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Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield — who calls President Joe Biden’s COVID 19 stimulus healthcare plan a Democratic “slush fund” — has shared his disappointment with the plan on various media outlets. He claims that under this plan, illegal immigrants would be eligible for taxpayer-funded health care subsidies — and they would not have to pay any premiums through Sept. 30, 2021.
Biden’s plan includes employees laid off from their jobs. These people will be eligible for healthcare through COBRA Medical Insurance — a very expensive program that would allow them to keep their health care plan.
A person qualifies if they were laid off from work or their hours were reduced. However, they will not qualify if they quit. They do not qualify if they are otherwise eligible for Medicare or other health coverage. After September, they could elect to stay on COBRA but would have to pay the full premium or go to healthcare.gov for coverage.
In April, Sen. Bernie Sander criticized the plan stating that “subsidizing COBRA … would be both expensive and ineffective.” He felt that a lack of insurance means more COVID 19 transmissions and more death.
Sally C. Pipes, President, and CEO of the Thomas W. Smith fellow in health care policy at the Pacific Research Institute, believe that allowing out-of-work Americans to continue to have healthcare coverage until September, is a huge waste of taxpayers’ money. Even though no one wants unemployed Americans to go without health insurance.
Healthcare for illegal immigrants is illegal, making them ineligible for COBRA. It is not known if any illegal immigrants have received benefits under this plan. Employers can include a requirement in their health plans that says undocumented employees do not qualify. If adhered to, the criticism may cease.
Written by Brenda Robinson
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Sources:
THE SACRAMENTO BEE: Fact Check: Will Biden’s COVID stimulus provide health care to undocumented immigrants?; by Kate Irby.
Forbes: Free Health Insurance! 100% COBRA Subsidy In Covid Stimulus Package: Questions & Answers; by Ashlea Ebeling, Sr. Contributor
The Washington Times: Biden’s plan to subsidize COBRA is a waste of money; by Sally Pipes
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Keith Cooper’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Jamie’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License