Respond to post below:
The ethics of providing healthcare for undocumented immigrants in the United States is a complex and controversial issue that involves various perspectives and considerations. On one hand, it can be argued that providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants is a moral imperative, as everyone, regardless of their immigration status, has the right to access basic healthcare services. Denying healthcare to undocumented immigrants may present a public safety risk, as contagious diseases can easily spread within a community (Joseph, 2017). It has been noted by some that providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants could increase illegal immigration and burden the U. S. healthcare system. Others believe that providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants is unfair to American citizens and legal residents who are responsible for paying for their healthcare. At present, most undocumented immigrants use the emergency rooms as their healthcare, which is paid for with charity care. This is ultimately passed down to the hospitals which increases the general cost of healthcare, which then gets passed to the insurance companies. The insurance companies raise the rates of policies, so the cost of charity care eventually gets passed to the policyholders.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, includes provisions related to healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants. Under the ACA, undocumented immigrants are not eligible to purchase health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, which is the online portal where individuals and small businesses can compare and purchase health insurance plans, and are not eligible to enroll in Medicaid or CHIP or to purchase coverage through the ACA Marketplaces. Also, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions that may make insurance more affordable for low- and middle-income Americans (Siskin & Lunder, 2018).
Federal law prohibits hospitals and healthcare providers from denying emergency medical treatment to anyone, regardless of their immigration status. In addition, some states and localities have passed laws that provide healthcare services to undocumented immigrants. The ACA does not change existing laws regarding access to healthcare services. Hospitals and healthcare providers are bound by federal law to provide emergency medical treatment to anyone, regardless of their immigration status. Some states and communities have created laws and programs that provide healthcare services to undocumented immigrants, such as community health centers and free clinics.
The ethics of providing healthcare for undocumented immigrants in the United States should take into consideration the basic human right to healthcare, public health considerations, legal obligations, community safety, and the impact on the healthcare system and the communities.
