Republican legislators want to see a change in Medicaid going forward. On Friday, House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, and Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, called the state to stop providing Medicaid to undocumented immigrants.
“Connecticut faces a $200 million Medicaid crisis that threatens to drain resources from core government services and programs. A major contributor is taxpayer-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants,” the release stated. “Last fiscal year, this program blew past projections by nearly $10 million and is already on track to exceed this year’s budget by over $20 million—a figure likely even higher since summer estimates.”
Only 12 states and Washington D.C. offer Medicaid to undocumented children, according to the health care policy research group, the Kaiser Family Foundation. Connecticut is one of those states, but is not among the six states that offer Medicaid to undocumented adults without a five-year waiting period.
However, undocumented residents do have access to the General Emergency Medicaid in the state.
“In one of the highest-taxed states in America, further expansion of free healthcare for undocumented immigrants, as many Democrats are poised to propose, is simply unrealistic,” the statement says.
The Migration Policy Institutes reports there are over 110,000 undocumented immigrants in Connecticut, and that 7,000 are under the age of 16.
“Now, with agency heads ordered to make cuts, we must act. Suspending this unsustainable, taxpayer-funded benefit right now is essential to preserving vital services for legal residents,” the press statement said. “Legislative Democrats dismissed our warnings last spring, deepening the crisis with Governor Lamont’s and Attorney General Tong’s support.”
In 2021, the legislature passed a bill that covered healthcare for undocumented immigrants who were pregnant and children up until the age of 8. A year later, it expanded the scope of coverage up to the age of 12, CT Mirror reports. Now, undocumented children aged 15 and younger can enroll in the state’s health care plan. These kids will be able to keep insurance until they are 19.
“We must prioritize fiscal discipline, provide real tax relief for residents, and suspend this policy immediately with the goal of eliminating it in the next budget cycle,” the release stated. “If the Governor is serious about financial stability, we have to suspend this policy now to stop the bleeding.”
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I support the issue what’s going on with integratiand in Connecticut? Connecticut, we are completing out too much ammonia and we’re not getting any return results with the issue. I agree with the kids should be able to keep their insurance until they’re 19. But the adults are here I’m legally are not just from across the border. There are also some of our countries as well. Isn’t making the population for housing unpossible. That’s why housing is so short. Involves and have to make major cuts in other areas. Areas and the people that live and work. I don’t either disabled or seniors are also taking a kid over so much. Immigration that is going on in the state. I think it’s now it’s time we evaluate what. Our state is doing. We have to come with a better idea and better plans in this state. To make it safer for everyone lives here. Let’s keep in mind if you remind yourself of a couple of state trooper that was killed was killed by somebody was not from the state. Wasn’t if unlegally unlegally in the United States. Enjoy having around without license and there are others as well. If you look at the crimes is hit, the cystics of major crime is even WI the crime, if they can’t hit you as well. I’m a Democrat. I’m a member of the democratic committee. And I believe we need you to start taking action.To making Connecticut more safer for everyone.Now all plans I always put in place don’t always work
It’s well past time that Ct stop being a bleeding heart Blue state, stop bleeding taxpayers.
This article lacks critical information that readers need to know in order to have an informed opinion of the issue. The Republicans limit their remarks to incendiary statements in order to turn public sentiment against undocumented immigrants. That much is obvious. Democrats are mostly silent, which is also their usual response. I recall the exact same pattern with last summer’s electricity rate increase. But I expect more from an investigative reporter. Where is the actual data regarding the cost of having some portion of the 110,000 (I think this is the number in CT) undocumented immigrants in CT receiving various Medicare funded assistance and what percentage of that assistance comes from CT versus the federal government. What sorts of services do the children in particular receive and what would be the impact if those services were not covered. These are just a few vital pieces of important information I was hoping to read in this article. Disappointing.
For those that want to continue with free health care for the illegals, then be an adult and You Pay For It! I and many Ct citizens DON’T want to. I give money to who I want to. The Govt should get out of the illegal immigrant trade. These people are just a commodity to you. Big business
As someone who works in an HRSA funded health center, CT taxpayers are absolutely getting ripped off by these policies. We need to do a serious financial investigation to see how much of our money is being lost: from ridiculous prescriptions like vitamins and low-cost OTC drugs like Tylenol and MiraLax, to providing rideshares to and from clinics, to not having any financial consequences for no showing appointments. When the cost of living is so extreme and the incoming American born population can’t afford to survive in the same state their parents did, it’s time to evaluate and reform policies. We’re not as well off as officials think we are. We are tired of having taxpayer dollars used like a neverending piggy bank for those who don’t intend to contribute and instead use our generosity to abuse free handouts.