Senate Health Care Debate Set to Begin with Immigration a Key Issue

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expects the Congressional Budget Office’s score of his version of health care reform today, which should kick off the Senate’s debate of the legislation. The inclusion of strong verification language remains a hot topic.

It’s likely that the Senate version of the bill will include verification language for Medicare and Medicaid eligible individuals. It would also likely include verification for anyone receiving affordability credits, but whether or not illegal aliens would be allowed to purchase insurance on the “health care exchange” remains a key issue. The day before the House passed its final version, the Hispanic Congressional Caucus convinced Pres. Obama not to exclude illegal aliens from the exchange. But there’s only one Hispanic senator, Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), so they won’t have the same influence.

Another key issue is whether or not reform should waive the five-year waiting period presently placed on legal immigrants looking to receive health care benefits from the government. If the waiting period is waived, it would allow illegal aliens quicker access to health care benefits through a few different avenues.

Language to keep the five-year waiting period was proposed during the bill’s markup by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.).

If illegal aliens are excluded from the exchange, but the five-year waiting period is waived, it raises a key questions. Would legal immigrants be able to purchase insurance from the exchange when it would cover illegal aliens living in their household? Waiving the five-year waiting period, but preventing illegal aliens from purchasing on the exchange received bi-partisan support during the Finance Committee’s markup of the bill.

NumbersUSA takes no position on the health care reform debate, but we stand against illegal aliens receiving benefits through the bill. A health care bill without strong verification language would act as a magnet enticing more illegal immigration into the country.

For more information, see the National Journal Online.