Last year, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that Medicaid spending would increase by $10 billion from 2008 to 2012 and by $23 billion from 2008 to 2017, under a so-called comprehensive immigration reform bill that failed to pass Congress.
Three years earlier, the Government Accountability Office reported that the cost of caring for illegal aliens is difficult to track, for obvious reasons. Those in the country in violation of U.S. immigration law can and likely do use phony or stolen Social Security numbers. Many are treated in emergency rooms and “forget” to leave Social Security numbers. (Kaiser Network)
A professor of health care policy noted that “uncompensated care” for illegal aliens may be much lower than perceived. In 2000, $1.1 billion in government money was spent on illegal aliens for health care, according to RAND. Total spending on illegal aliens was about $6.5 billion. The study also claims illegal aliens use fewer services because they have no health insurance, are generally in better health, lack English skills, and fear deportation.
In related news, a federal program that reimburses states that provide medical care to illegal aliens will expire by the end of this month. Hospitals in the border state of Arizona have asked Congress to renew the program.