Health Care for Immigrants

From the National Immigration Law Center:

Congress Must Not Leave Out Immigrants in Final Health Care Bill

Congressional leaders are negotiating the final health care reform bill in private negotiations rather than a formal conference.  The current proposals continue to exclude and penalize low-income lawfully present and undocumented immigrants.  For the state of play for immigrants, see details below.

Don’t let Congress and the President continue to treat immigrants unfairly in this historic health care bill!  There is no better time than right now to ensure that immigrants have access to affordable health care! Calls are needed THIS WEEK to demand access to quality, affordable health care for immigrants and their families.

Call the White House and Congressional Leaders below right away and tell them that the final health care reform bill must:

Eliminate the 5 year waiting period for legal immigrants who need Medicaid;
Ensure that all residents in the U.S. can buy health insurance without restrictions.  Remove the restriction that prevents undocumented immigrants from buying health  insurance at full cost in the new health insurance Exchange;

Include sufficient federal funding and support for the safety net health system that many immigrants will continue to rely on for access to care.

Contact:
(A) The Obama Administration:
(202) 456-1414 or leave comment at (202) 456-1111
Or email at:  president@whitehouse.gov or http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

(B) Congress:  (202) 224-3121 or (877) 851-6437

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD
Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL)
House Committee Chairs George Miller (D-CA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), and Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Senate Committee Chairs Max Baucus (D-MT), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Christopher Dodd (D-CT)

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