Do You Want Undocumented Workers To Get Free Emergency Medical Care

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I say yes

[ben_meyers]

1. Who gets free emergency medical care?

My family and I don't.

[incapsulated]

10. This is absolutely true

I walk into an emergency room, no matter what my condition, I walk out with a bill.

That said, no one should be denied emergency care for any reason.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. It's A Federal Law

Emergency rooms can't turn you away for inability to pay...I even think there are signs posted...


http://www.sitemason.com/files/eB7co8/ERcardweb_705.pdf

[incapsulated]

15. They can't turn you away...

But they can still bill you unless you disappear.

[cuke]

41. You say that as if it's a bad thing

[Fresh_Start]

2. Of course not, I'd rather that contagious diseases

would spread unchecked because someone who received medical care might be illegal and therefore undeserving of care
After all, aren't we supposed to cut off our nose to spite our face?:sarcasm:

[Mojorabbit]

16. You are absolutely right

from a public health perspective. The last thing we need is a resurgence of diseases we have kept in check in the population till now because someone did not get treated.

[Der Blaue Engel]

3. Yes

I want everyone to get free emergency (and otherwise) medical care, but it is unconscionable to deny emergency care to someone who cannot pay, whoever they may be.

[silverojo]

32. But the question was

Do you want undocumented workers to get free care. Just because you can't be turned away, you CAN and WILL be billed if you're an American citizen. So the care isn't really free; your credit will suffer if you can't pay.

So no, it isn't fair that undocumented workers should get "free" care. They should NOT be turned away, of course--nobody should be denied care--but they should be billed just as any American citizen would be.

[Der Blaue Engel]

40. We should all get free care

And who says illegal aliens aren't billed for health care anyway? Strawman.

[Tumbulu]

4. I want everyone to get free emergency health care

[1932]

44. It is wrong to let the market set the price for things you don't have a choice about whether to

purchase.

If you don't have a choice, the whole notion of the "free market" doesn't work.

Elective surgery shouldn't be free. But emergency surgery? We have to find a way to make that as cheap as possible, if not free. Or at least base the cost on ability to pay.

[Bluebear]

5. No, let their fevers fester and their germs proliferate until the whole community gets sick.

I agree with you :)

[Suich]

8. Shoot! I was just going to say that!

:)

[Bluebear]

12. You still can!

:hug:

[Suich]

29. Did you see this map of Rancho Bernardo?

You posted a satellite photo earlier...thought this might interest you.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&num=100&start=0&msa=0&msid=108433978883521424480.00043d307e160282349c1&t=h&om=1&ll=33.039284,-117.084947&spn=0.013437,0.017509&z=16

:)

[Bluebear]

30. Oh my, it looks like I was right :(

[Colobo]

6. As long as every citizen in this country does, and we don't.

[RebelSansCause]

7. i do not want the fact that someone is here illegally

to interfere with their medical care. if someone is hurt or injured they should get medical care, free if need be. that goes for everyone.

[ecstatic]

9. In true emergencies, everyone should be helped, no questions asked

until after the procedure, of course... I don't believe in double standards. After the emergency care is received, either everyone should get a free pass, or nobody should get a free pass.

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

11. There really is no such thing as "free" medical care unless

the medical staff is donating it's time,the equipment was donated etc.

Someone has to pay for it.

[Stop Cornyn]

14. Does "no" mean that the hospital lets the undocumented patient die in the ER waiting room? Hell no!

[fenriswolf]

17. being a progressive

means looking out for your fellow human being. even though i do not like that fact that we have millions of illegal immigrants living here i do not want to see one of them die do to lack of medical care just like any human being. I still think they should all be taken back to their country of origen though.

[The Traveler]

18. I am against

allowing them driver's licenses and such. Let me be clear on two things. First, when at least several million citizens of one country chose to illegally cross borders into another, I call that an invasion, for I cannot find another term. While I must call this an invasion, I cannot call it hostile. Motivation counts for much, and most illegals of my acquaintance want nothing more dearly than to support their families and become legitimate Americans. They invade not to conquer, but to join.

Even were that not the case, it is the case that even prisoners of war must be provided medical care when injured. Well, we aren't at war with these people. Quite the contrary, we exploit them in a myriad sordid ways. Which leads me to my second point ... were we to deny emergency medical care to these folk, in what sense could we claim the right to be called "human". Would we, at that point, have any decency left at all?

