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Betty: Undocumented immigrants should be included in national proposals for health insurance. This is due to various reasons. First, regardless of their immigration status, they are human beings that have a right to access affordable and quality care. Currently, most undocumented immigrants are not eligible to take health insurance. This forces them to get care from basic healthcare centers, some of which lack the required equipment, technology, or medication to address their needs (Bustamante et al., 2019). In worse scenarios, they are handled by unskilled doctors which further endangers their health. However, including them in national proposals for health insurance will allow them to enjoy their right to quality healthcare as humans, just like prisoners who have committed serious crimes are entitled to quality healthcare. Their title does not define their access to healthcare.

            Another reason is that, by including undocumented immigrants in national proposals for health insurance, then the ethics of the healthcare system will be upheld. It will also ensure that a strong and healing nation is achieved. According to healthcare systems, it is the mandate of hospitals to screen and stabilize all patients that visit them in case of an emergency. Without insurance cover for undocumented immigrants, the state will be denying them care due to their immigration status, and this increases the risk of having their health deteriorate or even die. This will count as defying the ethics of the healthcare system (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2015). Another thing to consider is that an ailing nation derails its development. Whether everyone agrees with it, undocumented immigrants are within the country and are somehow a responsibility of the country. If, for instance, they are not included in national proposals for health insurance and they contact deadly viruses (like in the case of COVID 19), they will not access quality healthcare and keep spreading the virus to other citizens. This, eventually, leads to negative outcomes.

            My take is that national insurance plans have been revised and improved over the years to enhance inclusivity and cater to the needs of the marginalized and low-income populations. This is a positive effort that needs to be applauded. Now, even those individuals with low income can obtain insurance covers either from the government or their workplaces thereby allowing them to access quality care at an affordable cost. While this is positive, it is also important to understand that national insurance plans have placed huge burdens on taxpayers, especially those that are considered wealthy. This is because they now get taxed highly to ensure that federal insurance covers even the poor in society. This might be considered unfair especially when such individuals do not utilize the national insurances themselves. Therefore, incorporating undocumented immigrants into the national insurance will further burden such taxpayers, unless there is an alternative to raise insurance cash for this special group.

David: I personally believe that undocumented immigrants should not be excluded from national proposals for health insurance because regardless if they are here legally or not, they still require help. While becoming a legal citizen of a country can be a daunting task, it should be done properly, but healthcare is something that should be provided to anyone. Some could argue that inmates in prison for life should not receive healthcare, but there are some that say they are still human and deserve to be taken care of. I feel the two topics could be fought in the same manner as there is a debate to be made from both sides. Being from the south, I have seen immigrant workers that work harder than those that were born here, and to deny them healthcare insurance because of a legality would be one more hardship in their way. Covering the nation as a whole would ensure that the entire nation was healthy – regardless of immigrant status. Covering the immediate family within the policy would also ensure that the care can be provided to not only you but your dependents.

Discussing national insurance plans, in general, is a good idea. Having the nation cover the entirety of the nation, regardless of any determining factors such as gender, age, ethnicity, immigration status, or even pre-existing medical conditions. Having a nationwide coverage will allow people to make a personal choice as to their own health and well-being, versus as a cost that they might not be able to afford currently, with the pandemic. Also, covering on a national level will provide the basic information for all, allowing them to make the decision for themselves, and also allowing those with questions to ask them appropriately. I know in government nursing jobs, insurance is provided, and some private sectors offer health insurance, life, dental, and other forms to protect their workers. Having employers cover medical, dental, health, life, and all insurances can make it easier and possibly cheaper for the customer or employee. This allows anyone who is actively working in most fields to be covered for health insurance. Depending on their stipulations, rules or regulations, some people may need more coverage as they may have a family depending on them, such as a child or spouse, who might not have access or a means to healthcare, but I believe with a national coverage, all would be covered, as long as one person within the household were working.

Lilian:  I believe that an undocumented immigrant who is not in the process or intention of becoming a citizen should not be included in national health insurance. To become a U.S citizenship the person should be at least 18 years old, have a green card, able to read, write and speak basic English, understand U.S history and government, lived in the U.S for at least 5 years, Have been physically present in the United States for at least five years, and be a good moral character (US-forms, 2021). That is a lot of requirements in which also have many steps to reach. So, in my opinion, as long as they have started that process, then they should be included in the national proposal for health insurance. This way, it shows that they are committed to the process but that we also respect the amount of time it may take to fully complete.

            I feel this way because approximately 9.2 percent of United States citizens do not currently have any type of health insurance (Bunch, 2020). I believe that we should fix that problem first before adding more people to that number who need insurance. Otherwise, we are just adding to the problem with still no solution.

            I personally feel that I do not think there should be a National Insurance plan right now, 68 percent of the United States population is part of a group or non-group private health insurance (Crsreports, 2021). If the government decided to make a National Plan, over half the privately insured population would no longer be able to continue their plans. This would also not allow different companies to become competitive with each other or create plans that are best for the patient to dram them to be insured with them. With National plans, everyone would have very similar plans, and it would be hard to make one that fits best for everyone.

            Currently, dental services such as cleanings or checkups are not covered under Medicare. That’s why people will get a private insurer for dental care, this way, they can keep up with their health while being insured. If a National proposal was made, then dental care would have to be involved. IN 2016-2017 uninsured citizens who paid for dental services in full ended up paying 58 % of the 10.2 billion spent in dental (Seeto, 2021). This showing how expensive it would be out of pocket. I hope in the next couple of years or decades, our health system is reformed so people can seek medical care without becoming bankrupt.

References

Bustamante, A.V., Chen, J., McKenna, R.M. et al. (2019). Health Care Access and Utilization

Among U.S. Immigrants Before and After the Affordable Care Act. J Immigrant Minority Health 21, 211–218 (2019). 

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0741-6 (Links to an external site.)

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2015). The Integration of

Immigrants into American Society. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 

https://doi.org/10.17226/21746 (Links to an external site.)

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