What's worse?

You know as I follow the healthcare debate, I haven't heard very much about undocumented (illegal) immigrants and their place in healthcare reform. We know that for the most part, there are about 47 million uninsured Americans. We also know that most uninsured Americans use the emergency room for non emergency care, which is the most expensive form of healthcare. What happens when these people are now covered and using the normal channels to receive healthcare? It saves money, that is an accepted fact.

Interestingly, one thing that I have not heard anything about, and I have followed this closely, is the undocumented person. A quick search online will reveal that there are about 10-20 million illegal immigrants living in the US. Some numbers said more, some said less, but the accepted average seemed to b 10-20 million. Where do these people fall in the healthcare debate?

The answer is, they will not be covered. This posed a very interesting question; why not? If undocumented persons, for the most part, are going to be using emergency rooms in a similar manner as the currently uninsured; is it a good thing to keep them out? I understand that no politician wants to look as if they are catering to this portion of the population; but at what cost?

For the sake of using round numbers, let's say that healthcare reform is going to cost $1,000 per person, per year. We'll take a median number between 10-20 million, let's say 15 million. So there could be 15,000,000 people still taking advantage of our healthcare system in its most expensive form; the emergency room - because they may have few other options. That is an incredible cost to bear, wouldn't it make sense to include these persons?

Why wouldn't we?

Many people would say that undocumented (illegal) persons do not deserve to benefit from the United States healthcare system; including when it is reformed.

The reality is that they already do benefit from our current system. The citizens, and undocumented persons, are abusing the emergency room are causing healthcare prices to go up. People that have health insurance are the ones that have to pay the price. Insured persons like yourself pay for their unnecessary and expensive emergency room visits by paying higher healthcare premiums.

Undocumented persons that are not a part of the reform would mean that undocumented persons are getting the same care you or I have to pay for; but would get it for free. The answer? Charge them just the same; and not give up the 15,000,000,000 per year in healthcare premiums. (15,000,000 people x $1,000 per person)

Why should undocumented persons receive a better deal than me or you. To put it more personally, why should this population receive better care than my daughter; or your child(ren)?

What do you think? Does this change your view on whether they should or should not be a part of the discussion? Does this change your view on immigration in America? It is certainly a lot to consider. To cover, or not to cover; what's worse?