditions they are in as compared to you.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

last Warning. The Thread Will Be Closed If There Is Any More Deviation From The Topic Given By The Op>>>>>

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Anybody who has worked ER in a border state (esp border TOWNS ) would tell us that illegals effect healthcare...just look at the sheer numbers using our ER's for their routine healthcare needs. :(

This administration does not wish to address the problems of illegal aliens in our midst and I'm surprised the populace is standing for it since 911. Our current lax policies make it almost a certainty that 911 will be repeated.

Write your congressmen/women if this lax policy disturbs you as it does me.

I am not anti immigration, but it MUST be done legally.

Excuse me........but in my memories of 9/11, I don't recall there being one single terrorist of Hispanic descent on board any one of those airplanes. And aren't migrants from Mexico and Central America what we are REALLY talking about here? :stone

This thread has become ridiculous. I am giving it a 24 hour 'time-out' for moderator discussion.

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