Immigrants do not overwhelm US healthcare - study

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N259083.htm

WASHINGTON, July 25 (Reuters) - Immigrants are not swamping the U.S. health care system and use it far less than native-born Americans, according to a study released on Monday.

The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that immigrants accounted for 10.4 percent of the U.S. population but only 7.9 percent of total health spending and 8 percent of government health spending.

Health spending by the government, insurers and patients themselves averaged $1,139 per immigrant compared to $2,564 for non-immigrants. Thirty percent of immigrants used no health care at all in the course of the year.

Immigrant children spent or cost $270 that year, compared to $1,059 for native-born children.

"Our study lays to rest the myth that expensive care for immigrants is responsible for our nation's high health costs. The truth is, immigrants get far less care than other Americans," Dr. Sarita Mohanty, who led the study while she was at Harvard University and who is now at the University of Southern California, said in a statement.

[Horse with no Name]

1. Absolutely.

That sounds about right.My interaction with illegals is that they seek as little attention ANYWHERE--including hospitals--as absolutely necessary.

[Robbien]

2. Sure. Wonder what the review really found out before it was edited

by BushCo.

PBS's NOW had a report on how the BLM report on logging, cattle grazing and drilling in our natural preserves did no damage to the environment. But when NOW interviewed the scientists quoted in the report, they told a completely different story. Their reports of all the damage was changed to say there was no damage.

[mcscajun]

3. Sadly, this won't stop the myth mills...

and this hopeful statement will not come to pass:

"This comprehensive new study shows just how unfounded these allegations are and I hope it will permanently put to rest these misinformed and misguided myths."

We've seen it time and again how 'tasty' myths go down so much easier than the hard-to-swallow unvarnished truth.

[IntiRaymi]

11. That's because the 'myth mills' are there by design n.t.

[maddezmom]

4. oops, dupe

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Immigrants are not swamping the U.S. health care system and use it far less than native-born Americans, according to a study released on Monday.

The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that immigrants accounted for 10.4 percent of the U.S. population but only 7.9 percent of total health spending and 8 percent of government health spending.

Health spending by the government, insurers and patients themselves averaged $1,139 per immigrant compared to $2,564 for non-immigrants. Thirty percent of immigrants used no health care at all in the course of the year.

Immigrant children spent or cost $270 that year, compared to $1,059 for native-born children.

"Our study lays to rest the myth that expensive care for immigrants is responsible for our nation's high health costs. The truth is, immigrants get far less care than other Americans," Dr. Sarita Mohanty, who led the study while she was at Harvard University and who is now at the University of Southern California, said in a statement.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050725/pl_nm/health_immigrants_dc;_

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. Pharmaceutical companies and insurance executives overwhelm

Health care all the rest is a red herring.

[mbperrin]

6. Dang! Can't believe that greedy corporate structures cause

high medical prices - just hadda be them dang immigrants!

Ah well.................

Now can we get universal single payer coverage, please?

[WhiteTara]

7. so take that, you racists repukes!

glad to see this report made it to the light of day. I am sick of people screaming about illegals. When I owned my business (before chimpy demolished the economy) they were the best and most loyal of employees. They were always at my back and worked to make everything happen as smoothly as possible.

I didn't know they were illegal when I hired them (the forged papers are very good you know) but I could always count on that when overtime was needed, every brown hand was raised and every white hand was held tightly under the table.

so that was my rant for the day :rant:

[pinerow]

8. Sadly, it's not just the "repukes" parroting that bullshit...

there are plenty of people right here in one of the most progressive boards repeating that canard...that there are criminals in the undocumented community is a given...those are the ones we need to concentrate on...I doubt that criminality in the undocumented community is no higher, if not less, that in the majority community.

[WhiteTara]

9. okay so we have pukes and repukes

anyone who thinks they are better than another human being is racist, no matter what political persuasion.
:rant:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

10. As said below...

it's not just "racist repukes".

And if you need proof, just compare the number of posts in this, a positive story about illegals, to a negative story about illegals.