Medicaid and undocumented immigrants

Letters to the Editor

New York Times

letters@nytimes.com

October 2, 2011

To the Editor:

“Stuck in Bed, at Hospital’s Expense” highlights the need for new health policies in relation to undocumented immigrants. Hospitals cannot keep losing money for treating patients that aren’t covered under Medicaid.

The biggest issue to tackle is extending health services to Mr. Fok and the millions of other illegal immigrants in this country. At the same time, we should be working towards documenting and legalizing these people. Mr. Fok’s low-income job with no insurance benefits led to poor eating habits and health issues that were not treated until his hemorrhagic stroke. The fear of exposing his undocumented family and their long workdays to support themselves led to an extended stay at New York Downtown with no one to claim him. Denial of Medicaid to undocumented immigrants combined with poor living and working conditions contributes to unattended health issues and, inevitably, more cases similar to Mr. Fok’s in the future.

Sincerely,

Crystal Ng

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/nyregion/stuck-in-bed-for-19-months-at-hospitals-expense.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1