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Former New York Lt. Governor Betsey McCaughey on the cost of adding 11 million illegal immigrants to the health-care system.
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Immigration there are approximately eleven million illegal immigrants in United States right now.
A bipartisan group of senators and the president want to put them -- onto a path toward citizenship.
Question when they are all fully citizens if that happens how much does that cost -- health care system good question -- surely gonna cost something.
Join the company is Betsy McCoy former lieutenant governor of New York on the also all -- beating Obama look at.
I welcome back to the program first point and there -- this.
-- in the early stages.
Illegal immigrants -- -- my probationary call Smart when they passed the background check and pay them back taxes but they may still not take any federal benefits.
I'm interested in the cost to our country the cost -- health care system when they off fully citizens and it all green card holders what's the cost.
Well it could be between ten and twenty billion dollars a year but there's another cost it could cost.
Legal immigrants or US citizens there -- jobs and here's why.
This current proposal could provide an incentive.
For employers to -- -- the employer mandate under obamacare the law says that employers with fifty or more full time workers have to offer.
Coverage or pay a penalty.
But the penalty is triggered.
When one of the employees goes to the state insurance exchange and says my bosses and offering coverage -- my bosses and offering coverage I can afford.
Well if this new status of immigrant.
Is barred from the state insurance exchanges that county won't be triggered and it could be an incentive.
For employers to replace their current workers with lips no insurance penalty workers.
OK so your talking about this probationary period before any -- achieves full citizenship.
Back the cost -- -- could take years young right and then in the meantime.
In fact the -- of obamacare anticipated that.
It's -- Now I want to fast forward to the point -- some all may be most all of the eleven million achieve full status balance citizens -- -- -- -- -- that fully legal and eligible.
For Obama -- Medicare Medicaid.
That I believe has a a cost as well tell me.
But that's right well right now under current law and legal immigrants have to wait five years to -- eligible for Medicaid and that's unlikely to change.
But right now under current law legal immigrants including many of the eleven million who will eventually move into that status.
Are immediately eligible for full subsidies 100% subsidies for private health plans.
Under the state insurance exchanges that belief system all fifty states and that's -- the big money would be.
Investors business daily estimates ten billion dollars a year I think it's actually quite a bit higher than that but we'll have to see how many of those eleven.
Million people qualify for staying.
And they will -- qualify when they're all full citizens they all qualify for Medicaid have immediately.
A Medicare system which they probably haven't paid that much into but which they will qualify for.
That too is a cost and a drain to the Medicare finances right.
Other good clearly the more people on Medicare and the more it costs although generally this immigrant population.
It's not tilted towards the older -- is the way the US population is -- -- don't forget immigrants illegal immigrants are already eligible for health care.
Emergency Medicaid and also help under the community health centers which were very much beefed up under obamacare.
With a lot of new funding.
I just wanna make the point that I'm not saying we should reform immigration the way they want to and I'm not taking any side on that whatsoever.
I'm simply saying that there is a cost involved and back cost at this point is not part of the debate but he should be part of the debate.
Thank your so right as usual story you are right on that one.
Ha ha come back soon Betsy -- thank you very much -- -- we'll see you soon thanks very much.
