WASHINGTON -- Governors who reject health insurance for the poor under the federal healthcare overhaul could wind up in a politically awkward position on immigration: A quirk in the law means that some U.S. citizens would be forced to go without coverage while legal immigrants in the same state could get it.
It's an unintended consequence of how last year's Supreme Court decision changed the Medicaid provisions of President Barack Obama's healthcare law. The overhaul expanded the federal-state program for low-income and disabled people. The Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion optional for states, which complicated matters.Arizona officials called attention to the problem last week, when Republican Gov. Jan Brewer accepted the Medicaid expansion.Brewer had been a leading opponent of the overhaul, and her decision got widespread attention. State budget documents cited the immigration glitch as one of her reasons."If Arizona does not expand, for poor Arizonans below [the federal poverty line], only legal immigrants, but not citizens, would be eligible for subsidies," the documents said.It could take some explaining for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who steadfastly opposes what foes dismiss as "Obamacare," and for Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who is reassessing his position."I think politicians will be under a lot of pressure not to create these sorts of inequities," said Jennifer Ng'andu, a health policy expert with the National Council of La Raza, a major Latino advocacy group.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
