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California Citizenship
Would the Socialization of Medical Insurance Affect Rising Health Costs in California?
"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane." - Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
While there are major concerns over the 6 million uninsured citizens in the state of California and statistics overwhelmingly show that illegal immigrants struggle to qualify for and afford health insurance, the state's voters seem torn on the issue of medical care. In November 2004, they voted down a ballot initiative that would have required employers to provide health care coverage for their works. Now, state lawmakers are pursuing legislation that would require citizens to buy their own health insurance. Called the "individual mandate," this approach is much like how states regard mandatory car insurance.
Most Agree That the Current System is Not Working as Well as it Needs to
The results were compiled from more than 3,000 adults. Gallup also went a little further in details, such as age, race, gender and health status.
California estimates that it loses $900 million a year in unpaid emergency-room costs. So while there seems to be little consensus on how to handle the issues of illegal immigrants' and noncitizens' access to and ability to pay for health care, there is no argument that change is needed.
"We're concerned that the status quo--doing nothing--will bring the entire house of cards down in California," Dr. Jack Lewin, chief executive of the California Medical Association, told CNN.com.
Issues of Qualification and Access Aside, Affordability is the Key Factor for Noncitizens and Illegal Immigrants
A survey by the UCLA School of Public Health found that, compared to citizen children in native-born families, being a noncitizen or having immigrant parents puts a child at greater risk of:
- Being uninsured
- Not having seen a physician in the last year for acute or chronic conditions
- Having fewer opportunities for preventative health care services
The survey also showed that, regardless of ethnicity or immigration status, lack of affordable health care is the main reason for noncitizens to be uninsured. Therefore, mandatory medical insurance would require generous subsidies for the poor, many of which are noncitizens. For a state that had an $8 billion budget gap in 2004, there are no easy answers.
Affordable Health Coverage has a host of options to address the issue of health insurance for illegal immigrants and noncitizens alike. Click around our information Web site or fill out a simple form to get a free quote.
At Affordable-Health-Coverage, we have helped numerous people find the right health insurance plan at low, affordable rates. Let us help you--it takes only a moment to save big. Get a FREE quote today!
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