Public Option and Undocumented US Residents

Just when I thought everybody understood what was going on with health care reform, Congressman Wilson had to go and call the President a liar.

The “liar” outburst was because Rep. Wilson took exception to President Obama saying illegal aliens would not be covered under the health care legislation being contemplated.   And that is because amendments to require proof of citizenship to get health insurance did not pass in the Congressional committees so even though the proposed bills did not cover illegals, there was no meaningful provision to stop undocumented residents from obtaining coverage.

The Democrats, seemingly always wanting to appease their Republican masters,  have now included a proof of citizenship provision in the legislation.

But I don’t get it.  Are the reform bills then going to require everyone except illegal aliens to buy an insurance plan?  If so, doesn’t that mean illegals will get the same medical services they have now, namely free emergency room services.  And doesn’t that mean that the rest of us who will be paying for our own insurance (or else our employers will be), will end up paying for the medical services used by illegals in our premiums.

So by excluding undocemented workers from the requirement to buy their own coverage, has Congressman Wilson caused the very thing he was complaining about when he heckled the President?  Namely that illegal aliens will be provided free health care coverage.

Please help me out here.  Am I right or wrong?  Why not allow illegal aliens to at least pay for their own health care coverage like the rest of us?

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