Should Oklahoma Fund Coverage for Illegals?

There is a big debate on the horizon. Written today in The Oklahoman newspaper there is a rule change that could take effect today that would allow Illegal immigrant mothers Medicaid coverage for prenatal services for their unborn children. "This change, which would give undocumented immigrant women access to Medicaid for prenatal services, is needed to protect the health of babies who will be U.S. citizens once they are born, health officials say.

Representative Terrill Moore said allowing illegal immigrant mothers to receive Medicaid benefits is against state and federal law. But Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry views this is a pro-life issue and believes by passing this rule we are making sure the unborn child, a U.S. and Oklahoma citizen will get a healthy start on life."(www.newsok.com by Jennifer Mock)

If this rule is passed it will cost $1.2 million in state funds and $2.8 million in federal funds. Is this not a huge tax hurdle for Oklahomans to face in order to help people that aren't even supposed to be here in the first place? What about all the kids in Oklahoma that need help? Does anyone care about the kids that aren't even covered on Medicaid that should be but for some reason their parents don't qualify and they have to suffer as a result? Some parents don't even know they can get assistance or think they won't qualify and they never even apply. What about all the kids that can't even be seen by doctors half the time because most of them aren't even taking new Medicaid patients? What are they going to do? Is this not going to encourage expectant immigrant mothers to migrate to our state because they know that we will provide a haven for them and as a result pay even more taxes and draine our already fragile health care system? This just doesn't seem fair to me. This would take a lot of money away from Oklahomans that desperately need these funds. In 2006, The Oklahoma Health Care Authority paid out more than $8.5 million for 2,778 babies delivered by illegal immigrant mothers and none of these women had prior prenatal care. Can you imagine how much more will be spent if this rule is passed? And then what they are going to try do, limit the number of Oklahoma citizens they will cover? The guidelines will probably become even stricter to qualify for Medicaid for those who need it.

I figure if they want to change something in the Medicaid guidelines then they should change the income guidelines for those who qualify. Last time I checked you had to make under $500 or something like that just to get health care. So if we can't even help the people in our state that desperately need health care why are we helping people that come into this country illegally and paying the taxes to back it up? I definitely don't know all of the ins and outs of the health care system but this just doesn't seem viable to me when I see so many people in my town that can't afford to go to a doctor but yet no one seems to be trying to pass any measures to accommodate them. We need to focus on home first and then help others. With health coverage being so elusive for a lot of Americans we need to get that problem resolved and pour funds into that rather than something that won't benefits our actual citizens. Think about it, I am not sure how they do in other countries but do they provide us with healthcare (especially in Mexico) if we decide to migrate there? I could be wrong but I seriously doubt it.

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority will vote on this issue today, let's hope they make the right decision.