Quote:
The bill, now before California Gov. Jerry Brown, aims to allow people who are in the country illegally to buy private health insurance on the state's exchange. Its author, Democratic state Sen. Ricardo Lara estimates that 390,000 such immigrants could receive health insurance, but officials who operate the exchange place that number closer to 50,000.
...
Obamacare explicitly bars people in the country illegally from its provisions, but a loophole called the "innovation waiver" allows for states to change portions of the law, as long as they make coverage available to more people and as long as the federal government doesn't have to pick up the tab, among other requirements. The bill, which would require that a request for a waiver be filed, first must be approved by the state legislature and the governor before the waiver can be considered by the federal government.
...
But it is unclear exactly to what extent people would want to buy plans without subsidies. Nothing prevents people who are in the country illegally from buying health insurance directly from brokers, and the plans offered on the exchange have similar prices to those sold off the exchange.
...
Brown has not indicated whether he will sign the bill, and a spokeswoman says they do not comment on pending legislation. Brown has 12 days to veto or sign the measure, and if he does nothing it will become law.
California has been moving in the direction of permitting more benefits to people regardless of immigration status. Last year, Medi-Cal, the state's program for low-income residents that is known as Medicaid in most states, opened health care coverage to all low-income children, despite immigration status. An estimated 170,000 children will become eligible at a cost of $40 million to the state this year and $132 million each subsequent year.
Groups who oppose illegal immigration have said they would consider filing a lawsuit against the state or the administration.
...
If Brown signs the waiver bill, members of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Treasury will have up to 225 days to make a decision about whether to approve it. The timeline means all of this could happen before Obama leave office.
|
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/...gal-immigrants
They're threatening to sue again if it passes .... Haha oh God.
I feel like the more immigration reform 'progresses' the higher our risk of getting deported becomes.