Just so we are clear, the Republicans offered an amendment to HR 3200 that would bar illegals from coverage under ObamaCare. That amendment was defeated by the Democrats.
On July 16, an amendment by Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) that would have required use of the SAVE [Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements] program to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving the affordable premium credits was defeated by the House Ways and Means Committee.
So when the liberals tell you that the bill explicitly prohibits illegals from getting coverage, what then was the point of voting down a provision that would require verification of immigration status? You see our friends on the left know that if you "bar" illegals from coverage, but then never verify whether they are, in fact, illegal, you end up with coverage for illegals. It is sort of like the border: The law bars you from coming here, but unless somebody checks your ID at the border, you are in.
This is the big question all over the web today. Are illegals covered under ObamaCare? The answer is most assuredly yes. Had the Democrats wanted to bar illegals, they all would have voted yes on Rep. Heller's amendment. And they didn't.
Comments
The Congressional Research Service agrees with you that as a practical matter, illegal aliens would be able to get coverage.
Illegal immigrants are exempt from ObamaCare's fines and penalties, but there is no effective eligibility verification mechanism to keep them from joining up if they want to.
This could lead to the worst of both worlds: young, healthy illegal aliens avoiding health insurance, while older, sickly illegal aliens get government-sponsored health insurance, meaning that the government ends up insuring only the most expensive and costly illegals.
Those CRS guys sure know what they are talking about!
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