House's SCHIP expansion will benefit illegals

The Senate is considering a House-approved bill that will make it easier for illegal immigrants to take advantage of a program established to provide healthcare to low-income children. A California-based population stabilization organization has called on the Senate to amend the bill and close the loophole.

The expanded version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, SCHIP, weakens verification requirements. Anyone wanting to enroll only needs to show a Social Security card, a card which specifically discourages its use as identification, has no identifying image, and can very easily be forged.

Speaking for Californians for Population Stabilization, Rick Oltman said that while providing healthcare to low-income children is a laudable goal, extending benefits to illegal aliens will mean fewer funds available for poor Americans. He noted that the US already guarantees emergency healthcare for everyone in the country.

He added “Opening up these public programs to allow anybody in the world to have access to them if they can simply get here is wrong. What we do not need to be doing is heaping more patients on top of the taxpayer to pay for healthcare.'

He called on the Senate to amend the legislation to prevent SCHIP benefits from going to individuals who are in the country illegally.