Black Muslim PresiChimpoleon Buckwheat's Betrayal - DemocRATs Say NO Healthcare for Criminal Beaners!

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/baucus_illegals_health/2009/05/21/216839.html

Sen. Baucus: No Health Insurance for Illegals

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Illegal immigrants won't be entitled to medical insurance under the
health legislation Congress is working on, a leading lawmaker said
Thursday.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., said the health overhaul would cover nearly
everyone ? 94 percent to 96 percent of the population ? but not
undocumented workers. Baucus is chairman of the Finance Committee,
which has taken the lead in drafting the sweeping legislation.

"We aren't going to cover undocumented workers because that's too
politically explosive," Baucus said during a session with reporters,
in which he previewed legislation he expects to introduce by mid-June.
President Barack Obama wants Congress to revamp healthcare this year,
and Baucus says he's confident a bill can pass with support from both
parties.

Baucus said his bill would build on the system in which employers,
government, and individuals share in paying health care costs. It's
likely to include a requirement that individuals get insurance
coverage, either through an employer, a government plan or on their
own. He said the plan will include "incentives" ? and perhaps
requirements ? for employers to help pay.

People would be able to keep the coverage they already have. But those
who can't find coverage now, and people who are looking for something
better, would be able to buy a plan through a new kind of buying pool
called an "exchange." Consumers would have a choice of private
insurance plans, and most likely, a government-sponsored one as well.

Plans in the exchange would have to offer at least a standard benefits
package and wouldn't be able to discriminate against people with
health problems. The government would provide subsidies for low- and
middle-income households who can't afford the whole premium.

Baucus didn't say how much his plan would cost, but outside estimates
have put the price tag in the range of $1.5 trillion over 10 years.
Most of the money would be raised by making the healthcare system more
efficient, Baucus said. Government programs like Medicare would start
paying for the quality of care, not the number of tests and procedures
that patients get.

Nonetheless, Baucus said tax increases will be needed to pay the
upfront costs of expanding coverage. One of his main revenue-raising
options is at odds with Obama's preferences. Baucus wants to limit the
tax-free status of job-based healthcare benefits to raise money and
rein in healthcare spending. Obama says he opposes that, but he left
the door open to changing his mind.

Baucus said coverage for all will probably have to be phased in over a
number of years, but he wouldn't say how many. Even when the
legislation is fully implemented some people may still be uninsured.

"The goal is for everybody to have coverage but, by definition,
there's a few who slip through the cracks," he said.

Nearly 50 million people ? about 16 percent of the population ? lack
health insurance.

Baucus said his plan would reduce the share who are uninsured to
around 4 percent to 6 percent of the population. That could still
amount to 15 million to 20 million uninsured.

Baucus said he's looking at ways to enroll automatically people who
try to avoid the requirement to get health insurance. That includes
signing them up if they go to the emergency room or requiring that
school children show proof of insurance coverage.

Even though illegal immigrants wouldn't be able to get benefits under
the legislation, they still could get healthcare at hospital emergency
rooms and through federally funded community health centers.
.

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