I'll pull the OIG report on Monday to get a better look but I think I can comment on the Medicare issue.
There is no benefit available to illegal aliens. Apparently a small number 4000 found a way to get enrolled in file claims. While a small number one is too many. The whole purpose of the proposed rule was to shut that down and bring it to zero. This is not an example of giving illegal aliens benefits or federal money. It is actually an example of clamping down and trying to do the opposite. It's an outlier and an error, it's an exception not the rule
I still don't understand the Medicare advantage part. The article did a horrible job they threw out Medicare advantage but never really said what happened. I'm not sure on that one so I'll check it out as well. I suspect it's the same issue and also very small. The whole article was written poorly and with the kind of strange slant.
As for the others it's the age-old anchor baby issue and a legitimate gripe. Technically the benefits are being paid to an American citizen. But in reality The money ends up with the parent who isn't an American citizen. The same could happen if I got paid from those benefits and ship the money out of country to a Mexican. The difference is it would not be direct. This is an issue for parents that are legal as well. The money is for the child's well being but it loses its identity once paid (unless in a non monetary form). That money could also end up in the illegal hands such as drug dealers etc. That said it's a legitimate gripe and we need to clean this one up too. I'm not sure how to accomplish that. But it is disingenuous to suggest those are benefits to illegals. They are not. But it is money that ultimately ends up in the illegal hands. This is one data set that should be a little more obtainable than some of the others. I'll have to look for this one too. It would still be problematic but it at least would be a little more accurate than some of the others.
The anchor baby issue is the most difficult part of the illegal immigration issue in my mind. I do have a soft spot for the kids themselves because they are pawn in the game and don't have much choice. So I do struggle with anything that would harm them and yet I don't want to do anything that benefits their parents. It's a catch 22.
I still don't buy that the federal government is doling out all kinds of money to illegal aliens though. There are all kinds of mechanisms would've been a plate put in place by both parties to make sure that does not happen. I also don't buy that that number is zero. The crumbs that fall off the federal dinnerplate are often very large.
Edited by user
Saturday, September 20, 2014 8:36:37 AM |
Reason: Not specified