[silverojo]

33. No, they don't wish to join--they wish to conquer

That's why they refuse to speak English, fly Mexican flags, and claim that the Southwest ("Aztlan") used to be their land and they want it back. Google terms like Aztlan, and you'll see that the majority of today's illegals aren't like the ones who used to come here. The Mexican government is promoting this idea that part of the U.S. used to be theirs, so their people should be free to live on that land without having to become citizens.

Easy way out, isn't it? When your own incompetent government can't handle its own problems, just convince your people to go to another country, and ship your problems there. :mad:

[leftynyc]

35. I undertand what you're saying and I agree

However, when it comes to emergency care - give it and then when the person is well enough, deport them. I understand wanting a better life for you and your family - is it really asking so much to ask them to do it legally?

[Maat]

19. I want single-payer, universal coverage for ALL.

Everyone will be taxed adequately, particularly the corporations (if I get my way). I like the Kuehl bill out here in California as an example. Hopefully, an exemption will be provided to those who only employ 5 or less (or whatever).

Then, the medical costs the state pays will might go DOWN, because of preventative and early care.

THEN, the employers of undocs out here in SoCal WILL BE taxed for medical coverage - they get out of paying it now - and it will be able to be provided.

As it stands now, we taxpayers are in essence subsidizing BushCo's Rethuglican buddies who DON'T pay their fair share, with our emergency rooms burdened, and that has to stop.

I want medical care for EVERYONE.

[bluestateguy]

20. I say yes, even though I am a hard-liner on immigration

nt

[pingzing58]

21. All of us pay County taxes to support our County hospitals who provide indigent care. Even illegals

pay taxes when they buy anything in the county they live in. If they live in apartments and I believe most do, their landlords have to pay county taxes on their property and that means they contribute to their county hospitals and so like anyone else should have access to emergency health and hospital care. I'm just thinking?

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. I want all human beings to get free health care

Not just emergency care.

I'm a socialist. I want it all and I want my government to pay for it.

[fenriswolf]

31. well us being the government is kindof redundant

[porphyrian]

23. Everyone should. - n/t

[DBoon]

24. As opposed to letting them die by the side of the road?

Dogs deserve better than that

[More Than A Feeling]

25. At their employer's expense (ideally), yes, until we have national healthcare,

at which point everyone should get it. It's cheaper and, it goes without saying, more humane than letting them die in the streets, which seems to me to be the alternative.

[CyberPieHole]

26. No, I want hepatitis and tuberculosis with my soup and salad lunch...

:sarcasm:


EVERYONE deserves to have medical attention if they need it. Anyone who would deny emergency medical care to a fellow human being is beneath contempt.

[MADem]

27. Where's the OTHER choice: They should be treated if they present themselves, but they

should also be billed for the services of the medical staff.

Just like everyone else who shows up there is. Perhaps a sliding scale is appropriate, or a time payment system, if they are unable to pay. And if they are very poor there should be some sort of way to help them.

But we need to get a handle on this undocumented problem. Really. We need to develop a path to citizenship for the deserving and hard working members of our society that isn't too onerous; or if they don't want to get citizenship, we need to come up with a way that they can affiliate easily with a guest worker arrangement that protects the nation AND the worker.

[AtomicKitten]

28. I want EVERYONE to get free medical care.

[Disturbed]

34. Since most citizens need to pay for EM care why not

Illegal Immigrants? If they are earning money can't they pay in monthly installments?

[cuke]

42. Wrong

No one is ever turned away from an emergency because they can't pay. Please stop with the disinformation

[CTLawGuy]

36. Yes

then a free ticket back to their home country if it is found they have no right to be here.

[robcon]

37. A free resource will be overused.

The lesson of the Boston Common .

[1932]

45. You don't have a choice about whether to get EMERGENCY care.

And if a lot of people are making a choice not to ge to the emergency room when they need to, then we have a big problem as a society.

[closeupready]

38. Absolutely. If you think MRSA (staph) outbreaks are bad now, wait until illegals are told that

they can't get treatment for their illnesses without paying cash upfront. That's the nightmare scenario, and is one selfish reason to give illegals free emergency treatment. The point being that everyone needs medical treatment, even those who can't pay.

[IndianaJones]

39. will they be driving themselves? I hear none of them can drive properly. nt.

[cuke]

43. I am frequently surprised

by the arguments some make to "support" their opinions