Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Zipgun

(176 posts)
Tue Jul 15, 2014, 12:56 PM Jul 2014

I need some help finding the facts about the report that illegal immigrants are getting medicare

through the prescription drug program and Medicare Advantage plans. As you have to be 65 to enroll for medicare, how are illegal immigrants getting befits? Why would they even know about these programs? Something does not smell right about this. Are they being pointed to these programs by shady health care providers?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/7/illegal-aliens-may-lose-of-some-medicare-benefits/?page=1

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I need some help finding the facts about the report that illegal immigrants are getting medicare (Original Post) Zipgun Jul 2014 OP
Google search has DailyCaller, newsmax, wsj blog, Wash Times underpants Jul 2014 #1
It's obviously a very cherry picked part of the report and heavily spun, with no context at all. Zipgun Jul 2014 #3
Here you go - Media Matters - 1/10th of 1% of Med D payments underpants Jul 2014 #2
If Your Spouse RobinA Jul 2014 #4
Part of what makes me question on where this is originating is that it is medicare, not medicade. Zipgun Jul 2014 #5
Eyes underpants Jul 2014 #6

underpants

(182,064 posts)
1. Google search has DailyCaller, newsmax, wsj blog, Wash Times
Tue Jul 15, 2014, 01:01 PM
Jul 2014

There is a NY Times article but your suspicion seems to be well founded

Zipgun

(176 posts)
3. It's obviously a very cherry picked part of the report and heavily spun, with no context at all.
Tue Jul 15, 2014, 01:08 PM
Jul 2014

Bloomberg had a better breakdown of the audit, and it is a minuscule percentage that is getting these benefits, with very small pay outs, but no one has reported as to why they would be getting enrolled in the first place.

RobinA

(9,862 posts)
4. If Your Spouse
Tue Jul 15, 2014, 01:15 PM
Jul 2014

were legal and had paid Medicare tax, maybe. There'd have to be a Medicare tax payer in the mix. Plenty of illegals PAY Medicare tax if they are legitimately employed, but I don't think they can actually get the Medicare they paid for. This is one of those problems that's greatly exaggerrated.

There's always out and out fraud, too.

Zipgun

(176 posts)
5. Part of what makes me question on where this is originating is that it is medicare, not medicade.
Tue Jul 15, 2014, 01:25 PM
Jul 2014

It just does not seem that elderly illegal immigrants would be in a position to even know about the program, much less sign up. There is more to the story, and our corporate media is doing its normal horrible job of actually reporting the story. I do understand that it is a minuscule portion of the pay outs.

underpants

(182,064 posts)
6. Eyes
Tue Jul 15, 2014, 01:34 PM
Jul 2014

10 years ago or so there was a running story in RW world about the undocumented and Social Security and tax refunds. Same basic storyline as this. The Urban Institute and even CATO debunked it saying that they do pay taxes and, like this, basically keep the system running by paying but not collecting.

Why? The general consensus was and is that the fewer eyes that see whatever ID or documentation they are working under the better. Aliens who have been here for decades and you would consider likely to not be documented still don't file tax refunds or even Social Security. One set of eyes catching a peculiarity can crash their whole life.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»I need some help finding ...