In the wake of Rep. Joe Wilson’s shouted accusation that President Obama was lying when he said proposed health care reforms “would not apply to those who are here illegally,” the White House has released word that the president supports an enforcement system to prevent illegals from participating in a proposed government health insurance exchange.
“Undocumented immigrants would not be able to buy private insurance on the exchange,” the White House said in a statement published by MSNBC. “Those who are lawfully present in this country would be able to participate.” The White House added that, “Verification will be required when purchasing health insurance on the exchange. One option is the SAVE program (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) which states currently use to make sure that undocumented immigrants don’t participate in safety-net programs for which they are ineligible.”
A number of Republicans have advocated the use of the SAVE system to ensure that any newly-created benefits do not go to people who are in this country illegally. In July, Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee defeated a Republican proposal to use SAVE for that very purpose. Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee defeated a similar proposal.
The White House says illegals would still be able to buy insurance in the private market, apart from the exchange, which is the case today. “That market will shrink as the exchange takes hold, but it will still exist and will be subject to reforms such as the bans on pre-existing conditions and caps,” the White House statement said. In addition, laws in existence today which require hospitals to give emergency treatment to anyone, including illegals, will remain in effect.
