Critics warn dropping immigrant health care coverage could backfire

I wonder how dropping these legal residents from health coverage will save money, when they will all end up in the ER for their care and the ER is much more expensive. - - Donna Poisl

BY ELIZABETH LLORENTE, THE RECORD, STAFF WRITER

Governor Christie’s plan to drop residents who have had legal immigration status for less than five years from a state health-insurance program has drawn an outcry from critics who warn it might end up being more costly and perilous to public health.

Under the plan, nearly 12,000 legal immigrants covered under the NJ FamilyCare program, which assists low-income families, who have not been legal permanent residents for at least five years would be kicked off. Christie’s staff, who announced the change as part of budget cuts aimed at closing a $2.2 billion deficit, said dropping the immigrants from the program would result in a yearly savings of several million dollars.
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