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Dear editor,
The current law states that undocumented immigrants are not eligible to get health coverage.
They are only allowed to get coverage through documented individuals. They also do not qualify for
Medicaid or Medicare even though many have been paying into social security and Medicare for as long
as they have lived in the United States, which could be decades or longer. There needs to be a change of
policy that allows undocumented people, specifically elderly people, to get health insurance. With the
large population of undocumented people in Utah, we need to make a change. Undocumented elderly
people need to have access to healthcare because it would help them prevent health problems, it is
inhumane and cruel to allow them healthcare, and there would be less elderly abuse.
Because there are few options of affordable health care undocumented elderly people are not
getting basic human rights and needs. They are unable to go to the dentist or doctors without an enormous
bill, and many feel unsafe about going to social workers, clinics, and health resource centers, because they
Their needs to be affordable healthcare/change of Medicaid policies is so that they can get
treatment before the sickness gets out of hand. Currently elderly undocumented people are unable to take
preventive measures to stay in good health. An undocumented, elderly man named Marco was being
interviewed in the article Aging, Undocumented and Uninsured Immigrants Challenge Cities and States.
He said, “I don’t know if I have high blood pressure,” he said, laughing ruefully, “Because I don’t check.
Doctors, you know, are expensive.” Medicaid does set aside a portion of funding that covers anyone who
has a same-day emergency that cannot afford to pay for the high cost of the hospital. If they were able to
get insurance they could go to the doctor for high-blood pressure, cancer screenings and sickness before it
becomes a serious problem. Taxpayer dollars would be less likely to be used in the Medicaid same-day
emergency fund because the issues would have been detected and treated earlier. The reason as to why
elderly people are sent to the emergency room, like high blood pressure, stroke, cancer can be detected
early on.
Another reason many do not go to the doctor is because of the enormous cost of health centers.
This is a terrible and stressful way to live. I work at an assisted living center and even under the watch of
nurses, CNA’s and staff, many have falls that lead to serious injury and broken bones. Now imagine if
you cannot go to the doctor to get an x-ray, fit for a cast, or receive medicine because the cost is too high.
Every person should have a basic right to be able to get treatment. They should not have to suffer and be
bedridden because they cannot afford treatment. That is a cruel and inhumane for anybody to have to go
through, especially as many of these people have been working to better the economy and contributing to
the community for years. Many of them have living in the United States for most of their life.
Many are not able to get the care that they need because of the high cost of senior living centers,
hospitals, and rehab centers. This forces them to be cared for by family, who may not be up for the task,
stress, financial Burdon and responsibility that comes with caring for an elderly individual, especially one
that has dementia, or cannot care for themselves. When speaking to a social care worker people with
dementia can have the brain capacity equivalent of a child, which requires a lot of care. This can lead to
physical, verbal, financial abuse, and neglect. Elderly abuse is a prominent issue, but when you take away
the insurance and resources in order to get help/treatment it becomes much more common. Family
members who are trying to make a living and support children of their own are not able to stay home and
watch/care for them most of the time. That can most often lead to neglect. Many times, it is not reported
because of the fear that they will get reported and deported. They also may not take their parents/older
relatives to the doctor because of the high cost and bills that they may have to pay.
Undocumented elderly people need to have access to healthcare because it would help them
prevent health problems, it is inhumane and cruel to allow them healthcare, and there would be less
elderly abuse. We need to make a change to these policies as these seniors deserved basic human rights.
Sincerely,
Sierra