When it comes to Hispanics and health care many in the community feel they are getting the short end of the stick. This is largely due to President Obama’s new health care reform plan that he has put forth to Congress. President Obama’s proposal has caused quite a stir in Congress which is partly due to the issue of legal and illegal immigrants. Many in the Hispanic community feel that when it comes to Hispanics the issue of illegal immigrants is always at the forefront.
This is largely due to the fact that there is the belief that illegal immigrants are taking advantage of the benefits of tax paying Americans and free loading. There is no better example of this sentiment then the outburst of Representative Joe Wilson during a session of Congress where he states,”You lie!” accusing President Obama of lying about the health coverage of illegal immigrants in the new heath care reform and that the reform would really give illegal immigrants coverage he believes they do not deserve.
However, there are some facts to be considered in the issue :
- Latinos represent 15% of the population and between the year 2005 and 2050 it is expected to be 60%
- 34% of Hispanics do not have insurance
- Legal immigrants who pay full taxes tend to use public health services less than Americans
- Legal immigrants are required to wait 5 years before applying for Medicaid and Medicare
Taking in all these factors it is apparent that adequate health care is a dire need for legal and illegal immigrants. The fact of the matter is that access to adequate health care should not be solely contingent upon residency status in the United States but on the needs of the citizens.
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