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Immigration fallout from saying no to 'Obamacare' (Brewer opts in for Medicaid expansion in Arizona)
AP ^ | Jan. 23, 2013

Posted on 01/24/2013 11:25:07 AM PST by Wolfie

Immigration fallout from saying no to 'Obamacare'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Governors who reject health insurance for the poor under the federal health care overhaul could wind up in a politically awkward position on immigration: A quirk in the law means some U.S. citizens would be forced to go without coverage, while legal immigrants residing in the same state could still get it.

It's an unintended consequence of how last year's Supreme Court decision changed the Medicaid provisions of President Barack Obama's health care law. The overhaul expanded the federal-state program for low-income and disabled people. The Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion optional for states, which complicated things.

Arizona officials called attention to the problem last week, when Republican Gov. Jan Brewer opted to accept the Medicaid expansion.

Brewer had been a leading opponent of the overhaul, and her decision got widespread attention. State budget documents cited the immigration glitch as one of her reasons.

"If Arizona does not expand, for poor Arizonans below (the federal poverty line), only legal immigrants, but not citizens, would be eligible for subsidies," the documents said.

That's because the immigrants would be eligible for government-subsidized private insurance, while low-income citizens would not. The Obama administration confirmed Arizona's interpretation.

The gist of what Brewer was saying is that "by rejecting the expansion, you are essentially rewarding the immigrant population at the expense of full citizens," said Matt Salo, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors, a nonpartisan group that represents the states in Washington.

"The political optics of that could be crushing," he added.

(Excerpt) Read more at kentucky.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Mexico; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: aliens; brewer; illegelaliens; medicaid; obamacare

1 posted on 01/24/2013 11:25:17 AM PST by Wolfie
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To: Wolfie

And illegals still get it free.


2 posted on 01/24/2013 11:38:56 AM PST by Oldexpat
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To: Wolfie

This country is so f’ed up.


3 posted on 01/24/2013 11:50:49 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: Wolfie

Impossible to blame Brewer for this Hobson’s Choice. The person to blame is John Roberts, a traitor who puts Benedict Arnold to shame.


4 posted on 01/24/2013 11:53:00 AM PST by montag813
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To: Wolfie
"That's because the immigrants would be eligible for government-subsidized private insurance...."

WTF does that mean? The poor get PRIVATE health insurance? And we Americans when we retire after years of paying into Medicare get government health insurance? And didn't the Democrats fry Paul Ryan for suggesting Medicare turn to private health insurance vouchers yet the poor get PRIVATE health insurance?

5 posted on 01/24/2013 11:58:56 AM PST by avacado
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To: Wolfie
It's an unintended consequence

No it's not. This whole thing is designed to be an unbearable fustercluck so that the majority will panic and start demanding single payer.


6 posted on 01/24/2013 12:02:15 PM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: montag813

She could have held fast to her principles, but of course she’d be voted out a job. She’s no dummy, just a politician who wants to stay in office.


7 posted on 01/24/2013 12:03:49 PM PST by Wolfie
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To: Wolfie

Without doubt the slimiest pack of CS’ers in the world.


8 posted on 01/24/2013 1:44:16 PM PST by Venturer
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